Top 10 Best Museums to Visit in Seattle
Museums in Seattle are world-class collections of history and culture. The exhibition covers everything from Nirvana to the history of the Nordic peoples. ... read more...There are also working vintage computers, dinosaur fossils, and amazing glass sculptures in the collection. Let's check out some of the Best Museums in Seattle below!
-
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is located one block from Pike Place Market in downtown Seattle. Since 1933, it has served as the state's largest repository for fine art. SAM also runs the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, both of which are close by.
The SAM downtown includes 4 floors of galleries with a well-lit world of ancient and modern artworks. New installations are added to the museum on a regular basis, although the first three floors are occupied by the museum's massive permanent collection. Native American art, African art, and ancient Mediterranean art are among the collection's highlights. The museum also has a significant collection of modern and contemporary art. SAM is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. You may visit in the morning on Wednesday or Thursday for a greater chance to enjoy the artwork alone.
Address: 1300 1st Avenue, Seattle, Washington
Offical site: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/ -
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is a cultural institution with a prominent presence in Seattle Center. The structure itself, a 140,000-square-foot Frank O. Gehry design, is notable for its unique shape and texture.
Three levels of eye-catching exhibitions and displays make up the facility. The world of science fiction, the fascination with horror films, and the rise of Seattle-based grunge rock band Nirvana are just a few of the significant permanent exhibits. The museum also has frequently rotating exhibits, so there is always something new to see. Plan on spending at least two to three hours, if not more, strolling through the museum's three floors. Several areas, such as the Sound Lab on the third floor, can offer an immersive experience. The museum also hosts special events both within and outside the museum on a regular basis. Every day of the week, the museum is open. Weekends are often the busiest times to visit.
Address: 325 5th Avenue N, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.mopop.org/ -
Dale Chihuly, a glass artist from Tacoma, has a number of well-known works across the world. Chihuly's artworks may be seen all over the world, from London to Japan, Ohio, California, and Florida, because of his innovative and creative style. And Seattle is home to some of this world-renowned artist's most spectacular pieces.
Chihuly Garden and Glass is located in Seattle Center, just a short distance from the Space Needle. The museum's flow brings visitors through eight galleries, each filled with exceptional masterpieces of the art form. You may spend some time in each gallery, admiring the small details of each exhibit. This magnificent installation catches the light in a number of ways throughout the day, providing a unique perspective from dawn to dusk.
Address: 305 Harrison Street, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ -
The Museum of Flight has an amazing collection of space and airplanes. The museum is located at the city's far south end, about an eight-mile drive from downtown. The ceilings of the Museum of Flight are adorned with hundreds of planes and spacecraft.
With over 175 flying vessels on exhibit across 15 acres, admiring the museum's collection might easily take up a whole day. The Aviation Pavilion's tourable Air Force One and the Space Gallery, which has interactive exhibitions covering the final frontier, are two must-sees. The three-million-cubic-foot Great Gallery, with floor-to-ceiling windows and 39 planes hanging from the ceiling, is a must-see for tourists. For each visit to the museum, there are various optional activities. Standard options include docent-led tours and virtual flight simulations, in addition to "premium experiences." Regular entry does not include any additional experiences. Seven days a week, the museum is open. Buying tickets in advance is available and encouraged, especially on weekends.
Address: 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.museumofflight.org/ -
The Burke Museum is the state's oldest public museum, having opened in 1885. The museum found a new home on the University of Washington campus in 2019, with over 18 million items in its collection. This new house provides a first-rate visitor experience.
The museum is divided into three floors. Paleontology and archaeology exhibitions, featuring some massive fossils and taxidermied animals, are on the upper level. The second floor is taken over by biology and the mapping of all living things. On the first level, native culture is shown through artifacts and several hands-on exhibits. The Burke is unique in that it also serves as a fully functional lab and research space. The museum offers free entrance to students and faculty. Mondays and major federal holidays are closed at the Burke. On the first Thursday of each month, entrance is free.
Address: 4300 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.burkemuseum.org/ -
During the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, the Pacific Science Center was known as the United States Science Pavilion. During the World's Fair, millions of people came to see the wonders of science. And after the closing ceremonies, the Scientific Pavilion was reborn as the Pacific Science Center, the first science and technology center in the US.
The Seattle Center offers two interactive exhibits aimed at stimulating curiosity in younger visitors and the young at heart. The Pacific Science Center and Seattle Children's Museum are two of the most popular family attractions and are only a short walk away. With hundreds of hands-on experiences on-site, the Pacific Science Center digs into all types of STEM activities. Exhibits and special activities change throughout the year, so each visit would find something new. A tropical butterfly house and a planetarium are two permanent exhibits. Adult visitors are drawn to the museum because there is so much to see and learn.
Address: 200 2nd Ave N Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/
-
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is located on the south end of Lake Union's waterfront. The museum proudly shows the regional history of Seattle and the surrounding Puget Sound over four floors of exhibits.
The topics covered at MOHAI span from native Duwamish peoples to the city's booming IT industry. Visitors may learn about the first white settlers in Seattle and the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, as well as other major events in Puget Sound history. Walking around the museum is a visual pleasure. Extensive photographs, artifacts, and easy-to-read information draw the eye to the detailed exhibits. Several exhibits also have interactive features that allow for a more hands-on experience. A few theaters located around the museum provide seating for instructional shows.
Address: 860 Terry Avenue N, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://mohai.org/ -
Just south of T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field is Living Computers, a fun, interactive downtown museum. The evolution and continuous history of computer technologies are highlighted in this technology-inspired creative space. The museum does it by combining historic and futuristic exhibits.
The museum has the world's greatest collection of completely refurbished and usable vintage computers. This computer collection allows visitors to view mainframes and microcomputers in operation and hear their hums and flashes. Several recent technological advancements are also on display in the museum. Interactive exhibitions feature topics such as big data, augmented reality, and robotics. Visitors will also get the opportunity to try out a self-driving automobile. The Gamemakers studio, which serves future video game engineers, is another popular attraction in the museum.
Address: 2245 1st Avenue S, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.livingcomputers.org/ -
The National Nordic Museum honors Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland's history and culture. The museum also ties the culture to the US, particularly the Pacific Northwest, where tens of thousands of Nordic immigrants have lived.
The museum is located near Salmon Bay and the Ballard Locks on the south end of the Ballard neighborhood. On the first floor, there are frequently rotating exhibits, while on the second floor, there is a permanent "Nordic Journeys" display. From native Sámi people through Vikings, reform, World War II, and modern innovations, this multi-room museum covers the origins of the Nordic area. The Nordic footprint in the Pacific Northwest is a crucial part of the Nordic Journey exhibit. Nordic immigrants contributed to the development of Seattle and the surrounding region, and in the meantime, they found a second home with landscapes comparable to their homeland. Every inch of the exhibit is illustrated by the museum's collection of over 80,000 artifacts.
Address: 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle, Washington
Official site: https://www.nordicmuseum.org/ -
The desire to share the games with other local collectors led to the establishment of the Seattle Pinball Museum. In late August 2010, the Seattle Pinball Museum opened its doors. The idea was to use vintage pinball machines as an interactive kinetic art display.
The Seattle Pinball Museum is a kinetic art museum located southwest of Pioneer Square in Seattle's International District. Not only does this unique museum have roughly 50 pinball machines on display, but visitors may play these famous arcade games as often as they like with an admission ticket. Some of the museum's oldest pinball machines date from the 1930s, while others have much more modern facades. Machines move in and out of the gallery space on a regular basis, offering something new to play with each visit.
Address: 508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
Official site: https://www.seattlepinballmuseum.com/