Location: 15th Ave NE & NE 41st St UW campus, Seattle
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Free on the first Thursday of every month
The Seattle Asian Art Museum, located in Volunteer Park, showcases a diverse collection of Asian art spanning centuries and cultures. The museum combines historic architecture with modern design, offering exhibitions that explore both traditional and contemporary Asian art forms.
Hours:
Monday–Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday–Sunday: 10 am–5 pm
Location: 1400 East Prospect St., Seattle, WA 98112
Volunteer Park Conservatory
Free on the first Thursday of every month
The Volunteer Park Conservatory is a unique space that for over a 100 years has combined science, heritage, and cultural arts. It is a combination of a living plant museum, arts programming, horticulture & botany, cultural heritage, and experiences for all ages.
Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Mondays
Location: 1400 East Galer Street Seattle, WA, USA 98112
Museum of Flight
Free the first Thursday of every month: 5-9pm
Take a trip down to Tukwila to soar through the largest independent non-profit air and space museum in the country. Witness an abundance of old and new air and spacecrafts, and even watch a movie in a grounded Boeing 737 (pun intended).
Hours:
Daily: 10am-5pm
First Thursdays: 5pm-9pm
Location: 9404 E Marginal Way S, Seattle
Museum of History and Industry
Free the first Thursday of every month: 5-8pm
MOHAI sits majestically on the water’s edge in Seattle’s bustling South Lake Union neighborhood. The museum serves as a refreshing take at the positive impacts of innovation and technology on Seattle. Walk through the city’s cultural, societal and technological heritage, and be sure to climb to the top floor periscope for a 360° view of the city. Coming in May starts an exhibit on the fashion and functionality of PNW attire, so dawn your Patagonia puffer and head on down to the MOHAI.
Hours:
Daily: 10 am-5 pm
First Thursdays: 5-8pm
Location: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle
Nordic Museum
Free the first Thursday of every month
Explore the heritage and progression of Nordic culture over the years through clothing, furniture, music and more. The Nordic Museum offers tons of neat classes (like mead making) throughout the year, if exploring viking exhibits wasn’t enough already.
Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-5pm
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Free the first Thursday every month
UW's Burke Museum cares for and shares natural and cultural collections so all people can learn, be inspired, generate knowledge, feel joy, and heal.
Location: 1413 NE 45th St, Seattle
Log House Museum
Donate What You Want
Need a dose of some Seattle history? Look no further as you enter the “Birthplace of Seattle”, presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. A 1904 gem built from logs swathed by native PNW flora, the Log House Museum seeks to conserve the Duwamish Peninsula heritage and educate the Emerald City on our Alki roots.
Wing Luke Asian Museum
Free the first Thursday every month
Built in memory of Seattle native, politician and social rights activist Wing Luke, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience sits at the crosshairs of Asian American history, culture, art and advocacy. Located in Seattle’s International District, the Wing Luke Museum provides exhibitions, galleries and events, dedicated to community and tailored to storytelling of the Asian American experience.
Hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 10am—5pm
First Thursdays: 5pm—8pm
Location: 719 S King St
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
Free Everyday!
The Duwamish Tribe is the host tribe for Seattle and The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center provides the opportunity to learn and explore the rich history and culture of the Duwamish people. It's an amazing place to explore the roots of the pacific northwest and the rich culture that has defined the region. The lobby displays archeological materials from Duwamish and treasures from the past.
Location: 4705 W Marginal Way SW, Seattle
Frye Art Museum
Free Everyday!
Frye Art Museum sits atop Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood, and remains a city favorite because it’s free every day! Founded by Charles and Emma Frye to share their private art collection of over 230 paintings with the public, it was the first free museum in Seattle. Pop in any day to wander through their 19th century paintings and sculptures, or to just to sit in the Frye Salon which houses many works from the founding collection. Contemplate the vision that continues on in honor of this pair of art lovers’ vision for the Seattle community.
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: 11am-5pm
Location: 704 Terry Ave, Seattle
Klondike Gold Rush Museum
Free Everyday!
Go get some gold....for free? Just kidding! Situated in historic Pioneer Square, you can learn about Seattle’s golden days (ha, get it?) during the Klondike Gold Rush. Always free to the public, there’s plenty to see with 2 floors of exhibits, including films, some good old Seattle history, and gold panning demos if you visit between Memorial Day and Labor Day (limited hours). Get diggin’ for gold during the hours listed below!
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: 10am-5pm
Location: 319 2nd Ave S, Seattle
Northwest Railway Museum
Free Everyday!
If you want to get out of the city, there’s plenty to do on a day trip to the Snoqualmie Depot. Ride the railway for free and check out the oldest continuously operating train depot in Washington! While you’re at it, be sure to hop aboard one of their wine trains, for a moderate cost, running seasonally.
Hours:
Depot Hours: 10am-5pm
Location: 38625 SE King St, Snoqualmie
Olympic Sculpture Park
Photo courtesy of Josh Behm
Free Everyday!
Take a walk in the Olympic Sculpture Park and then stroll the waterfront for a nice, relaxing, and free excursion.
Location: 2901 Western Ave, Seattle
Center for Wooden Boats
Photo courtesy of Josh Behm
Free Everyday!
Watch as maritime history comes to life adjacent to the MOHAI at South Lake Union’s Center for Wooden Boats. Learn about the construction of small craft wooden boats, explore boat shop galleries, or take one out on the water! Admission is always free. Northwest and nautical history converge at the CWB.
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: 10am-4pm
Location: 1010 Valley St, Seattle
Center on Contemporary Art
Free Everyday!
CoCA is a space for creative expression, community and inclusivity in contemporary art. CoCA has been a vital part of contemporary art in the Northwest for 35 years, and has operated galleries and produced events throughout the Seattle area over that time period.
Hours:
Thursday-Saturday: 11am-4pm
First Thursday of each month: 5pm-9pm
Location: 114 3rd Ave S, Seattle
UPDATED 10/27/25
