Museum of Glass Museum
Tacoma museum focused on contemporary glass art
Tacoma's Museum of Glass features contemporary glass art with live glassblowing demonstrations and rotating exhibitions. Visitors go to watch hot-shop work and view large-scale installations along the waterfront.
Museum of Glass at a Glance#
Address: 1801 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402, United States
Website: https://www.museumofglass.org
Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Monday (verify current hours)
Admission: General admission (check museum site for current ticket prices and membership options)
About Museum of Glass#
The Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, is a contemporary museum focused on the art of glass. It features a working Hot Shop where visitors can observe live glassblowing demonstrations and commissioned sculptural installations.
The museum presents rotating exhibitions of studio glass, educational programs and large-scale installations. It is closely associated with the nearby pedestrian Bridge of Glass, which displays major works by glass artist Dale Chihuly.
Located on the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, the museum anchors a downtown waterfront arts zone and is easily reached from central Tacoma.
- Glass-focused programming: Specializes in contemporary glass art and includes a working Hot Shop with live demonstrations and commission-based installations.
What to See#
- Hot Shop: The Hot Shop - a visible glassblowing studio and performance space where visitors can watch live glassmaking demonstrations.
- Bridge of Glass: Bridge of Glass nearby featuring large-scale works by Dale Chihuly and connecting the museum to downtown Tacoma.
How to Get to Museum of Glass#
Located on Tacoma’s Museum District waterfront-drive via I-5 and local exits to downtown Tacoma. Parking is available at nearby lots; public transit serves the area with bus connections and light rail nearby.
Tips for Visiting Museum of Glass#
- Time a visit to coincide with glassblowing demonstrations-they tend to be the museum's most compelling live element.
- Buy tickets in advance for popular showtimes or special exhibitions.
- Allow 90-120 minutes to see the galleries and attend a live demonstration if scheduled.
Best Time to Visit Museum of Glass#
Indoor museum-visit anytime, but check demonstration schedules for the best experience.
Weather & Climate near Museum of Glass#
Museum of Glass's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1035 mm/year), wettest in December.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 1° - 8° | 2° | 147 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 2° - 10° | 4° | 118 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 3° - 13° | 6° | 110 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 16° | 10° | 79 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 8° - 20° | 14° | 48 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 11° - 23° | 17° | 42 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 12° - 26° | 19° | 21 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 12° - 26° | 19° | 28 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 10° - 23° | 16° | 44 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 17° | 12° | 79 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 3° - 11° | 5° | 158 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 1° - 8° | 2° | 161 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |