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[cid:image018.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400]<http://www.washingtonhistory.org/> Explore form and function from Rainier's telescope to Chihuly's art in Two Centuries of Glass at the Washington State History Museum [cid:image019.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400]Washington is recognized around the world for its colorful art glass. Tens of thousands of people visit our state every year to see the work of artists such as Dale Chihuly, Sonja Blomdahl, William Morris, Ginny Ruffner, Preston Singletary and so many others, featured in museums, galleries, and other public and private spaces throughout the region. But what of the beauty of the glass that we use every day? This versatile material is an essential part of our lives from the moment we wake up until the time we go to sleep. We use glass in what we wear, to prepare and share meals, to communicate, even for saving lives (and so much more). Washington State History Museum<http://www.washingtonhistory.org/> is celebrating the history and many uses of glass in the new exhibition Two Centuries of Glass<http://www.washingtonhistory.org/visit/wshm/exhibits/glass/>, on view from Saturday, September 8, 2018 through February 10, 2019. Nearly 400 glittering artifacts drawn from the Washington State Historical Society's collections make for a sparkling atmosphere in the gallery. The wide variety of objects date from today back to the 1800s, and a few are substantially older. [cid:image020.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400]"Among the many objects visitors will see, there are three tiny glass vials that date to 0-400 BCE. They were brought to the Society by a donor in the 1800s, at a time when the objective of the museum was to display the wonders of the world to those who lived here," said Lead Curator Gwen Whiting. "In a time when transportation wasn't as readily available as it is today, these small glass vessels might have been the only glimpse of the ancient world a Washingtonian would ever see." Gallery cases shimmer with ordinary items that remind us of how crucial glass has been for daily living, as well as for science and industry in Washington, for hundreds of years. Get a look at Peter Rainier's telescope and a fascinating array of tools that have been used for exploration; see lightbulbs that date to the turn of the 19th century; examine a medical kit from 1898; imagine who may have worn the elegant glass jewelry; and feel the nostalgia of your grandmother's kitchen with Depression glass from the 1920s. Inspire your creative spirit with art glass, too, including the work of Tacoma's native son Dale Chihuly and Seattle's Sonja Blomdahl. Although many of these items are taken for granted now, how different would our lives be if glass had not come into common use? "This exhibition is an opportunity to think of glass not only as an important material, but in its broader significance as material culture and how that represents those who left these objects behind for the Historical Society to collect," said the Washington State History Museum's Director of Audience Engagement Mary Mikel Stump. You'll leave with a renewed appreciation of the incredible physical and functional properties of glass. # # # [cid:image021.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400] [cid:image022.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400] [cid:image023.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400] [cid:image024.jpg@01D44A8A.8F175400] Image credits, top to bottom, left to right: Ice grinder made by North Brothers Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, PA, circa 1941. Collection of Washington State Historical Society, 1997.33.2. Glass vials, circa 0-400 BCE. Collection of Washington State Historical Society, 1935.631.3. 2006.83.1 Blown glass vase made by Sonja Blomdahl, 2004, limited edition 29/250. Collection of Washington State Historical Society, 2006.83.1. Medical case belonging to Dr. Joseph Leonidas Brown, Chief of Staff, St. Joseph's Hospital, Tacoma, Washington, circa 1898. Case opens at center to show rows of glass vials, some containing medicine, with handwritten paper labels affixed to side. Collection of Washington State Historical Society, C1961.1728.1. Case filled with a variety of colorful glass household items dating from 1800s-1900s. Collection of Washington State Historical Society. Telescope made of mahogany with brass fittings, used by Peter Rainier, created in England, circa 1790-1805. Collection of Washington State Historical Society, 1999.7.2. About the Washington State Historical Society and History Museum ADDRESS: 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 HOURS: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday. 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM on the Third Thursday of each month. ADMISSION: Free for members; $14 for adults, $11 for seniors, students and military veterans with ID, free for children 5 and under. Patrons with a Washington Quest card<https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/ebt-and-eft-make-getting-benefits-easier> or Washington Foster Parent license/ID can attend for $1 per person or $2 per family. Admission is free from 3:00-8:00 on the Third Thursday of each month. Free passes may also be checked out from Tacoma, Pierce County, and King County libraries. CONTACT: 253-272-9747 www.washingtonhistory.org/visit/wshm/<http://www.washingtonhistory.org/visit/wshm/> receptionist@wshs.wa.gov The Washington State Historical Society was established in 1891. Our mission is to partner with our communities to explore how history connects us all. Washington State Historical Society preserves a collection of approximately 212,000 historic articles. The Society's most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum, is located in Tacoma's downtown core along Pacific Avenue among a thriving cultural scene. The museum interprets history through permanent exhibitions, rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society's collections, and traveling exhibitions as well as dynamic programs and events. The Society offers history and heritage related programs, workshops, and other initiatives across the Evergreen State. [Description: Description: http://cdn.xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/images/icons/color/32/facebook_003.png]<https://www.facebook.com/historymuseum/> [Description: Description: http://cdn.xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/images/icons/color/32/twitter_003.png] <https://twitter.com/HistoryMuseum> [Description: Description: http://cdn.xink.io/wp-content/themes/Xink/images/icons/color/32/instagram_003.png] <http://www.instagram.com/washingtonhistory>