Museum of Glass - Tacoma, Washington - Glass Museum with Hands-On Opportunities and Workshops

The Museum of Glass is located in the heart of Tacoma, Washington and provides a unique experience housed in an iconic 90 foot tall cone shaped building. The museum features ever-changing glassblowing demonstrations and exhibitions boasting everything you needed to know about glass and more. A 13,000 square feet open gallery offers exhibitions and artwork that executes the use of glass. A unique hands-on art studio is open to all ages and an on-site theatre offers a wide variety of films on glass working artists. The museum is located along the Thea Foss Waterway in the Tacoma Museum District and is connected by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass.

The hands-on studio is popular with museum guests and provides opportunities for visitors of all ages to get involved in a glass making project. Each month a new artist is invited to lead one of the hands-on events or workshops. The workshops are diversified in age from senior citizens to school age children. The studio is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A 2,500 square foot store is located in the museum right at the front entrance. The store features handmade glass and ceramic pieces by local and contemporary artists. Books, jewelry, toys, kits, games, and much more are also available in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop. In the summer the shop is open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are from 12 to 5 p.m. During the winter months between Labor Day and Memorial Day, the museum and shop are open six days a week. Every third Thursday of the month the museum holds extended hours until 8 p.m. and offers free admission from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A cafy is located within the museum known as Gallucci's Glass Cafy. The menu includes a small but thorough selection of salads, sandwiches, homemade soups, tamales, and a full-service coffee bar. The cafy is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in connection with the museum's operating days of service. Every Friday from 11:30 to 1 p.m. visitors can enjoy watching a debut of a selected artist create artwork from molten glass in the Hot Shop while eating a boxed lunch from Gallucci's.

Parking at the museum is made convenient by the city of Vancouver which operates a parking garage located directly beneath the museum. Parking rates are $2.50 per hour. Free parking is available along Dock Street, on Pacific Avenue across from the Chihuly Bridge of Glass and the Tacoma Dome. To arrive at the museum for free, the Tacoma Link light rail provides a way from downtown. The free parking at the Tacoma Dome is an added bonus. Pierce Transit provides easy and convenient access to the Museum of Glass. From downtown Seattle, it is recommended that visitors of the museum take the Sound Transit's Seattle Express bus or Sounder train.