Have you been to the Tacoma Art Museum in Downtown Tacoma, Washington lately? If you love art, community, and creative inspiration, Tacoma Art Museum is a must-visit stop in downtown Tacoma.
What is the Tacoma Art Museum?
The Tacoma Art Museum was originally started in 1935 by a group of local volunteers. TAM has grown into a beloved cultural centerpiece. Located in Downtown Tacoma next to the Museum of Glass and the Washington State History Museum, TAM brings together history, creativity, and rich artistic voices through thoughtfully curated exhibitions.
What is the Haub Wing?
Over a decade ago TAM received a large gift of money and Western Art and created “The Haub Wing” to house this vast collection of Western Art. The Haub Wing at Tacoma Art Museum is specifically devoted to Western American art. Traditionally, “the American West” has been presented through a narrow lens that centers settlers, cowboys, and expansion narratives. Tacoma Art Museum’s curaytors and artists have been working to help visitors to the museum expand that narrative. When I was there this week there was an exhibitions called Finding Home: The Chinese American West. The work of artists in this exhibition reminds us that the West was not built by one group of people. The frontier myth leaves out entire communities whose labor, culture, and resilience shaped the region in profound ways.
Finding Home: The Chinese American West honors the Chinese immigrants who shaped the American West while confronting the difficult truths of racism and violence they endured, including Tacoma’s own history of exclusion. The exhibition offers a powerful counter narrative to conventional frontier history by centering the spiritual, mythical, and laborious journeys of those who came seeking opportunity between 1785 and 1912. Although the stories reflect earlier centuries, all of the artworks are contemporary, created in the 21st century. Through these works, artists reflect deeply on identity, perseverance, and what it means to build a sense of home in a place that did not always welcome you.
One of the artists, Zhi Lin, drew on extensive historical research. Lin brings viewers into Tacoma’s Chinese Expulsion of 1885 while reminding us that xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment continue today. Mian Situ, whose paintings are part of the museum’s Haub Family Collection of Western American Art, highlights the lasting contributions and legacy of Chinese Americans. Together, these artists give voice to stories long overlooked and expand our understanding of the American West.
What are the current exhibits?
In addition to the exhibits in the Haub Wing I saw “Project NW: Ralph Pugay” and “Haunted” during my visit to TAM.
Project NW: Ralph Pugay at Tacoma Art Museum is part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to highlighting artists from the Pacific Northwest whose work reflects the complexity and creativity of the region. It runs from February 14 through May 17, 2026 and centers Pugay’s distinctive visual language, which blends bold color, layered materials, and narrative symbolism. His paintings often combine flashe, acrylic, oil, and collaged painted canvas, creating textured compositions that feel both playful and deeply reflective.
Haunted at Tacoma Art Museum explores cinema as memory, time distortion, and the shifting meaning of what it is to be haunted. The exhibition features film and video works that feel immersive and atmospheric. I liked the way the exhibits invited visitors to move slowly and sit with the experience rather than simply pass through. I loved the interactive elements which put the visitor into the art.
I was surprised by the Lee Roth fog installation, which is hard to describe so I did an instagram live of it. David Lee Roth screams over fog? Why not?
What is the TAM Studio?
A lot of Tacomans don’t know that you don’t need to pay Museum Admission to come in and hang out in the cafe or use the TAM Studio. The TAM Studio is a free space for making art in the museum. It’s available for artists and visitors of all ages. They have supplies, tables, and more to create whatever art you’d like.
The TAM Studiolibrary also includes Caldecott Medal picture books and a rotating selection of books related to works of art on view at the museum. So if there’s an exhibit you’re interested in you can dive in and read more about it without having to buy anything. Every month, TAM features a new book in their Studio and Storytime program in partnership with the Tacoma Public Library.
When is the Tacoma Art Museum free?
I was delighted to discover that TAM is free to everyone on Thursday evenings from 5pm-8pm. On top of that it’s free to many students and other folks. Check out their Visit Page to learn more about the ways you can visit for free or at a discount.
What is Move to Tacoma?
Move to Tacoma is a podcast, neighborhood guide, and blog about Tacoma, Washington created by Tacoma Real Estate Agent Marguerite Martin. Marguerite is Tacoma real estate agent, blogger, and podcaster who has been selling houses in Tacoma since 2005.
In 2015 she created MovetoTacoma.com to help people learn more about Tacoma neighborhoods and what it’s really like living in Tacoma. She is the interviewer on the Move to Tacoma Podcast and the host on the Move to Tacoma Youtube Channel. In 2016 she was awarded the the Popham Award by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. The Popham Award honors the individual in the City of Tacoma that has done the most to build community spirit.
Looking for a real estate agent? Marguerite is a matchmaker. Contact her for an introduction to the best real estate agents in Tacoma and beyond.
How Move to Tacoma Works
Here at Move to Tacoma we’ve been helping people find their place (and their real estate agent) in Tacoma for over a decade. We recommend choosing a local agent that lives and works in Tacoma and knows all the nuances of pricing, neighborhoods, and the condition (and quirks!) of these historic homes.
Here at MovetoTacoma.com we help people find their place in the City of Destiny. If you or a friend are looking to buy a home in Tacoma and would like help learning about Tacoma neighborhoods and finding a real estate agent please reach out to us! You can click the contact form on MovetoTacoma.com. You can also schedule a one-on-one with Marguerite on zoom by clicking here.
Step 1: Explore the Clickable Neighborhood Map of Tacoma
Our clickable neighborhood map of Tacoma’s neighborhoods is our pride and joy. Click through to find images and videos of each neighborhood. The Neighborhood guides on the map also include median home price information, blog posts about the neighborhoods, podcast episodes about the neighborhoods, and candid quotes from local neighbors.
Step 2: Listen to the Move to Tacoma Podcast
The best way to learn about Tacoma is to hear from the people who live here. On the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Tacomans who’ve been here generations and Tacomans who just got here. From business and technology leaders to politicians and activists and everyone in between. The Move to Tacoma Podcast will give you insight into why people move here and how they find meaning and happiness in Tacoma.
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On the Move to Tacoma Blog we have been writing about things to do in Tacoma, where to eat in Tacoma, hot button community topics, neighborhoods and more since 2015. There are hundreds of posts to help you find what you love in the City of Destiny. From posts about where to eat and drink to interviews with locals- the blog is a great place to keep up one what’s happening in Tacoma and Pierce County.
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Marguerite Martin is a different kind of Tacoma real estate agent. Reach out to find out answers to questions you have about neighborhoods in Tacoma and Pierce County. When the time is right to start looking, Marguerite can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you love most. You can see reviews from past clients who’ve worked with Marguerite on Yelp and on Google.
