Seattle Museums

(Seattle, Washington - WA, USA)

Seattle's cultural scene has gained international notoriety, bringing in artists from around the world and hosting some of the most famous rotating exhibits. Highlighting classic and contemporary arts, culture, history and zoology, the multitude of museums in Seattle have a strong focus on public education and community involvement.

Many of the museums and galleries are located in the downtown district, Pioneer Square, and the International and University districts, and offer free admission the first Thursday of each month, together with extended viewing hours.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Address: 45th Street and 17th Avenue (University of Washington), Seattle, Washington WA, 98105, USA
Tel: +1 206 543 5590
The Burke Museum in Seattle is a unique state museum of natural and cultural history. Displays include a massive collection of exquisite gems and minerals, fossils, totem poles, hand carved cedar canoes, the region's only dinosaur skeleton and over three million specimens of beetles, butterflies, birds and other creatures.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00, Thursdays - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children under five free. First Thursday of each month free

Experience Music Project Museum (EMP)

Address: 325 5th Avenue North, Seattle, Washington WA, 98109, USA
Tel: +1 206 770 2700
Featuring the unique architecture of Frank Gehry, Experience Music Project's 42,672 square meter building is an interactive music attraction focusing on popular American music and rock 'n' roll. Participatory exhibits, unique artifacts and live performances make this a denizen for music lovers and pop-culture enthusiasts. The EMP also hosts the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (see below), the only one of its kind in the USA devoted entirely to science fiction.
Open hours: daily 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors

Frye Art Museum

Address: 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle, Washington WA, 98104, USA
Tel: +1 206 622 9250
Founders Charles and Emma Frye willed that their collection must always be displayed in natural light and admission always free. The permanent exhibits at the city's Frye Art Museum include a unique collection of 19th and 20th century European (focusing on the Munich School), American (including masters Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and others) and Alaskan art. The rotating exhibits feature worldly collections from emerging contemporary artists.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Thursday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

The Museum of Flight

Address: 9404 Marginal Way, Seattle, Washington WA, 98108, USA
Tel: +1 206 764 5720
With numerous full-sized aircraft and spacecraft, and over 19,000 artifacts including instruments, textiles, models and oral histories, the Museum of Flight in Seattle is the largest and most inclusive aviation and aerospace collection in the west. The exhibits form a living record of the history of air and space achievements, and include the famous 'Flying White House', which carried presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00, the first Thursday of the month - 10:00 to 21:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, youth and seniors, children under five free. First Thursday of each month free

The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)

Address: 2700 24th Avenue East (McCurdy Park), Seattle, Washington WA, 98112, USA
Tel: +1 206 324 1126
Celebrating the history of the Pacific Northwest from 1780 to the present, the acclaimed Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is the largest private heritage organization in Washington. The collections include Boeing's first commercial airplane, baby carriages, evening gowns, gramophones and other lifestyle memorabilia. The onsite library, featuring over one million books, maps, manuscripts and photographs, is one of the premier collections of historical data in the Pacific Northwest.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00, first Thursday of the month - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors, children under four free. First Thursday of each month free

Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame

Address: 325 Fifth Avenue North (Seattle Center), Seattle, Washington WA, 98109, USA
Tel: +1 206 724 3428
As the only museum in the USA dedicated solely to science fiction, this nonprofit organization seeks to inspire new generations, explore the different facets of sci-fi and honor the legendary creators and their creations. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, located within the Frank Gehry building (which also houses the Experience Music Project) explores the genre's vibrant history, creations and ideas. Look out for the interactive exhibits focusing on history and heritage, as well as tools and technologies, experimental societies and artificial beings that populate sci-fi.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, military and seniors, children under six free

Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM)

Address: 1400 East Prospect Street (Volunteer Park), Seattle, Washington WA, 98101, USA
Tel: +1 206 654 3256
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is the only pan-Asian American museum in the USA dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting Asian Pacific American culture and history through art. Focusing on Korean, Chinese and Japanese art with exhibitions including ceramics, furniture, architecture and sculpture. The McCaw Foundation Library holds an extensive collection for continued research.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00, Thursday - 10:00 to 21:00 (the SAAM will be closed until January 14, 2006)
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, students and seniors, children under 12 free. First Thursday of each month free. Admission free with ticket stub

Wing Luke Asian Museum

Address: 407 Seventh Avenue South, Seattle, Washington WA, 98104, USA
Tel: +1 206 623 5124
Located in the International District of Seattle, the Smithsonian affiliated Wing Luke Asian Museum is the only community based attraction devoted to the history, culture and art of Asian Pacific Americans in the USA. The museum houses a permanent collection exploring the roles various Asian cultures have played in developing the Pacific Northwest and special exhibits intended to explain traditional Asian customs. the Wing Luke Asian also offers rotating arts and heritage exhibitions, public tours, international films and an impressive research center.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 11:00 to 16:30, Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children, students and seniors, children under five free. First Thursday of each month free