List of museums in Seattle

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The Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Volunteer Park is a designated city landmark. From 1933 to 1981, the building housed the main Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Seattle Asian Art Museum.jpg
The Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) in Volunteer Park is a designated city landmark. From 1933 to 1981, the building housed the main Seattle Art Museum (SAM).
The "Art Ladder": the main staircase of the 1991 Robert Venturi-designed wing of SAM. SAM Art Ladder 02.jpg
The "Art Ladder": the main staircase of the 1991 Robert Venturi-designed wing of SAM.
The Naval Reserve Armory, now home to MOHAI. MOHAI Armory building at Lake Union Park west side.jpg
The Naval Reserve Armory, now home to MOHAI.
Artist and musician Whiting Tennis (left) performs with his band at an opening at the Henry Art Gallery. Whiting 11.jpg
Artist and musician Whiting Tennis (left) performs with his band at an opening at the Henry Art Gallery.

Seattle, Washington is home to four major art museums and galleries: the Frye Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, [1] and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Several Seattle museums and cultural institutions that are not specifically art museums also have excellent art collections, most notably the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, which has an excellent collection of Native American artwork.

Contents

Seattle is also home to well over 100 commercial art galleries, at least a dozen non-profit art galleries, and perhaps a hundred artists' studios that are open to the public at least once a month. About half of these galleries and studios are concentrated in one neighborhood, Pioneer Square.

Museums

NameNeighborhoodTypeSummary
Ballard Locks Museum/Visitor CenterBallardHistoryArtifacts and exhibits of Hiram M. Chittenden Locks dedicated in 1917 website http://ballardlocks.org/visitor-center-museum.html
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Visitor Center Lower Queen Anne History website, innovations and inventions around the world to make life better
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture University District Natural historyPart of the University of Washington, includes fossils, natural history dioramas, Native American artifacts, Pacific Rim cultures exhibit, gems and minerals
Center for Wooden Boats South Lake Union MaritimeHistoric wooden sailboats, rowboats and other boats, locations in Lake Union Park and Cama Beach State Park
Center on Contemporary ArtSeattleArt website, contemporary exhibitions at various locations
Chihuly Garden and Glass Lower Queen AnneArtStudio glass of Dale Chihuly, located in the Seattle Center
Coast Guard Museum Northwest SoDo MilitaryIncludes U.S. Coast Guard ship models, uniforms, photos and artifacts
Connections Museum Georgetown Technology website Working telephone switching systems, old telephones and payphones, teletypes
Daybreak Star Cultural Center Magnolia ArtNative American art gallery and cultural center operated by United Indians of All Tribes
Museum of Pop Culture, aka MoPOP Lower Queen AnneMediaPopular culture, includes rock & roll and popular music memorabilia, interactive exhibits, Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
Frye Art Museum First Hill Art website, Painting and sculpture from the nineteenth century to the present
Georgetown Steam Plant Georgetown TechnologySteam engines in the former power plant
Giant Shoe Museum Downtown CommodityLocated in Pike Place Market, collection of giant shoes [2]
Henry Art Gallery University DistrictArtThe art museum of the University of Washington, includes rotating exhibitions of contemporary art
History House of Greater Seattle Fremont History - LocalHistory and heritage of Seattle and its neighborhoods
Jack Straw New Media Gallery University DistrictArt website, non-profit multidisciplinary audio arts center
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Pioneer Square HistorySeattle's role in the Klondike Gold Rush
Last Resort Fire Department MuseumDowntownFirefighting website, vintage fire trucks, equipment, uniforms, located at the HQ for the Seattle Fire Department
Living Computer Museum SoDoComputerHistory of the development of computers with vintage computers displayed for interactive public use
Log House Museum West Seattle Local history website, operated by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society
Museum of Flight SouthAerospaceIncorporates Boeing's original manufacturing plant, the largest private air and space museum in the world includes private and military aircraft
Museum of History and Industry South Lake UnionHistoryWashington's history and culture. Largest heritage organization in the State of Washington, with a collection of over 4 million artifacts, photographs, and archival materials, primarily related to the history of Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region.
Museum of Museums Capitol HillContemporary ArtThree floors of visual art and installations, with a gift shop, movie theater, and classroom space. website
National Nordic Museum; formerly known as Nordic Heritage Museum Ballard Ethnic - NordicHeritage of Seattle's Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian and Swedish immigrants; expanded in 2018 with a new building and permanent exhibition focused on a broader understanding of Nordic life and culture as it has evolved over the last twelve thousand years.
Northwest African American Museum Central District Ethnic - African AmericanAfrican American heritage in the Northwest
Northwest Nikkei Museum Central DistrictEthnicOperated by the Japanese Cultural Community Center, heritage and history of the Pacific Northwest’s Nikkei community
Northwest Seaport South Lake UnionMaritimeIncludes the Arthur Foss tugboat, Lightship 83
Olympic Sculpture Park DowntownArt9-acre sculpture park
Pacific Science Center Lower Queen AnneScienceExhibits include health, dinosaurs, space, human body, Puget Sound, technology
Photographic Center Northwest Capitol Hill Art website, includes a contemporary photography gallery
Pioneer Association of the State of Washington Madison ParkHistory, Genealogy, Library https://wapioneers.com/, Oldest history organization in the State of Washington, meeting since 1871, incorporated 1895; headquarters at historic 1910 Washington Pioneer Hall on the shores of Lake Washington; Pioneer Hall is on the United States National Park Service register of Historic Places.
Seattle Art Museum DowntownArt3 facilities: main museum with diverse collections, Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park
Seattle Asian Art Museum Capitol HillArtAsian art, facility of the Seattle Art Museum
Seattle Central College M. Rosetta Hunter Art GalleryCapitol HillArt website
Seattle Children's Museum Lower Queen AnneChildren'sLocated in the Seattle Center
Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame SoDoSportsLocated at T-Mobile Park
Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum DowntownLaw enforcementHistory of policing in the Pacific Northwest
Seattle Pinball MuseumChinatown-International DistrictAmusement website, vintage pinball machines
Seattle University GalleriesFirst HillArtHedreen Gallery at the Lee Center for the Arts, [3] Kinsey Gallery, [4] Vachon Gallery [5]
Steamship Virginia V South Lake UnionMaritime1922 steamship
The Unity MuseumUniversity DistrictEnvisioning One Humanity website
Wing Luke Asian Museum Chinatown-International District Ethnic - Pan Asian Pacific AmericanCulture, art and history of Asian Pacific Americans

Defunct museums

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Langner, Erin. "Paul Kuniholm Pauper Exhibits At Seattle Art Museum". Seattle Art Museum. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Giant Shoe Museum". Roadside America. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "Hedreen Gallery". Seattle University. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Kinsey Gallery". Seattle University. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Vachon Gallery". Seattle University. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Seattle, Washington: Seattle Museum of the Mysteries (Closed)". Roadside America. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  7. ↑ "Official site". Northwest Museum of Legends and Lore. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Port to end pact with maritime museum". Seattle PI. February 26, 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Official site". Western Bridge. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Western Bridge Melts into the Air". The Stranger. November 7, 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Wright Exhibition Space to close, art going to SAM". Seattle Times. July 14, 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
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