Trekking Through Tacoma

If it seems too far to walk to Brown and Haley or the surrounding area, take the bus or drive the distance. Since you are almost there, continue walking to the Tacoma Dome neighborhood and to the Tacoma Book Center, where you will find rare and used books. On down the street you can't miss Freighthouse Square shopping center. The refurbished old railroad warehouse holds a maze of over 50 shops, from antiques to pottery, arts to pastries to quilts, plus the International Food Court. Take a quick look at the Tacoma Dome where events are held.

Tacoma is making its way back on the tourist route as downtown rebuilds itself. Dale Chihuly had the dream to build a glass museum behind the Tacoma Union Station. It's happening. When done it will boast a glass bridge connecting Union Station to the entrance of the International Glass Museum featuring world-class glass artists - an awesome dream for a downtown city that is coming alive after almost being deserted by retailers. Reality is it will be a world showcase when it is done. The glass bridge will support five glass pavilions to display Chihuly's art.

Dale Chihuly is a Tacoma native and one of the world's foremost glass artists. He was a Fulbright Scholar, and founded the Pilchuck Glass School north of Seattle. His exhibits are featured in over 150 museums around the world. He is one of a few who has a one-person show at the Louvre, and his art adorns the Clinton White House private quarters.

If you can't get to Tacoma in the near future to see the museum take shape, then try to visit one of Chihuly's masterpieces around the world. I'm going to continue to watch Tacoma and the museum construction, and on down the road I will report how the progress is going.

Today's Trivia: Did you know rhododendrons are our state flower and grow wild in Washington?

Copyright 1999 Jerri Brooker

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