Finest Museums in Seattle to Go to Proper Now

Seattle has a longstanding popularity as a hub for music (Brandi Carlile; Soundgarden; Pearl Jam), fishing (Pike Place Market), and low (ahem, Starbucks), nevertheless it’s time we pay correct consideration to its artwork. Throughout town, a thriving community of museums, galleries, and artist pop-ups present Seattleites with entry to extremely highly effective and essential work, created by each rising stars and already-iconic figures alike. From visiting displays to everlasting exhibits, there’s an ever-evolving menu of cultural experiences available on this metropolis. However the place to begin? Forward, the very best museums in Seattle for artwork, tradition, historical past, and much extra.

Capitol Hill
Right here’s the take care of the Frye: Whereas the present store is so good it wants no introduction, the artwork itself is even higher. At present on view? A surprising present of prolific artist Romare Bearden’s summary work, that includes works created between 1952 – 1964 and fittingly titled “Romare Bearden: Abstraction”. There’s solely a month left to see the exhibit, so catch it whilst you can, together with “Jeremy Shaw: Liminals” (on view till October 9), plus others.
What to know earlier than you go: The museum is open Wednesday – Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm, and admission is at all times free. There’s additionally free 30-minute guided excursions on second Saturdays and second Sundays, which meet at 1 pm within the Rotunda. Lastly, Café Frieda is (sadly) nonetheless closed.

South Lake Union
Simply subsequent door to MOHAI is The Heart for Picket Boats (in any other case generally known as CWB), a museum devoted to preserving the PNW’s wealthy maritime heritage. CWB could be very hands-on; when you go to an exhibit about, say, historic small craft, you may go try the museum’s energetic fleet of boats proper exterior on the waters of Lake Union.
What to know earlier than you go: Along with the museum displays, CWB has a number of free and paid alternatives to get on the water, like crusing classes, boat leases, and constitution cruises. Hours differ relying on the season (verify right here) and admission is at all times free.

Downtown
SAM is our first rec of what’s a three-location museum trifecta, which additionally contains the Olympic Sculpture Backyard and Seattle Asian Artwork Museum. On this primary cease, try “Anthony White: Restricted Legal responsibility”, a present that includes some souvenirs (and critiques) of late capitalism, and sculptor Alberto Giacometti’s present “Alberto Giacometti: Towards the Final Determine”, on view till January 29 and October 9, respectively.
What to know earlier than you go: SAM is open 10 am – 5 pm on a regular basis besides Monday and Tuesday. If you buy a ticket on-line upfront, you save $3—that means you pay $19.99 as an alternative of the day-of value of $22.99. (Reserve your ticket right here.) Additionally, although masks are now not required, the museum has put aside time completely for mask-wearing guests on the third Saturday of each month from 9 – 10 am.

U District
The Henry holds the title of Washington State’s very first artwork museum, having first opened its doorways in 1927. Since then, it’s quadrupled in dimension, added a everlasting James Turrell immersive sculpture titled Gentle Rein, and performed an important position because the vacation spot for arts and concepts on the UW campus. All that to say, it’s excessive time you pay this museum a go to, like, ASAP.
What to know earlier than you go: Admission is on a sliding scale of urged donation, from $0 – 20, and free on the primary Thursday of each month. The café is open Tuesday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm and Saturday – Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm.

Capitol Hill
A brand new-ish addition to the humanities panorama on Capitol Hill, Museum of Museums opened its doorways in 2020. MoM’s constructing, nonetheless, has been round since 1946, and is now dwelling to 2 formal exhibition areas, three extra on-site museums, rotating installations, weekly artwork courses, and extra. Oh, and when you’re into thrifting—try Cellular Mall Seattle, which hosts semi-regular classic malls in MoM’s basement, amongst different locations.
What to know earlier than you go: Superior tickets value $10 a pop. MoM is open 5 – 10 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12 – 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12 – 6 pm on Sundays. Should you’re an artist excited about exhibiting work on the museum, try their open calls web page right here.

Capitol Hill
Nestled in a Nineteen Thirties artwork deco constructing in Volunteer Park, Seattle Asian Artwork Museum is definitely housed in SAM’s authentic dwelling, which moved places in 1991. Now, the constructing is totally devoted to their in depth Asian artwork assortment; at the moment view is a gaggle present titled “Past the Mountain: Modern Chinese language Artists on the Classical Kinds.” The museum additionally hosts excursions and talks on the Gardner Heart for Asian Artwork and Concepts.
What to know earlier than you go: The museum is at the moment open 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday – Sunday, however shall be closed on Thursdays starting September 1. Tickets value $14.99 when bought upfront or $17.99 on the door. Parking is free at Volunteer Park.

Ballard
Seattle has a wealthy Scandi historical past so it ought to come as no shock that there’s a complete museum devoted to historic and up to date Nordic tradition. Whereas the everlasting exhibit will educate you on 12,000 years of Nordic historical past, that includes all 5 Nordic nations (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden), the rotating exhibits differ broadly – at the moment on view is a climate-change centered exhibit titled “Throughout the West and Towards the North: Norwegian and American Panorama Pictures.”
What to know earlier than you go: The primary Thursday of each month is free; in any other case, tickets will set you again $20 every. Visiting hours are 10 am – 5 pm on a regular basis besides Monday.

South Lake Union
With gadgets like Boeing’s first business aircraft and Rainier’s 12-foot-tall neon “R” completely on show, the Museum of Historical past & Trade, AKA MOHAI, is each a time capsule and an image of our current day. Two images displays at the moment on view make this museum a must-visit: “Ansel Adams: Masterworks” and “Views on Place: Images from Right here,” the latter of which is a gaggle present in collaboration with the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
What to know earlier than you go: Shopping for your ticket upfront is really helpful; you are able to do so right here. MOHAI is open 10 am – 5 pm on a regular basis.

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