Tacoma Museum District Announces Museum District Pass

Tacoma, Wash. — The Tacoma Museum District proudly announces the availability of the Tacoma Museum District Pass beginning June 15, 2013. The pass allows visitors to enjoy Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum and Washington State History Museum. Available at each museum and online at www.tacomamuseumdistrict.com passes are priced at $25 for adults and $20 for seniors (65 and up), students (age 6 and up) and military. Each pass is valid for seven days from first redemption.

“This is an exceptional offer for new and repeat visitors to the Tacoma area, and we applaud this kind of creative and collaborative marketing effort,” said Bennish Brown, president + ceo of the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau. “Visitors want convenience, value and an authentic and memorable experience, and all of these ingredients make this Museum District Pass so attractive.” 

The three museums located in the heart of downtown Tacoma are only a short walk from each other and connected by the Chihuly Bridge of Glass. Known as a mecca for museum lovers, the Tacoma Museum District has created this new pass which will allow visitors to take advantage of the rich cultural offerings and art exhibitions in Tacoma. Just a 40-minute trip from the Seattle area and 2 1/2 hour drive from Portland, OR, the Tacoma Museum District is a great day trip for Pacific Northwest regional residents and a great add-on to visitors from outside of the region.

In the coming months visitors can have a deep and rich experience with the multitude of offerings at these three museums including: exploring exhibitions of regional and international artists, feeling the heat from live demonstrations of glassmaking, learning about contemporary and traditional Native American art and diving into the sensational story of D.B. Cooper.

Museum of Glass

Now on view is Links: Australian Glass and the Pacific Northwest, a new exhibition featuring the work of 21 Australian and five American contemporary glass artists. This is the first American museum exhibition dedicated to the wide spectrum of Australian studio glass, and the connection between artists and institutions in Australia and the Pacific Northwest. Also on view are Northwest Artists Collect and Benjamin Moore: Translucent.  

Museum of Glass provides a dynamic learning environment to appreciate the medium of glass through creative experiences, collections and exhibitions. In addition to the Hot Shop Amphitheatre where visitors can watch artists work, the facilities include galleries, outdoor exhibition areas, a theater, hands-on art studio, grand hall, café and store. Admission is free to members and active duty military and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013, $12 general, $10 seniors and students (13+ with ID), $10 groups of 10 or more, $5 childern (6-12). Children under 6 are admitted free. More information at 1-866-4MUSEUM/ 253-284-4750 or www.museumofglass.org

Tacoma Art Museum

On view through July 7 is Beyond Books: The Independent Art of Eric Carle; an intimate look at the “ArtArt” of the internationally-known children’s book author and illustrator. Creating the New Northwest: Selections from the Herb and Lucy Pruzan Collection opens at Tacoma Art Museum on June 15, bringing an in-depth look at the design, materials, and whimsy of the history of Northwest art through this dynamic art collection. Fifty years in the making, the Seattle couple’s art collection includes works by some of our most beloved regional artists. Chihuly: Gifts from the Artist is always on view; this permanent display of glass artworks by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly is the premier collection of the artist’s work on public long-term display, dating 1977 to present.

Tacoma Art Museum serves the diverse communities of the Northwest through its collection, exhibitions, and learning programs, emphasizing art and artists from the Northwest. The museum creates a dynamic experience that engages, inspires, and builds community through art. Admission is free to members, active duty military, and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 am–5 pm and Third Thursdays 10 am–8 pm. Admission: Adult $10, Student/Military/Senior (65+) $8, Family $25 (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18). Children 5 and under are admitted for free. On Third Thursdays, admission is free from 5-8 pm. For more information, contact at 253-272-4258, www.TacomaArtMuseum.org, or info@TacomaArtMuseum.org.

Washington State History Museum

Opening June 8 is IN THE SPIRIT: Native American Arts Exhibit, an annual juried exhibition of traditional and contemporary art created by Native Americans from the Pacific Northwest. The rich culture brought forth in this exhibit will be further explored in the annual IN THE SPIRIT Northwest Native Arts Market & Festival on August 17, where visitors can see artist demonstrations and performers and purchase hand-crafted Native American art.

On August 24, the History Museum will open COOPER, a look at the 1971 hijacking by D.B. Cooper, which remains an unsolved mystery. The exhibit will explore the case in the context of Cooper’s time and will examine how air travel security has changed through the decades.

The Washington State History Museum is where learning and fun come together as visitors are immersed in the diverse history and culture of the people of Washington State. Permanent exhibits such as the History Lab and the Great Hall of Washington History take visitors through Washington’s story with hands-on displays and unique artifacts. Featured exhibits present historical figures and topics that allows visitors to always find something new in their connection with history. Admission is always free to members. From Memorial Day to Labor Day 2013, admission is also free to active duty military personnel and up to five of their family members (with ID). General admission is $9.50, $7 for students and seniors, and free for children ages five and under. More information at 1-888-BE-THERE or www.washingtonhistory.org.