Forged in Fire: Celebrating America 250

Lectures and Demonstrations Tracing the Evolution of American Glassmaking

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, and in partnership with America 250, Forged in Fire at Museum of Glass will combine illustrated lectures, live glassblowing demonstrations, and multimedia content to trace the evolution of American glassmaking, from colonial Jamestown to the contemporary works of Dale Chihuly. Each event illuminates the artistry, design, and cultural significance of glass as both a decorative and functional medium. Forged in Fire will reach diverse audiences throughout the Puget Sound region and beyond via in-person events and live streams, and build community pride in the region’s unique role in the American Studio Glass Movement — a movement co-founded by Tacoma-native Dale Chihuly. By combining history, artistry, and live craft, this program exemplifies how decorative arts can spark curiosity, fuel discovery, and create shared cultural experiences.

Lectures and Demonstrations

Museum of Glass will host six unique public sessions pairing glass history talks by renowned glass artist and historian Walter Lieberman with live demonstrations by the Museum’s internationally acclaimed Hot Shop Team. Each lecture focuses on a specific period of time in glassmaking history and is accompanied by a demonstration that recreates period-specific objects and techniques, giving audiences tangible insight into the evolution of glass as a decorative art form. All lectures will take place on select Saturdays 1pm in the Museum of Glass Hot Shop. The glassmaking demonstrations will follow at 2pm. Regular Museum admission is required. Details are below.

Lecture 1 | Early American Glass | March 28, 2026

Colonial Jamestown and the first glasshouses, highlighting how domestic glassmaking emerged as an act of self-reliance and defiance against British imports.

Lecture 2 | 19th-Century Innovations | April 25, 2026

The Industrial Revolution’s impact on glass as an everyday necessity and luxury good, from pressed glass to elegant cut crystal.

Lecture 3 | Louis Comfort Tiffany | May 23, 2026

The rise of American Art Nouveau and the cultural impact of Tiffany’s artistry and design

Lecture 4 | Frederick Carder and Steuben | September 26, 2026

A laboratory of light and form that pushed American glass into new realms of experimentation.

Lecture 5 | Studio Glass Movement | October 3, 2026

The revolutionary moment in 1962 that moved glass out of factories and into artists’ studios, reclaiming glass as personal, expressive art.

Lecture 6 | Dale Chihuly | October 31, 2026

How Tacoma’s own Chihuly brought Studio Glass into the global imagination, inspiring countless artists and redefining glass as large-scale public art.

Additional Programming

What Is My Glass Worth?

Museum of Glass will host the community event What Is My Glass Worth? on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Throughout the day, the Museum will host booths in the Grand Hall where visitors can bring their glass pieces and learn their value! Sarah Traver of Traver Gallery will offer insights into collecting and authenticating. Regular Museum admission is required.

About Walt Lieberman

Walter Lieberman has been working in glass for 50 years and his knowledge of glass serves him well in his role as Museum of Glass emcee. He has worked extensively on his craft since getting his start at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Today, he is an internationally known glass painter. Lieberman has taught glassmaking at Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Arts, and many other schools and colleges around the world. Lieberman's work has been exhibited at Traver Gallery in Seattle, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Additionally, his work is part of several prestigious museum collections such as Corning Museum of Glass, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and Museum of Glass. Lieberman also leads lectures on the History of Glass and frequently works with the University of Washington.

Lieberman’s latest exhibition Walter Lieberman: Are you the guy who does the chalk drawings in the Hot Shop? is currently on view at Museum of Glass.