From art and history to aviation and marine life, there are many museums to visit in Seattle and beyond. Each one offers a combination of exhibits, interactive activities, and events that provide an immersive and educational experience. Marvel at a 100-foot-long glass installation hanging from the ceiling at Chihuly Garden and Glass or climb into the cockpit of a reconnaissance plane at the Museum of Flight. The possibilities are truly endless.
Bonus: Time your visit for February during Seattle Museum Month and receive half-off admission to select museums in the greater Seattle area when you stay at a participating downtown Seattle hotel.
Read on to discover just a few Seattle museums to explore on your next trip.
Seattle Museums to Visit
Chihuly Garden and Glass
Located next to the iconic Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass boasts gardens, a glasshouse, and galleries filled with works by famed local artist Dale Chihuly. Stroll through the gardens full of colorful glass art and flowers that change with each season, and be sure to check out the live glass demonstration. You can also see pieces from Chihuly’s personal collection and try custom cocktails made with local ingredients at The Bar at Chihuly Garden and Glass.
Museum of Pop Culture
The Museum of Pop Culture celebrates the cultural influences that have shaped music, movies, and art in Seattle and beyond. Start with Massive: The Power of Pop Culture, which explores the media and people influencing pop culture trends. The exhibits about Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix are mainstays here, and you can also learn more about the genres of fantasy, horror, and science fiction with relics from the films you know and love.
Seattle Art Museum + Seattle Asian Art Museum
Located one block from Pike Place Market, the Seattle Art Museum includes several contemporary art galleries with sculptures, paintings, and mixed media from international and Native artists. Part of the same museum system, the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Capitol Hill highlights ancient and contemporary pieces from Asia through the lens of literature, clothing, identity, and worship.
Museum of Flight
The largest independent nonprofit air and space museum in the world, the Museum of Flight boasts 175 aircraft and spacecraft, plus photographs, space suits, and aircraft manuals. Get an up-close look into the history of aviation, from the Wright Brothers to the exploration of Mars. Start in the Great Gallery to learn more about the first century of flight and see 39 historic aircraft. Explore the birthplace of Boeing, experience multi-sensory exhibits at the Space Gallery, and discover collections commemorating fighter aviation in World War I and World War II.
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Located on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture features exhibits that showcase biology and paleontology specimens, archaeological items, and plant and dinosaur fossils, including the most complete Tyrannosaurus skull in the world. The Burke also includes a collection curated by six Pacific Northwest Native artists that features rotating art like a 35-foot canoe, house posts, basketry, and more. Be sure to grab a frybread taco at Off the Rez, an Indigenous-owned cafe attached to the museum.
Museum of History & Industry
The Museum of History & Industry tells the story of innovation in Washington State through artifacts, documents, photographs, and hands-on activities. The Center for Innovation highlights the ingenuity of local residents, while Maritime Seattle focuses on the city’s relationship with water. Don’t miss 360° views from the working WWII-era Tang periscope.
Northwest African American Museum
The Northwest African American Museum is located in a historic building that housed the Colman School, the first school in Seattle attended by Black students. This museum celebrates Black heritage, history, and culture through visual arts, music, literature, and rotating panels and workshops. Check out the Community Living Room for artwork by Pacific Northwest residents of African descent or grab a novel from the Sistah Sci-fi Book Vending Machine. Families visiting on the second Sunday of each month can enjoy an interactive story time in the afternoon.
Wing Luke Museum
The Wing Luke Museum covers themes of belonging, social movements, and cultural celebrations through a series of permanent exhibits exploring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Stories come to life through keepsakes, photographs, and interviews. The museum also holds an ongoing interactive exhibit on actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, who called Seattle home during the early 1960s.
National Nordic Museum
The National Nordic Museum captures the history and culture of the Nordic region and continues its mission of honoring the legacy of Nordic immigrants in the Northwest. The exhibits cover themes of connection to nature, sustainability, and innovation. Start with the Nordic Journeys exhibit, which chronicles how Nordic life and culture have evolved over the last 12,000 years. Here you’ll also find Project Aurora, a 20-foot-tall wall of LED lights that captures the unpredictability of the Aurora Borealis using AI. Continue your adventure by searching for Thomas Dambo’s troll sculptures around Washington, starting with the one outside the museum.
Seattle Children’s Museum
The Seattle Children’s Museum is designed to encourage curiosity and adventure for both the young and the young at heart. Here, kids of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn through rotating programs including nature walks, scientific exploration using handmade creations, and arts and crafts. Discover exhibits on Indigenous art, transit, theater, and flora and fauna in Washington.
Seattle Pinball Museum
At the Seattle Pinball Museum, visitors can play 50+ pinball games from the 1960s to today, each one providing a glimpse into how pinball craftsmanship has changed over the years. You’ll find themed machines featuring everything from Godzilla and JAWS to Ms. Pac Man and Toy Story 4.
Seattle Museum Month
During the month of February, visitors can get 50% off entry to select Seattle museums ― including some stellar options in nearby Tacoma and Bainbridge Island ― when staying at a participating hotel. For 2025, some hotels included are CitizenM Seattle in Pioneer Square, Hilton Garden Inn in downtown, and Astra Hotel in South Lake Union. Note that museums and hotels can vary from year to year, so check the official website for the most up-to-date information.
About the Author
Aleenah Ansari is a Seattle-based writer covering travel, entrepreneurship, wellness, and representation in media for Insider, The Seattle Times, Byrdie, and more. You can usually find her searching for murals in Seattle and beyond, reading a book by a BIPOC author, and planning her next trip. Learn more at aleenahansari.com.
Featured image: Seattle Art Museum / Photo Credit: Chloe Collyer