It is not a coincidence that Tacoma is the birthplace of Dale Chihuly, the grand pooh-bah of the Studio Glass movement here in the U.S. And, while the museum itself is not a direct homage to Chihuly, respect is paid in the form of two huge, outdoor sculptures and a 500-foot-long pedestrian bridge adorned with blown glass works from his "Venetian," "Ikebana," "Putti," "Seaform" and "Persians" series. The Chihuly Bridge of Glass was commissioned by the museum, and designed by Austin-based architect Arthur Andersson working in close collaboration with Chihuly. This glorious overpass allows pedestrians to cross above the highway and adjacent railroad tracks to reach Tacoma’s Thea Foss Waterway and the Museum of Glass, and is outshined only by the majesty of nearby Mt. Ranier.

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