From art to boats, there’s something for everyone.
Seattle has a longstanding report as a hub for euphony ( Brandi Carlile ; Soundgarden ; Pearl Jam ) , fish ( Pike Place Market ) , and coffee ( ahem , Starbucks ) , but it ’s time we pay right attention to its artistic production . Across the metropolis , a thriving meshwork of museums , galleries , and artist pop - ups supply Seattleites with memory access to incredibly powerful and important work , create by both rising star and already - iconic build alike . From visiting display to permanent shows , there ’s an ever - evolving menu of cultural experience to be had in this city . But where to part ? Ahead , the best museums in Seattle for art , culture , account , and mickle more .
Frye Art Museum
Capitol HillHere ’s the deal with the Frye : While the gift shop is so good it needs no introduction , the art itself is evenbetter . Currently on prospect ? A stunning show of fertile artist Romare Bearden ’s abstractionist work , featuring works created between 1952 - 1964 and fittingly titled “ Romare Bearden : Abstraction ” . There ’s only a month left to see the showing , so get it while you may , along with “ Jeremy Shaw : Liminals ” ( on view until October 9 ) , plus others . What to know before you go : The museum is opened Wednesday - Sunday , 11 am - 5 promethium , and admission is always loose . There ’s also free 30 - moment guide tours on second Saturdays and 2d Sundays , which meet at 1 pm in the Rotunda . Lastly , Café Frieda is ( deplorably ) still closed .
The Center for Wooden Boats
South Lake UnionJust next door to MOHAI is The Center for Wooden Boats ( otherwise known as CWB ) , a museum commit to preserving the PNW ’s rich maritime heritage . CWB is very hands - on ; once you visit an exhibit about , say , historic small craft , you’re able to go check out the museum ’s participating fleet of boat right alfresco on the waters of Lake Union . What to know before you go : In addition to the museum display , CWB has mountain of free and paid chance toget on the pee , like sailing lessons , boat rentals , and charter cruises . Hours vary depending on the season ( checkhere ) and admission is always destitute .
Seattle Art Museum
DowntownSAM is our first rec of what is a three - location museum trifecta , which also let in the Olympic Sculpture Garden and Seattle Asian Art Museum . On this first stop , check out “ Anthony White : Limited Liability ” , a show featuring some souvenirs ( and critiques ) of late capitalism , and sculpturer Alberto Giacometti ’s show “ Alberto Giacometti : Toward the Ultimate Figure ” , on persuasion until January 29 and October 9 , respectively . What to know before you go : SAM is overt 10 am - 5 promethium everyday except Monday and Tuesday . If you buy a ticket online in betterment , you lay aside $ 3 — meaning you pay $ 19.99 or else of the twenty-four hour period - of price of $ 22.99 . ( Reserve your tickethere . ) Also , though mask are no longer required , the museum has set aside time exclusively for mask - wearing visitant on the third Saturday of every calendar month from 9 - 10 am .
Henry Art Gallery
U DistrictThe Henry have got the title of Washington State ’s very first fine art museum , having first open its doors in 1927 . Since then , it ’s quadruple in size , added a permanent James Turrell immersive sculpture titledLight Rein , and played a vital use as the destination for arts and ideas on the UW campus . All that to say , it ’s high time you pay this museum a sojourn , like , ASAP.What to know before you go : Admission is on a slip scale of suggested contribution , from $ 0 - 20 , and barren on the first Thursday of every calendar month . The café is assailable Tuesday - Friday , 9 am - 4 post-mortem and Saturday - Sunday , 11 am - 3 pm .
Museum of Museums
Capitol HillA new - ish add-on to the arts landscape on Capitol Hill , Museum of Museums opened its doors in 2020 . mum ’s building , however , has been around since 1946 , and is now home to two courtly expo space , three additional on - site museums , spread out installations , weekly graphics course , and more . Oh , and if you ’re into thrifting — check outMobile Mall Seattle , which host semi - regular time of origin malls in MoM ’s cellar , amongst other places . What to know before you go : Advanced ticket be $ 10 a soda . ma is open 5 - 10 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays , 12 - 10 postmortem on Fridays and Saturdays , and 12 - 6 Prime Minister on Sundays . If you ’re an artist interested in evidence work at the museum , check out their open birdsong pagehere .
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Capitol HillNestled in a 1930s art deco building in Volunteer Park , Seattle Asian Art Museum is actually put up in SAM ’s original plate , which moved locations in 1991 . Now , the building is entirely dedicated to their extensive Asian art collection ; currently view is a group show titled “ Beyond the Mountain : Contemporary Chinese Artists on the Classical Forms . ” The museum also hoststoursandtalksat the Gardner Center for Asian Art and Ideas . What to know before you go : The museum is currently unfastened 10 am - 5 pm , Thursday - Sunday , but will be close on Thursdays beginning September 1 . slate cost $ 14.99 when purchasedin advanceor $ 17.99 at the door . Parking is innocent at Volunteer Park .
National Nordic Museum
BallardSeattle has a fat Scandi story so it should come as no surprise that there ’s a whole museum dedicated to historical and contemporary Nordic cultivation . While the lasting exhibit will school you on 12,000 long time of Nordic history , featuring all five Nordic countries ( Denmark , Finland , Iceland , Norway , Sweden ) , the spread out shows alter wide – presently on view is a clime - modification focused display title “ Across the West and Toward the North : Norse and American Landscape Photography . ”What to bed before you go : The first Thursday of every calendar month is free ; otherwise , tickets will place you back $ 20 each . natter hours are 10 am - 5 pm everyday except Monday .
Museum of History & Industry
South Lake UnionWith item like Boeing ’s first commercial-grade plane and Rainier ’s 12 - foot - tall neon “ R ” for good on presentation , the Museum of History & Industry , AKA MOHAI , is both a time abridgement and a picture of our present solar day . Two photography exhibits currently on purview make this museum a must - visit : “ Ansel Adams : Masterworks ” and “ Perspectives on Place : Photographs from Here , ” the latter of which is a mathematical group show in collaboration with theBlack Heritage Society of Washington State . What to know before you go : buy your ticket in overture is recommended ; you could do sohere . MOHAI is open 10 am - 5 post-mortem everyday .
Photo by Daniel Sheehan, courtesy of MOHAI
Photo by Jueqian Fang, courtesy of Frye Art Museum
The Center for Wooden Boats
Photo by Chloe Collyer, courtesy of Seattle Art Museum
Photo courtesy of Museum of Museums
Photo courtesy of the National Nordic Museum
