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11 Amazing Museums in Seattle You Can’t Miss

Visiting Seattle? Don’t miss these amazing museums.

We just got back from a whirlwind of museums this past weekend. The Seattle area has over 40 museums with a wide range of interest and topics. We’ve had a chance to check out 10 of them, but since we’re only a 3-hour drive away, we know we’ll be back to see more soon!

Guide to the Best Museums in Seattle + Seattle Museum Free Days // localadventurer.com

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Last Updated: August 13, 2023

11 Amazin Museums in Seattle Washington

1. MoPop (Formerly EMP)

325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA 98109, map

We nerded out at the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture. It’s a really fun Seattle modern art museum. They have different exhibits with themes like Star Trek, Nirvana, Jimmy Hendrix, Fantasy Worlds, Indie Game Revolution, Science Fiction and more. Each exhibit has memorabilia from some of the most unforgettable pop culture moments and movies.

They also have interactive exhibits like Sound Off!, where you can learn about the different aspects of music and practice playing the guitar, drums, and singing in the sound booth.

Local Tip: Don’t forget to explore the exterior of the building too, which was designed by Frank Gehry. He often looked to music for inspiration. Around the back, there are great photo ops too.

See More: Ultimate Seattle Bucket List

2. The Center for Wooden Boats

1010 Valley St, Seattle, WA 98109, map

This museum has all things wooden boats. Check out all the different types of boats they have in their collection or even enroll in heritage skills workshops to learn more about the craftsmanship. The highlight, though, happens every Sunday when they take people out for free rides on different boats. Check their site for updated info.

Local Tip: To take advantage of the free ride Sundays, get there early. During the winter, the slots don’t fill up immediately, but during the summer when the weather is nice, there can be lines wrapped around the building as early as 9 AM.

See More: Weekend Trip to Seattle – How to Spend the Perfect 3 Days

Center for Wooden Boats Seattle - see their boat collection, enroll in heritage skills workshops, and every Sunday they take people out for free rides on their boats // localadventurer.com

3. Chihuly Garden and Glass

325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA 98109, map

Dale Chihuly is one of the most recognizable names in glass art. If you’ve ever been to the Bellagio in Vegas, then you’re familiar with his work in the lobby ceiling.

Chihuly is originally from Tacoma, Washington and often has limited time exhibits, but Chihuly Garden and Glass opened at the Seattle Center in 2012 and has no plans on leaving. Each piece is beautifully displayed and they even have demonstrations about the process out of an old converted Airstream. It’s easily one of the best art museums in seattle.

Also, if you’re looking for unique Seattle Art Museum Events, check out the private workshop events.

Local Tip: This place gets busy! Try to arrive as early as possible especially if you’re hoping to get good photos without people in them. The best photo spots come towards the end at the glass house, so we suggest you head there first.

4. Museum of History and Industry (MoHAI)

860 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, map

The Museum of History and Industry or MOHAI is located right next door to the Center for Wooden Boats. It focuses on regional innovation and imagination. Some of their permanent exhibits include maritime traditions, local innovations, and the Seattle journey. They also have temporary exhibits that rotate.

Local Tip: Admission is free every first Thursday of the month.

The Museum of History and Industry or MOHAI focuses on regional innovation and imagination with permanent exhibits including maritime traditions, local innovations, and the Seattle journey. // localadventurer.com

5. Living Computers: Museum + Labs

2245 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134, map

This was our favorite find! The Living Computers: Museum + Labs has the world’s largest collection of fully restored and usable computers. They have technology from the 60s to the present.

You can spend all afternoon playing the original Oregon Trail or messing around on Windows 95. They also have new technology showcasing virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and self-driving cars.

We could have easily spent all day here. All the new and flashy tech is downstairs, but make your way upstairs to check out all the old school tech! Don’t forget to stop by the cold room. It’s crazy to think that our phones are more powerful than all the systems in this room combined.

Local Tip: Admission is free every first Thursday of the month from 5-8 pm.

6. Seattle Pinball Museum

508 Maynard Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104, map

It’s always cool to see museums born from someone’s passion. Seattle Pinball Museum was created to share the games with other local collectors. Now it fills its walls in Chinatown from end to end with pinball machines dating back as far as 1934. There are over 50 games that change regularly, and after paying your entrance fee, you can play to your heart’s content.

Local Tip: There is an age limit here. Kids need to be 7 or older to play games so keep that in mind if you have little ones. It would be kind of torturous to bring them if they aren’t allowed to play too!

7. Pacific Science Center

200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, map

This is a great museum in Seattle if you have kids! There are currently three main sections and multiple IMAX theaters. There are a ton of hands-on activities to check out and they hold special events for kids, teens, and adults. 

You can buy tickets the way you want them. If you just want to see the exhibits, there is pricing specific for that. Otherwise, they also have deals for the exhibits + an IMAX movie, or just tickets to the IMAX.

Local Tip: During our visit, there were a number of schools taking field trips there, so if you do want to avoid the chaos of hundreds of kids running around, just call in to check if they have any field trips scheduled.

See More: Ultimate PNW Bucket List – Things to Do in the Pacific Northwest

8. Seattle Art Museum

1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, map

Better known as SAM, the Seattle Art Museum encompasses SAM, Asian Art Museum, and Olympic Sculpture Park. There is a set of SAM Museum Collections and Installations, and regularly changing guest exhibitions. They also have events held throughout the year that you can join.

Local Tip: First Thursdays of the month are free to all and half-price on special exhibitions. The First Fridays of the month are free to seniors and half-price to special exhibitions.

9. Asian Art Museum

1400 E Prospect St, Seattle, WA 98112, map

The Asian Art Museum is part of the Seattle Art Museum and has a beautiful space in Volunteer Park, which was actually SAM’s original location. As made obvious by the name, its galleries highlight Asian art and history.

Local Tip: Admission is free every first Thursday and Saturday and second Thursday every month from 5-9 pm. Every first Friday is free to those ages 62 and over.

10. Lemay-America’s Car Museum (Tacoma)

2702 E D St, Tacoma, WA 98421, map

If you love cars, you have to check out America’s Car Museum. It opened in the summer of 2012 and is America’s largest car museum. You can explore four floors of wall to wall cars or visit during one of their huge car events that fill the outside field with even more spectacular cars. They also change out the exhibits so that if you visit multiple times, you’ll see something new.

Local Tip: If you want to hear more in-depth stories of the cars, they have free public tours every day at 11 AM. Just ask for more details at guest services.

Lemay America's Car Museum in Tacoma Washington is America’s largest car museum with four floors of cars. Visit during one of their car events that fill the outside field too. // localadventurer.com

11. Museum of Glass (Tacoma)

1801 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402, map

Dale Chihuly is originally from Tacoma, WA, so it’s only fitting that there is also a Museum of Glass. You can visit the large glass studio and watch artists create these amazing pieces, or walk around and awe at their work. You can see plenty of Chihuly’s work as well as other amazing glass artists. If you want a more hands on experience, check out their workshops.

Local Tip: Admission is free for all every third Thursday of the month from 5-8pm and Sundays for college students with ID.

Bonus: Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium

5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, map || 1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101, map

We were surprised to see both of these on the Seattle museums list, but you can consider them living museums. Both are relatively smaller than other city zoos or aquariums, but still a great place to bring the family. The aquarium is especially great when the weather is a bit dicey outside.

Local Tip: If you’re interested in visiting the aquarium, zoo, and multiple Seattle attractions, you can save money by getting the Seattle CityPASS!

See More: 15 Best Weekend Getaways from Seattle WA

Map to Help You Get Around

Seattle Museum Month

February is Museum Month in Seattle! If you stay at any of their participating hotels (which is A LOT of them), you get half-price admission to more than 40 area museums! Check out more details like when the Seattle museums open, their current hours, special exhibits, and more at Seattle Museum Month. Next time we’re in town, we want to check out more of the art museums in seattle and the SAM museum.

If you’re looking to explore museums on a budget, the Seattle area has a ton of free museums year round. We’ve compiled a list of them for you here:

Don’t want to read? Watch the video

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What types of museums do you like to explore? Have you been to any of these?

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Esther and JacobPin

Esther + Jacob

Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.

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