More Tacoma Attractions

The Museum of Flight

Sponsored by Boeing, the Museum of Flight holds one of the largest collections of vintage aircraft in the United States. We spent a day touring the many exhibit halls and outdoor exhibits. Boeing was gearing up for a three day celebration of their 100th Anniversary. Their main parking lot was closed; however, bus service was provided from a remote lot. It was a spectacular air museum, with galleries and films dedicated to WWI, WWII, Space Travel, The Great Gallery and extensive displays on the history of aviation and Boeing Corporation.

The relocated Red Barn (left) is the original
Boeing manufacturing plant.

The Great Gallery displayed planes from all
aviation history, starting with the Wright 1903 Flyer
through the first century of human flight.

There were more than 60 aircraft in this gallery.

The beloved Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was
displayed in the outdoor Aviation Pavilion.

A reproduction of the Red Baron's WWI Plane

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt from WWII

Point Defiance Park

We took a five mile scenic drive around the 765 acre Point Defiance Park. The Park is home to hundreds of miles of walking trails, public beaches, gardens, zoo, aquarium and a marina. We spent most of the day exploring this point and park which offers many views of Puget Sound.

A very nice medium sized zoo.

Late lunch after the zoo.

The weather was perfect for sitting outside.
The Washington State Ferry runs between
Point Defiance and Vashon Island each hour.

Chihuly Glass

Dale Chihuly, a Tacoma native and glass artist, is a world renowned glass blower and sculptor. His works of art are in many public buildings in downtown Tacoma and Seattle. We viewed them in Tacoma Union Station as well as the Museum of Glass.

Tacoma Union Station is across the Bridge of Glass from
The Museum of Glass.
Though no longer a train station, this federal building
is home to a number of large Chihuly glass works.

Hanging from the center of the dome, this sculpture
represents a mass of withering, multicolored snakes.

Union Station Monarch Window

Museum of Glass

Inside of the 90 foot tall cone is a state of the
art Hot Shop.The cone acts as a ventilator
for the heat generated by all the glass ovens.

We observed glass blowing in the
Hot Shop for about an hour.

We were fortunate to watch Lino Tagliapietra, now 80,
a Glass Master from Italy create.

Blue Footed Boobies

Oversized Blown Fruit

Bridge of Glass