The Foss Waterway Seaport’s Summer Season Kicks Off Sunday, May 18
Public invited to peek in our attic and share in our dream!
TACOMA—Foss Waterway Seaport Announces Seasonal Opening
The Foss Waterway Seaport—the South Sound’s premiere maritime heritage center—will officially open its doors for the summer season beginning Sunday, May 18, at 12:00 pm. Located on Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway, the Seaport celebrates Tacoma and Puget Sound’s rich maritime heritage, past, present and future. The Seaport will host a re-opening celebration, including family-friendly festivities, cake cutting, live music, the Tacoma Fire Department fire boat, special maritime boats, activities and exhibits, the firing of cannons.
This past winter, the Seaport completed a round of renovation work to the last surviving historic Balfour Dock wooden wheat warehouse that houses the museum, including a major restoration of the west, south and east walls. The $1.8 million dollar renovation was funded by a Heritage Capital Projects grant of $750,000 from the Washington State Historical Society and private donations. Olson Kundig Architects, construction firm Jones and Roberts Company and the Foss Waterway Seaport have taken great care to ensure that the exterior walls retain the same appearance as they did when the building was first constructed.
The inaugural exhibit for the summer season, “Peek in our Attic and Share our Dream,” will highlight the many historic maritime treasures in the museum’s collection. Throughout summer, themed programs and weekend activities will use those artifacts as touchstones to connect visitors to their shared maritime past—the sailors, ships, rail yards, the workers and port that shaped the South Sound into the region it is today. A series of family fun events are scheduled through-out the summer including science camps August 4-8 and August 11-14 (advance booking is required).
Foss Waterway Seaport Executive Director Wesley Wenhardt said, “We are so excited to welcome visitors again for the summer, and give them the opportunity to re-connect and re-unite with the Tacoma waterfront, Puget Sound and to the incredible maritime history of our region.”
The museum will be open throughout the summer: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sundays. In celebration of Museum Week Northwest, a special buy-one-get-one free admission will be offered May 18 through May 23 on Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Regular tickets are Adults $8.00, Children and Seniors $5.00.Purchase a Family pass for $20.00 or a Seaport Membership. Please visit www.Fosswaterwayseaport.org or call 253-272-2750.
Parking is available adjacent to the Seaport. Side tie public moorage is available with power and water, and a four hour stay is free. Moorage is within walking distance of restaurants, museums and downtown.