Museum of Glass

Museum of Glass is at 1801 Dock St. Housed in a striking building distinguished by a 90-foot-high cone sheathed in diamond-shaped stainless steel tiles, this art museum is exclusively devoted to changing exhibitions of contemporary and frequently edgy works executed in glass. One of the most enchanting exhibitions features kids' drawings brought to life as glass sculptures. Within the cone is the Jane Russell Hot Shop, where visitors can watch glassblowers create beautiful works of art from molten glass. Outside, three outdoor plazas feature art installations, tranquil reflecting pools and views of the Thea Foss Waterway. A highlight is Martin Blank's “Fluent Steps.” Spanning the length of the 210-foot-long Main Plaza reflecting pool, 754 individually hand-sculpted pieces of glass form several islands of clear-glass sculpture. One glass grouping resembles mist rising from a meadow; another appears as a cascading waterfall. Appearances change frequently thanks to the interplay of light and shadow caused by the Pacific Northwest's frequently capricious weather. Just past Howard Ben Tre's “Water Forest,” a broad staircase winds around the cone, leading up to the rooftop plaza and the 500-foot-long Chihuly Bridge of Glass. Visitors can walk across the bridge to other museums, shops and restaurants. One-hour walking tours of downtown Tacoma's Chihuly art installations are offered and depart from the museum. Guided tours are available. Food is available. Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.