(Page 2 of 3)
Recently transformed by a cultural renaissance, the city of Tacoma now has three major museums that form an impressive Museum District: the Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum and Washington State History Museum.
The Museum of Glass is the Tacoma's architectural showpiece. Highlighting glass within a full range of media and illuminating trends in contemporary art, the museum's rotating exhibitions showcase works by internationally renowned artists. The museum also features a number of indoor and outdoor installations, as well as the Hot Shop Amphitheater which allows visitors to witness live, ongoing demonstrations of glasswork.
Connecting the Museum of Glass to Tacoma's waterfront is the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, a 500-foot pedestrian walkway. Showcasing many of the studio glass pioneer and native-son, Dale Chihuly's, stunning glass creations, the bridge is a magical tunnel of brilliant light and color created by Chihuly's glass forms.
Find traveling exhibitions, Northwest Art and Dale Chihuly glass always on view in the Tacoma Art Museum. The museum also features framed views of Mt. Rainier and a series of elegant galleries that wrap around an open-air interior stone garden.
At the nearby Washington State History Museum, the state's past comes to life through fascinating permanent exhibits and exciting traveling displays. Explore multimedia and interactive exhibits, become enthralled by theatrical storytelling and explore dramatic artifacts. Gain insight into Washington's history and be amazed by its impact on the country and the world beyond.
Bibliophiles will find sanctuary at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Tacoma which showcases original handwritten letters, drafts and documents of historical significance penned by some of the world's most famous individuals such as Napoleon, George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. This small, fascinating facility is one of eight Karpeles museums around the U.S. that rotate exhibits every three months. The privately funded Karpeles is also free to the public—it won't even accept donations.
Spokane's Smithsonian-affiliated Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, known as the MAC, features five galleries focusing on three main disciplines: the American Indian, regional history and visual art. Next door is Campbell House, a Tudor Revival mansion offering interactive tours and educational programs.
Explore the ocean depths at Keyport's Naval Undersea Museum, which showcases exhibits covering naval history, undersea technology and marine science. The museum also features the largest U.S. collection of naval undersea artifacts.
Single Page « Previous 1 2 3 Next »
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Comments