Guide to free first Thursdays at Seattle-area museums

Once a month, on Thursday, the public gets the run of some wonderful Seattle-area museums. This is a great way to explore museums on a budget if you don’t mind things being more crowded than usual. And a great way to experience all the museums in our region with your child over several months.

Some of the museums have exhibits that are either designed with kids in mind or have obvious appeal to certain children. (If your daughter dreams of being an astronaut, the Museum of Flight is obviously a great place to go.)

Some of them, particularly the art museums and some historical exhibits, are not a draw that way, but that doesn’t mean that kids can’t enjoy them. Kids can be delighted by weird sculptural forms, colorful paintings and intriguing artifacts. Take it slowly, don’t try to do too much at a time, and let the kids take the lead. If you are looking at an art museum, ask your kids about what they see, and what it makes them think about. If you are looking at historical exhibits, pick an object and talk about the story behind it.

[Find more fun in our Things to Do section and Family Event Calendar. ]

Free first Thursday museums:

Henry Art Gallery

15th Ave NE & NE 41st St.
University of Washington

Hours: Thursday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

This gallery on the UW Campus is devoted to contemporary art in all its surprising variety. Admission is free for educators, students, children, and UW staff. All others may enter the museum with a donation of $0-20 dollars. Last admission 4:30 p.m.; tickets by walk-up only; no online ticketing. The museum is free on first Thursdays. Free passes are also available through the Seattle Public Library Museum Pass program.

At MOHAI, the scavenger hunt has items to locate and questions to answer. (Photo by Jasmin Thankachen)

Museum of History and Industry

860 Terry Ave N
Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Free First Thursday hours are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The permanent exhibits on the History of Seattle and on Maritime Seattle are always good for stirring the imagination. You can also check out the Bezos Center for Innovation for free. Some special exhibits require additional tickets. Here’s the scoop on free first Thursday. Permanent exhibits include the Bezos Center for Innovation, the Kid-Struction Zone, Maritime Seattle and True Northwest: The Seattle Journey.

Museum of Flight

9404 E Marginal Way S, Tukwila
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; Free first Thursday hours 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Museum of Flight facility is a fabulous museum for all ages with an interest in airplanes and spaceships. Free admission from 5 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. (Bonus: Parking is always free!). During the visit you can enjoy the Museum’s great gallery, personal courage wing, Simonyi Space Gallery, Aviation Pavilion and more. The Museum store and cafe remain open for extended hours. Reservations are not required.

Seattle Art Museum

1300 1st Ave
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Free First Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Free first-Thursday tickets will give you the run of the permanent collection and special exhibitions these days. SAM is always free for kids 14 and under, discounted for teens and students and $5 for seniors on First Fridays. See also: 4 easy art projects inspired by a visit to Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Asian Art Museum

1400 E Prospect St (Located in Volunteer Park)
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Free First Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free first-Thursday tickets will give you the run of the permanent collection and special exhibitions these days. SAAM is always free for kids 14 and under, discounted for teens and students. Seattle Asian Art Museum offers Family Saturdays (designed for families with children ages 2-12) on the first Saturday of the month from October 2024 through May 2025.

Burke Museum

4300 15th Ave. N.E. (UW campus)
Hours: open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free First Thursday 4:30 p.m. t0 7:30 p.m.

Check out the new galleries and exhibits showcasing Washington’s history and culture. Be sure to reserve an entry time.

National Nordic Museum

2655 NW Market St., Ballard
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Museum open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays

The Nordic Museum offers free admission on first Thursdays (the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays; a ticket is required). Admission to the permanent galleries is free, and special exhibits can be seen with a $5 ticket. Explore 12,000 years of history and learn about the unique history of people from Scandinavian lands who settled in the Pacific Northwest.

A different free day:

Washington State History Museum, Tacoma

1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma WA

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, Third Thursday 10 a.m. t0 8 p.m. Admission is free on Third Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The museum offers free admission from 3 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The museum showcases Washington through a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits. Its centerpiece is the Great Hall of Washington History. There also are exhibits dedicated to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II; a look at the role of migration and immigration in shaping our state; and an exhibit on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who visited Washington in 1961. Great suggestion: While you’re in Tacoma, grab a snack or meal downtown along Pacific Avenue.

Northwest African American Museum

2300 S Massachusetts St., Seattle

This museum explores the African-American experience in the Pacific Northwest. The permanent Journey Gallery has interactive exhibits illustrating 300 years of local African-American History. There are also temporary exhibits on display. Be sure to visit the events page for upcoming programs, discussions and forums.

Imagine Children’s Museum

1502 Wall St, Everett

Free on the Third Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

GRANDfamilies First Sunday from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Sensory Time on Third Sunday from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Community Access Night at Imagine Children’s Museum welcomes families to a free night of fun every third Friday of the month in 2025. All families with children ages 12 and under* are invited and can bring the whole family. Discover one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits that promote playful learning! Adults must be accompanied by a child age 1-12, and children must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older (chronological ages apply). The museum also offers GRANDfamilies free museum access and resources on the first Sunday of the month, be sure to check their requirements in order to receive free admission.

Another free day includes their Sensory Time on the third Sunday of the month from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Sensory Time is a special Sunday program for families with children on the autism spectrum, children with sensory processing disorders, and children with other special needs. Sensory time is free but you must register here.

Pacific Science Center

200 2nd Ave N, Seattle

Hours: Sensory Days will have hours of 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

The museum offers select dates for Sensory Friendly Hours (formerly “Exploration for All”) and invites all families and individuals desiring sensory friendly experiences for a special free visit. Experience the exhibits outside of the general public hours without heavy crowds, with softened general lighting and with decreased noise level and visual stimulation. There will be adjusted hands-on activities and exhibits tailored for a sensory-friendly experience. There will be access to the sensory lounge, a quiet retreat available during all visits to PacSci. You must reserve your tickets in advance.

2025 Dates/Times:

Saturday, February 22. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Sunday, March 23. 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 26. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Sunday, May 18. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Saturday, June 21. 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Not your typical museum:

Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Boulevard East, Seattle

Hours: Free First Thursday (select months), entry to garden is free the whole day.

The Japanese Garden is a 3.5-acre urban oasis within the Lake Washington Arboretum. It is typically open beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday (check hours since they have seasonal hours and they vary). The usual admission charge is $8 for adults, $4 for seniors and kids 6-17; free for kids 5 and under. Admission will be free the first Thursday of each month. Don’t miss their select Family Saturdays, where they have different activities and youth 12 and under are free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Worth the drive north:

Hibulb Cultural Center
6410 23rd Ave. N.E., Tulalip

The Hibulb Cultural Center and Natural History Preserve is in Tulalip, about 35 miles from downtown Seattle. Learn the history of the Tulalip Tribes by checking out an interactive cultural center, longhouse and canoe hall. In addition, Hibulb offers 50 acres of forests and wetlands that families can explore, too. Free admission is on the first Thursday of each month; otherwise $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students and military veterans, and free for kids under 5. There’s also a $25 family admission rate, and museum members and Tulalip tribal members get in for free.

The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

3407 109th St SW, Everett

Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. FREE every day.

The Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum is free to the public starting in 2025 and is open from Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and located in Everett, displaying the preservation of rare military aircraft, tanks and other military equipment. With 26 aircraft and over 30 vehicles to inspire guests, there is plenty to see within the nearly 110,000 sq. ft. of expansive exhibit space. No ticket required.

Open but no free Thursdays for now:

Wing Luke Museum

719 S King St
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

The galleries of this museum of the Asian-Pacific American experience has a wonderful permanent display called “Honoring our Journey,” which is packed with stories and artifacts. There’s also a variety of temporary exhibits. The museum also offers neighborhood tours and other programs.

Bellevue Arts Museum

510 Bellevue Way NE
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

Bellevue Arts Museum has temporarily suspended its museum hours due to financial constraints. However, as they restructure their organization, the museum plans on holding public events and educational programs. Check out the website for more details.