Want to dive into art, science, and culture all in one city? These top Seattle museums & galleries offer unforgettable exhibits, hands-on fun, and world-class collections for every kind of explorer.
If you are in a hurry, I recommend:
Unique Seattle Museums:
1. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
The collections at Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture reflect groundbreaking research in biology, geology, paleontology, and cultural studies. Within those collections, visitors will find 16 million objects from across the globe and specifically from the area around the Pacific Northwest. Visitors will be able to see Northwest Native Art, flora, fauna, minerals, anthropology and natural resources of Washington and beyond. Check out stories like How Dinosaurs Lived, History of the Ocean, and Salish Heritage, all currently in stages of development for a fall reopening. The Burke Store offers visitors gifts of the Northwest. The Museum is closed until its transition to the New Burke Museum, fall 2019.
4300 15th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-543-7907
2. Center for Wooden Boats
Seattle’s Center for Wooden Boats is a fun experience for the whole family. Located in popular South Lake Union, the museum is dedicated to Seattle’s maritime history. They recently completed construction of the Wagner Education Center, including the Bill Garden Boatshop where they hold classes and workshops teaching marine related skills. There is also a Boathouse Gallery where visitors can see exhibits about the city’s maritime history. Lessons at the Center include learning to tie knots and perform other marine related skills. Visitors can also volunteer at the Boatshop to help maintain the wooden boats.
1010 Valley Street, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-382-2628
3. Center on Contemporary Art
The Center on Contemporary Art is a nonprofit dedicated to the creative expression of contemporary art. They’ve been producing events and operating galleries throughout Seattle for more than 35 years. Past exhibits have included Dispossessed, Storefronts, and You Got the Look (jewelry), among many others. Legacy, a 2017 exhibit, was devoted to the gallery’s contemporary art over the past 35 years. Upcoming events include the gallery’s annual members’ show displaying the juried works of local member artists.
114 Third Avenue South, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-728-1980
4. Photographic Center Northwest
Photographic Center Northwest has been delivering photographic history to Seattle residents and visitors since 1988. It’s evolution from small photography school to leading photographic educational institution in Seattle has been profound. The non-profit dedicated to helping people see the world differently is located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Visitors can expect exhibitions like past displays: Notions of Home, All Power: Visual Legacies of the Black Panther Party, and Me and My Selfie, along with annual juried exhibitions. Aspiring and seasoned photographers can take classes, workshops, or certificate programs to hone their craft. The center opens at noon, Mondays through Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Address: Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-720-7222
5. Museum of Pop Culture
Museum of Pop Culture, which is known locally as MoPOP, was initiated by Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder. The pop culture enthusiast envisioned a fun museum experience for the whole family. Seattle Center campus is home to both the Space Needle and adjacent MoPOP. The building’s brilliant exterior is a prelude to what’s inside. Exhibitions are fluid and change like the rhythms of music and culture. Exhibitions, both past and present include representations of Marvel super heroes, science fiction, myths and fantasy, horror films, and video games. Visitors will appreciate tributes to musical artists as diverse as Jimi Hendrix, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. There is a Holodome for immersive virtual realities, and a Sound Lab to record music.
Address: Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-770-2700
Affordable Seattle Museums:
6. Frye Art Museum
Frye Art Museum is located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, just to the east of downtown. It’s a mix of old money mansions, urban high-rise apartments, and numerous hospitals that have given the neighborhood the nickname Pill Hill. Frye Art Museum is one of the highlights of this neighborhood, presenting contemporary artworks primarily of local, American, and European painters, although their collection of contemporary art continues to evolve. Visitors will find the founding collection of artwork in the Frye Salon. Recent exhibitions have included works like Tschabalala Self, which explores the intersectionality of gender and race. Guests can expect free public tours, a museum store, and a café. The admission-free museum is closed on Mondays.
Address: Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-622-9250
7. Giant Shoe Museum
The Giant Shoe Museum uses the term ‘museum’ loosely. In homage to peep show history, this museum uses that sideshow-style presentation to attract passersby to an array of giant shoes. The museum is located below the arcade level inside Seattle’s popular Pike Place Market. Visitors will recognize it by its playful boardwalk display announcing “The Greatest Shoe on Earth.” There are four wooden steps guests will use to look through the peepholes and see the giant shoes for 25 cents. Shoes are from an actual collection by Seattle resident, Danny Eskenazi. This is a must-see for those drawn to the odd and unusual, one-of-a-kind attractions.
Address: Giant Shoe Museum, 1501 Pike Place, #424, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-623-2870
8. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park celebrates the stories, trails, and boomtowns resulting from the iconic Klondike Gold Rush. Visitors will learn about the famous 1897-1898 gold rush, the Company L Buffalo Soldiers, and more. There are four areas to the park, the first being the Seattle Unit in the Pioneer Square area of Seattle (Klondike Gold Rush Museum), and the other three being in Alaska. Seattle was the major provisions port for those headed to strike it rich in Alaska, and promoted itself as “Gateway to the Gold Fields.” The Klondike Gold Rush Museum preserves Seattle’s role in the Klondike Gold Rush. The free, interactive museum is open daily.
Address: 319 2nd Avenue, South, Seattle, WA, Phone: 206-220-4240
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
-
What can visitors do in Seattle on rainy days?
- Seattle’s many museums offer visitors an indoor escape on the city’s rainiest days.
-
What are some major museums in Seattle?
- Some of the major museums include the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Frye Art Museum.
-
Are there other museums to explore beyond the major ones?
- There is so much more to explore beyond the major museums.
-
When is Seattle Museum Month?
- Don't miss the Seattle Museum Month in February.
Plan Your Trip