After a year of construction at a cost of $15.5 million, the 16,000-square-foot expansion adds 32 percent new space to the museum's 50,000-square-foot facility. This state-of-the-art project includes four gracious new galleries, a sculpture hallway and an enlarged light-filled lobby. A hands-on art-making area for all ages is available off the lobby free of charge. New visitor amenities include an orientation space, redesigned entrances on Pacific Avenue and on the parking level with a new glass enclosed vestibule, beautiful new landscaping and major outdoor sculptural works, plus improvements to the museum's store and café.

Erivan and Helga Haub donated 295 Western American works of art from their private collection to the Tacoma Art Museum, along with endowment funds for the future care and educational opportunities related to the collection. The collection spans 200 years, from famed early artists/explorers to notable present day masters.

Read Alec Clayton's full story on the Haub Family Collection wing at the Tacoma Art Museum in the Music & Culture Section.

"ART OF THE AMERICAN WEST": THE HAUB FAMILY COLLECTION, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. third Thursday, Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, $8-$10, children 5 and younger free, 253.272.4258