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:
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.
OPEN AND FREE ADMISSION JULY 4TH!
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. And here’s how one family enjoyed their recent MOHAI excursion.
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.
OPEN AND FREE ADMISSION JULY 4TH FROM 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.!
The Museum of Flight facility is a fabulous museum for all ages with an interest in airplanes and spaceships. Free admission from 5-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. (Bonus: Parking is always free!)
1300 1st Ave
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday
OPEN AND FREE ADMISSION JULY 4TH!
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 free for seniors on First Fridays. See also: 4 easy art projects inspired by a visit to Seattle Art Museum
4300 15th Ave. N.E. (UW campus)
Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Check out the new galleries and exhibits showcasing Washington’s history and culture.
2655 NW Market St., Ballard
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday
Starting August 1, 2024: 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:
Volunteer Park, 1400 E Prospect St.
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
This renovated museum in Volunteer Park has a limited schedule, so its free day is the last Friday of the month. And children 14 and under are free all the time. What to see: 7 things to show your kids at the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Washington State History Museum, Tacoma
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.
15th Ave NE & NE 41st St.
University of Washington
This gallery on the UW Campus is devoted to contemporary art in all its surprising variety. It is currently open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday only, and 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.
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.
Not your typical museum:
Seattle Japanese Garden
1075 Lake Washington Boulevard East, Seattle
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. 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.
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.
Open but no free Thursdays for now:
719 S King St
Open: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday 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 first Friday (not first Thursday) free day but offers Student Sundays, free admission on the second Sunday of each month. Here are other ways to get discounted admission.
Free every day
Center for Contemporary Art– gallery closing on June 10, 2023 for revamp of the organization
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
Gates Foundation Discovery Center
Snoqualmie Depot at the NW Railway Museum
Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center
Padilla Bay Estuary and Museum
