Foss Waterway Seaport

Foss Waterway Seaport occupies a surviving nineteenth-century warehouse on Dock Street, directly on the Thea Foss Waterway, and tells Tacoma's maritime story in the building where much of that trade physically happened. It is the least-known of the waterway museums and currently the easiest to justify: admission is free for everyone, and the museum is open Thursday through Sunday, with a late evening every third Thursday. Because it sits on the water it also runs as a small working dock, offering free public moorage of up to four hours for boats, and it programmes events and kayak outings alongside the exhibits. For a visitor on foot it pairs naturally with the Museum of Glass and the Chihuly Bridge of Glass a short walk south along the waterway, and it is the obvious wet-weather addition to a Dock Street walk.

Verified details

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What to know

• The museum is closed Monday to Wednesday.
• Occasional private events and early closures are posted on the museum's own site; check before travelling.

Editor's tips

• Third Thursdays run late, to 8pm — the only evening opening in the week.
• Arriving by boat is a genuine option: the museum offers free short-stay moorage at its own dock.