Explore the Best Museums in Seattle

Seattle may be best known for its rain, coffee, grunge music, and stunning skyline, but a trip to the Emerald City wouldn’t be complete without visiting its museums, where you can find everything from Jimi Hendrix’s handwritten song lyrics to vintage pinball machines.

Here’s our guide to the eight best museums in Seattle.

Olympic Sculpture Park: Best Outdoor Museum

Located on Seattle’s beautiful waterfront, the free-to-visit Olympic Sculpture Park is a nine-acre space home to more than two dozen permanent sculptures. “The Eagle” is easily the most recognizable sculpture in the park, but take your time to wander and appreciate the wide variety of different but equally impressive sculptures.

Visit on a clear day to take in the stunning views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt Rainier, and Puget Sound. The park has ample space to enjoy a picnic. Grab food from nearby establishments and then relax while enjoying the killer views as you eat.

National Nordic Museum: Best for Local History

A tribute to the Nordic immigrants who played a pivotal role in shaping Seattle, the National Nordic Museum’s main exhibition “Nordic Journeys” focuses on immigration, the evolution of Nordic culture, and how this culture influences Seattle today and in the past.

The museum’s five galleries present its permanent collection, including works from Danish-American artist Dines Carlsen and thousands of digitalized oral histories. The national museums of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden often loan exhibitions and artifacts.

Additionally, admission is free on the first Thursday of each month, allowing visitors to explore without any cost.

Seattle Pinball Museum: Quirkiest Museum

For a fun and unconventional museum experience, look no further than the Seattle Pinball Museum. The diverse collection includes pinball machines created from 1934 to the present. Some favorites are King Tut from the 1960s, Captain Fantastic from the 1970s, Godzilla from the ’90s, and Stranger Things from 2019.

With over 50 machines to play, the admission fee grants you unlimited access to play as many pinball games as you’d like.

Pacific Science Center: Best Museum for Kids

The Pacific Science Center strikes an excellent balance between education and entertainment. A Seattle staple for more than six decades, the museum features a butterfly house, dinosaur exhibit, IMAX theater, immersive laser dome, and planetarium.

General admission includes the laser dome and planetarium shows. However, since tickets can sell out quickly, it’s advisable to secure timed entry in advance.

Museum of Pop Culture: Best for Pop-Culture Aficionados

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) truly lives up to its name, offering a diverse array of exhibits and activities that span from science fiction to horror movies to video games.

This museum pays homage to Seattle’s significant contributions to pop culture, housing the world’s largest collection of handwritten lyrics, instruments, artifacts, and photos of Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana.

Other highlights include a guitar sculpture made from 500 instruments and costumes from iconic movies, alongside hands-on galleries enabling visitors to create their own music concert performances for a virtual audience.

Seattle Art Museum: Best for an Expansive Art Collection

Home to masterpieces by renowned artists such as Sam Gilliam, Andy Warhol, Mary Cassatt, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, Henri Matisse, and Jackson Pollock, the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) offers visitors an extensive variety of art. Its collection spans from ancient to contemporary pieces, with a particularly moving Native American Art gallery.

Moreover, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, located about three miles away in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, is also part of SAM and showcases incredible works by Himalayan, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Southeast Asian artists.

Purchasing tickets online before your visit can save you money, or you can visit for free on the first Thursday of the month.

Frye Art Museum: Best for a Quick Art Appreciation Stop

The Frye Art Museum opened its doors in 1952 as Seattle’s first free art museum, and after 70 years, admission remains complimentary.

This charming gallery features paintings and sculptures from the 19th century to the present day. Its daily tours are also free, offering visitors a fantastic opportunity to learn about the collections while browsing the work of Pacific Northwest artists and designers in the museum shop.

Center for Wooden Boats: Best Maritime Museum

Embrace Seattle’s coastal location at the Center for Wooden Boats, located on Lake Union, where the museum honors the Pacific Northwest’s rich maritime history.

Visitors can enjoy rotating exhibitions of various vessels, mainly small rowboats and sailboats, at the museum’s Wagner Education Center and Floating Boathouse, both designed to provide stunning views of the surrounding lake and park.

If viewing the boats inspires you to get out on the water, you can take advantage of the complimentary one-hour rentals of peapod rowboats—reservations are recommended. Additional options include sailing lessons, sailboat rentals, and 90-minute charter cruises on one of the museum’s boats.