SeattleMuseums

Seattle is full of wonderful museums to educate and inspire.

The Seattle area is home to an excellent collection of art, history, maritime, and special interest museums. The Museum of Flight will take you on a thrilling adventure through aviation history with exhibits like the Great Gallery, the Personal Courage Wing and the original Boeing Headquarters, in one of the largest air and space museums in the world. At MOPOP you can learn to play an instrument, stroll through the Jimi Hendrix exhibit and explore the history of popular culture. History buffs will appreciate the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) and the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. Many of these museums are family-friendly and offer hands-on-activities for kids and adults alike!

Museum Partners

MUSEUMS FOR EVERY INTEREST

"Occular" at Frye Art Museum

Photo: Linda Lane

Art & Craft Museums

Seattle is a magnet for both artists and art enthusiasts. The casual yet sophisticated setting, beautiful scenery and inspiring mix of people create a powerful environment for artistic expression.

DC-3 at The Museum of Flight

Photo: Bill Abbott

Aviation & Transportation Museums

The greater Seattle area has an extensive collection of historic planes, from public displays to private collections open to the public. See how far we have come since the first airplane took flight in Seattle in 1910.

The Burke Museum

Photo: Loren Javier

History & Heritage Museums

Seattle is named after the respected Native American Chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish tribes. Shaped by many cultures, including the original Native Americans, along with immigrants from Asia and Scandinavia, we retain a strong and diverse cultural heritage that provides many opportunities to learn about Seattle from the roots up.

Photo: David Newman

Photo: David Newman

Maritime & Military Museums

The maritime heritage of Puget Sound is filled with fascinating stories of native traditions, intrepid explorers, pioneer sea captains and vessels, industrialists, and ordinary working people.

Pacific Science Center beneath a supermoon

Photo: Ingrid Taylar

Science & Natural History Museums

In a region that is notorious for its stunning natural beauty and technological innovation, is it surprising that we have fantastic science and natural history museums for you to explore?

Nirvana exhibit at EMP Musuem

Photo: Theresa Arzadon-Labajo

Pop Culture Museums

The optimistic and creative mentality of Seattle residents creates an attractive climate for innovative thinkers. This is why some of the most original and successful business concepts in the nation have been launched right here in Seattle. (Hint: think Boeing, Amazon, Starbucks, REI, Expedia, Zillow…)

Seattle Children's Museum

Photo: Nicholas Wang

Children’s Museums

While any museum in the area welcomes children, some offer special programs that keep the attention of even our youngest travelers. From hands-on exhibits to creative events catered just for kids, you’ll find yourself wishing that you were a kid again!

Upcoming Museum Events

Northwest Native Art

Ongoing

What is your artistic heritage? Six Pacific Northwest Native artists from across the region answered this question in …

Event Website

American Art: The Stories We Carry

Ongoing

American Art: The Stories We Carry, features a transformation of SAM’s American art galleries. Created through an unprecedented …

Event Website

John Grade: Middle Fork

Ongoing

John Grade’s large-scale sculpture, Middle Fork, echoes the contours of a 140-year-old western hemlock tree located in the …

Event Website

Untold Stories: World War II at 75

Ongoing

World War II ended over seventy-five years ago. The War was one of the most destructive and defining …

Event Website

Docent-Led Museum Tours

Ongoing

On the third Friday of each month, dive deeper into Nordic culture, art, and history with a guided …

Event Website

Amazing Life

Ongoing

Over 8.7 million species are known to exist today, with more being discovered daily. How did this variety …

Event Website

LeMay – America’s Car Museum

Ongoing

This international destination for families and auto enthusiasts celebrates America’s love affair with the automobile and explores how …

Event Website

Nirvana: Taking Punk To the Masses

Ongoing

The exhibition features instruments like Kurt Cobain’s Fender Stratocaster, Krist Novoselic’s Hiwatt DR103 bass amplifier head, and Dave …

Baird’s beaked whale

Ongoing

The Burke Museum’s Baird’s beaked whale is one of about 10 Baird’s beaked whales in U.S. museum collections …

Event Website

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