In Seattle, you really have no reason not to embrace everything the city has to offer. No budget? No fear. Free museum days in Seattle are here. Mark these days on your calendar for your chance to enjoy Seattle's museums and galleries care and cost-free.
Times and days vary per location, and it's always good to double-check to make sure it's open and free. Now go enjoy some museum adventures.
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
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
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
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
Henry Art Gallery
Free on the first Thursday of every month
Located at the University of Washington, the Henry Art Gallery has been serving Seattle art lovers since 1927. Come here to see contemporary art from emerging artists. Free the first Thursday of every month and every Sunday. Grab a bite on the Ave while you’re at it!
Hours:
Thursday: 10am-7pm
Friday-Sunday: 10am-5pm
Location: 15th Ave NE & NE 41st St UW campus, Seattle
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
Location: 2655 NW Market St, Seattle
Northwest African American Museum
Free the first Thursday of every month
Explore the rich history of African Americans’ journey to the Pacific Northwest as well as the community built here through visual arts, music, crafts, and literature. Seeking to preserve the ties between the PNW and their citizens of African descent, NAAM opens up a space to celebrate, commemorate and present Black experiences.
Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
First Thursday: 10am-7pm
Location: 2300 S Massachusetts St, Seattle
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
Free the first Thursday of every month
The Seattle Art Museum's downtown location offers a variety of collections and installations, including special exhibitions. Check their website for special exhibits and other special promos.
Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: 10am–5pm
Location: 1300 1st Ave, 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
