Museums in Seattle, WA
More Than 25 Seattle Museums
Museums can be a great way to spend an afternoon or rainy day. If you’re looking for some of the best museums in Seattle, Washington, look no further.
Seattle has world-class museums that will interest everyone in your family. The area’s venues cover the gamut from art and history to science and technology.
So, if you’re visiting Seattle or live in the area, be sure to check out some of these fantastic museums. You’ll be glad you did!
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Museum of Pop Culture – MoPOP
The Museum of Pop Culture, aka MoPOP, in Seattle, is one you can’t miss as it’s fun and super-entertaining.
MoPOP hosts notable exhibitions covering music, video games, movies, and TV shows. The building itself is an undulating metallic spectacle, representative of the fluidity of music and culture. Transport yourself to a world of magic when you visit their Fantasy exhibition, featuring classics from the genre such as Harry Potter and The Wizard of Oz.
MoPOP’s regular hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day except Wednesdays. Pricing isn’t fixed. It depends on the date and time. However, you can generally expect to pay between $25-35 a ticket.
Museum of History and Industry – MOHAI
At MOHAI (the Museum of History and Industry), you can expect to learn a lot about Seattle and its history. It highlights the worldwide impact Seattle has made in its lifetime and how it continues to do so.
If you’re interested in Seattle’s environmental, racial, cultural, technological, and/or art history, MOHAI is your museum. Its waterfront location means the maritime exhibition here is permanent. You can even take a quick 360-degree tour of the city via periscope!
Hours and Tickets at MOHAI
MOHAI’s regular hours are from 10 am to 5 pm every day. Tickets cost $22 for anyone over 14, $18 for seniors, and $17 for students and military. The under 14s are free.
All tickets are timed, so be sure to book a spot online. However, the first Thursday of every month is free from 5-8 pm. So, if you live in Seattle and are flexible with your schedule, you can stretch your family’s entertainment budget.
Seattle Children’s Museum
The Seattle Children’s Museum is an interactive experience to foster curiosity in children. And, it’s been revamped!
The museum has made an effort recently to promote further equity and inclusion in every aspect of its exhibitions. It focuses on visitors under eight, but interaction and play are encouraged for all ages!
Seattle Children’s Museum is open from Sunday to Wednesday every week from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $12 for adults and children over one, with a $2 discount for seniors and military personnel.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
You’ll find that Chihuly Garden and Glass is an art museum that truly wows. Its eight different exhibits all showcase the works of artist Dale Chihuly.
You can visit the theatre in the museum to watch footage of Chihuly’s process in creating his stunning glass masterpieces. But, the museum’s centerpiece is the 4,500 square feet glasshouse that features a massive bright and warm-toned piece.
Hours and Ticket Prices for Chihuly Garden and Glass
Visit the museum by May 31st to see the Spring exhibit; wander through the rich and colorful garden, which incorporates some of Chihuly’s work.
Chihuly Garden and Glass is open every day from 11 am to 6 pm. Admission for kids 5-12 years old is $19, $32 for adults, and $27 for seniors. Be aware that The Glasshouse isn’t always open, though, as it is sometimes booked for private events.
Seattle Area Museums
| Seattle Museums | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Asian Art Museum | 1400 E Prospect St | https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/asian-art-museum |
| Chihuly Garden and Glass | 305 Harrison St | https://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/ |
| Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) | 420 E Pike St | https://cocaseattle.org/coca-events/2018/9/20/2018-marathon-auction |
| Core | 117 Prefontaine Pl S | https://www.coregallery.org |
| Frye Art Museum | 704 Terry Ave | https://www.fryemuseum.org |
| Georgetown Powerplant Museum | 6605 13Th Ave S | http://www.seattle.gov |
| History House | 790 N 34Th St | http://historyhouse.org |
| Hydroplane & Raceboat Museum | 1605 S 93Rd St | https://thunderboats.ning.com |
| Living Computer Museum | 2245 1St Ave S | https://livingcomputers.org |
| MOHAI | 860 Terry Ave. N | https://mohai.org/ |
| Museum Of Communications | 7000 E Marginal Way S | https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle |
| Museum Of History & Industry | 5933 6Th Ave S | https://mohai.org |
| Museum of Pop Culture | 325 5th Ave N | https://www.mopop.org/ |
| Northwest African American Museum | 2300 S Massachusetts St | https://www.naamnw.org |
| Northwest Seaport | 901 Fairview Ave N | https://www.maritimeheritagecentre.ca |
| Official Bad Art Museum Of Art | 5828 Roosevelt Way Ne | http://officialbadartmuseumofart.com |
| Olympic Sculpture Park | 2901 Western Ave | https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/olympic-sculpture-park |
| Pacific Science Center | 200 2Nd Ave N | https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/ |
| Pratt Fine Arts Center | 1902 S Main St | https://www.pratt.org |
| Seattle Art Museum | 1300 1St Ave | https://www.seattleartmuseum.org |
| Seattle Children's Museum | 305 Harrison St | https://thechildrensmuseum.org/ |
| Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum | 317 3Rd Ave S | http://www.seametropolicemuseum.org |
| Seattle Pinball Museum | 508 Maynard Ave S | https://www.seattlepinballmuseum.com |
| Tacoma Buffalo Soldiers Museum | 1940 S Wilkerson St | https://www.buffalosoldierstacoma.org/ |
| The Unity Museum | 4341 1/2 University Way Ne # 2 | http://unitymuseum.org |
| Wing Luke Asian Museum | 719 S King St | http://seattlechinatowntour.com |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The best museums in Seattle are personal preferences. However, some of the most-visited venues include MOHAI (Museum of History and Industry), the Seattle Art Museum, MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture), the Pacific Science Center, and the Seattle Children’s Museum.
Yes. While you might be most familiar with the Seattle Art Museum, it’s one of many. Some other art venues include CoCA or the Center on Contemporary Art, Asian Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, and the Official Bad Art Museum of Art.
The best children’s museum is the Seattle Children’s Museum. It’s located at 305 Harrison Street and features 11 permanent exhibits within 18,000 square feet of play and learning space. Some of the attractions include Imagination Studio, Tribal Tales, Post Office, Bijou Theater, and the Construction Zone.
