Seattle is home to dozens of really cool museums, but only a few of them are well known outside of the city. That’s a shame, because every one of them reflects an aspect of the city’s culture and heritage. In my visits to Seattle, I’ve tried to get to at least one museum per trip, and here are several I’ve found that I think are totally worth visiting.
The Burke Museum
Founded in 1885, the Burke is the oldest public museum in Washington state. It is a research- and collections-based museum that serves many audiences in communities. Its mission is to create a better understanding of the world and our place in it by providing large collections of Washington’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. Located in Seattle’s University District (referred to by locals as the “U District,” the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Chihuly Garden and Glass
Glass artist Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma and introduced to glasswork while studying interior design at the University of Washington. Since then, he has become an internationally renowned artist whose work has stunned and amazed visitors all over the world. Chihuly’s museum and garden came about as a result of a campaign to reinvigorate Seattle Center, where the museum is located, and it contains an array of beautiful and intriguing glasswork. Whether it’s an ocean floor scene, giant glass sculptural chandeliers, or glass flowers in the gardens, the Chihuly Garden’s exhibits are well worth the price of admission.
The Living Computers Museum + Labs
Naturally, a techno-metropolis like Seattle would have a museum of computers, both brand new and vintage. The Living Computers Museum + Labs provides a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience with computer technology from the 1960s to the present. It houses the world’s largest collection of fully restored—and usable—supercomputers, mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers. It also offers workshops on computer-related topics like robotics, video game-making, and digital art. Located in Seattle’s Sodo (“South of Downtown”) district, the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Museum of Pop Culture (formerly known as the EMP Museum)
The Museum of Pop Culture, located in Seattle Center next to the Space Needle, is dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary popular culture. With its roots in rock’n’roll, MoPOP also features educational programs and interactive exhibits about a diverse array of pop culture phenomena. It has permanent exhibitions related to Star Trek, Jimi Hendrix (a Seattle native), and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.
Northwest African American Museum
The realization of a dream 25 years in the making, the Northwest African American Museum opened to the public in 2008. Its mission is to spread knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of the histories, arts, and cultures of people of African descent for the enrichment of all. The museum explores African American history in the Pacific Northwest, up to and including the current time. The museum is located at 2300 South Massachusetts Street in Seattle, and is open Wednesday through Sunday.
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is another wonderful space that explores one of the cultures whose presence formed what the city looks like today, but it’s closed for renovations until 2019.
What’s your favorite museum in Seattle? Have you visited any of the museums I’ve written about? Sound off in the comments!
Photo: An exhibit of blown glass sculptures representing the sea at the Chihuly Garden and Glass. Credit: Ludovic Farine / Shutterstock.com