The best museums in Seattle
Seattle is known for its rain and gloom, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting outside of our sunny summers. If anything you’ll have a better chance to see the sites without all the crowds and have the extra benefit of checking out some of the great museums we have to offer.
If you plan to visit the major tour attractions you should consider getting the city pass as the entry fees can become pretty pricey. There are options that let you add the SAM, MoPop and Museum of Flight.
If you happen to be visiting on the first Thursday of the month, almost all art museums are free to attend. This means they are also usually busier than a typical Thursday. Only the base admission is free, any special exhibits will be an added cost. Be sure to check with each museum website prior to visiting as reservations may be required.
Art museums
Chihuly Garden and Glass
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Museum for world renowned (local) glass artist Dale Chihuly. Beautiful glass garden with space needle overhead. Great IG spot.
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Frye Art Museum
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FREE!!! Free museum which also features a couple of special exhibits in addition to permanent gallery.
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Seattle Art Museum
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make sure to see the Jacob Lawrence Gallery for rotating exhibitions
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Seattle Asian Art Museum
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seattle and the west coast have a large asian population, this museum helps celebrate asian art and culture
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History and Culture
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
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located on the UW campus, you'll get the natural history of the Pacific Northwest as well as information on the native tribes
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National Nordic Museum
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includes an abbreviated history of the different nordic countries and their migration and impact on North America, especially related to the Pacific Northwest. Beautiful architecture inside.
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Industry
The Museum of Flight
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located next to boeing field, you'll get an in depth look at the history of flight and the impact on the PNW
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Other
Museum of Pop Culture
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Mix of seattle music history and sci-fi museum. Always has a rotating special exhibit worth checking out.
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Museums to visit in Tacoma
If you’re already planning to visit Tacoma (45 minutes south of Seattle) there are a few additional museums worth checking out.
Tacoma Art Museum
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located near the museum of glass, make sure to plan time for both museums when in tacoma
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LeMay - America’s Car Museum
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an extensive collection of cars from the past 100+ years
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