List of museums in Seattle facts for kids
Seattle, Washington is a city full of amazing places to explore, especially if you love art and history! It has four main art museums and galleries: the Frye Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle Art Museum, and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Many other museums in Seattle also have cool art collections. For example, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture has a fantastic collection of Native American artwork.
Beyond the big museums, Seattle also has over 100 smaller art galleries and many artists' studios. You can often visit these studios to see artists at work! About half of these art spots are found in the Pioneer Square neighborhood.
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Awesome Museums to Explore
Seattle is home to many different kinds of museums. You can learn about everything from ancient history to modern technology and amazing art. Here are some of the top museums you might want to visit:
Art and Culture Museums
Seattle has a vibrant art scene with several museums dedicated to different styles and periods of art.
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is a big art museum located downtown. It has a wide variety of art from all over the world. SAM also includes the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM)
The Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) is part of SAM and focuses on art from Asia. It's located in Volunteer Park and is a beautiful building.
Chihuly Garden and Glass
If you love colorful and unique art, you'll enjoy Chihuly Garden and Glass. It shows off the amazing glass sculptures of artist Dale Chihuly. This museum is located in the Seattle Center.
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)
The Museum of Pop Culture, also known as MoPOP, is a super fun place for anyone interested in popular culture. It has exhibits on rock & roll music, science fiction, and much more. You can even find interactive displays here! MoPOP is also located in the Seattle Center.
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is part of the University of Washington. It's a great place to learn about natural history, including fossils and dinosaurs. It also has wonderful exhibits on Native American artifacts and cultures from the Pacific Rim.
National Nordic Museum
The National Nordic Museum in Ballard celebrates the heritage of people from Nordic countries like Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. It explores Nordic life and culture over thousands of years.
Northwest African American Museum
The Northwest African American Museum focuses on the rich heritage of African Americans in the Northwest region. It's located in the Central District.
Wing Luke Asian Museum
The Wing Luke Asian Museum in the Chinatown-International District shares the culture, art, and history of Asian Pacific Americans.
Science and Technology Museums
Seattle also offers exciting museums where you can explore science, technology, and innovation.
Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center is a fantastic place for hands-on learning. It has exhibits on health, dinosaurs, space, the human body, and technology. It's located in the Seattle Center.
Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is one of the largest private air and space museums in the world. It's built around Boeing's original manufacturing plant. You can see many private and military aircraft here.
Living Computer Museum
At the Living Computer Museum, you can learn about the history of computers. They have vintage computers that you can actually use and interact with!
Connections Museum
The Connections Museum in Georgetown is a unique place to see how telephones and communication systems used to work. They have old phones, payphones, and working telephone switching systems.
History and Maritime Museums
Discover Seattle's past and its connection to the water at these museums.
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) tells the story of Washington's history and culture. It has a huge collection of artifacts, photos, and materials related to Seattle and the Puget Sound area. It's located in South Lake Union.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Pioneer Square explains Seattle's important role in the famous Klondike Gold Rush.
Center for Wooden Boats
The Center for Wooden Boats in South Lake Union is all about historic wooden sailboats, rowboats, and other boats. You can find them in Lake Union Park.
For Younger Kids
Seattle Children's Museum
The Seattle Children's Museum is specially designed for younger children. It's located in the Seattle Center and offers many interactive exhibits for play and learning.
Other Places to Visit
- The Seattle Aquarium is located right on the Elliott Bay waterfront, where you can see amazing sea creatures.
- The Woodland Park Zoo in north Seattle is one of the best zoos in the country. It's known for its natural-looking animal habitats.
- The Seattle Center campus is home to several museums, including the Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and the Seattle Children's Museum.
Images for kids
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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).
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The "Art Ladder": the main staircase of the 1991 Robert Venturi-designed wing of SAM.
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The Naval Reserve Armory, now home to MOHAI.
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Artist and musician Whiting Tennis (left) performs with his band at an opening at the Henry Art Gallery.
