My husband and I were Ballard residents for many years before having kids and I always felt a sense of pride in my own Swedish heritage while living there. Between jobs, school and kids’ activities, we don’t venture in that direction much anymore. So when the new Nordic Museum opened earlier this month, I couldn't wait to check it out.
Truth be told, however, I was a little nervous at the prospect of taking my kids (ages 3 and 5) with us. While we’ve made a concerted effort to take our kids to a wide range of public spaces (restaurants, parks, children’s museums, etc), I wasn't sure how much this museum would hold their interest. What’s more, the image of bright white, gleaming Scandinavian-inspired design doesn't always scream “noisy, sticky-fingered toddler” to me. Still, our kids are at the ages where we want them to learn how to behave in places that aren't solely catered to their enjoyment. After all, isn't the ultimate goal of a family excursion that everyone can have a good time and get something out of it? With this thought in mind, I made the plan to go on a Sunday morning with everyone sufficiently caffeinated (my husband and I) and carbo-loaded (the kids).
We took it to be a good sign that a decent-sized parking lot is located directly behind the museum, and in a moment of confidence we left our stroller in the car.
Upon entering, I was instantly taken with the beauty of the space and its massive relief map of Scandinavia. The museum is conceptually divided into two sections: the history and culture of Nordic people, and the Nordic-American experience. As we began to wander through the galleries, my 5-year-old was immediately interested. Everywhere you turn, there are thoughtfully curated cases full of artifacts, pictures, and maps. The task of describing each item (since she cannot yet read the museum’s descriptions on her own) felt unrealistic, so I encouraged her to point out something of interest in each case, and then I read aloud its accompanying numbered description.
My 3-year-old was less interested in looking at the maps and photos but instead gravitated toward the many large-scale installations like an actual carriage used by Scandinavian immigrants as they traveled west across the United States. Still, there was a lot to hold his attention as he roamed the open-concept galleries freely, with my husband in tow.
Both of our kids loved a little theater-like space with large, sweeping aerial images of Nordic geography, complete with plush “stones” to sit on while they watched. In a section asking visitors to contemplate what Nordic values such as social justice and environmental stewardship mean to them, our kids enjoyed drawing pictures which we annotated and placed on the wall with hundreds of other responses.
While not specifically designed for young children, I think the museum has done a nice job of collecting interesting objects and photos that piqued the interest of our kids while still feeling manageable in terms of size and scope. Kids school-aged and beyond would be that much more interested, especially in the many connections to Washington state history.
At the east end of the museum, there is small but pretty garden kids can explore. If you don’t arrive pre-caffeinated like us, Freya Café has lots of snack and beverage options, but no food or drink is allowed in the galleries.
I’m sure if we’d visited without our kids, we could have spent much more time than the hour and a half we walked around, but it felt like a great first visit. I’m sure we’ll return to the Nordic Museum again, and that our kids will learn more and more each time we do.
You certainly do not have to be of Nordic heritage to enjoy this museum; the connections made to Northwest history and culture make it interesting to any Seattleite, and my family and I are excited to explore more of what connects our region with Nordic values.
Though we took a leap of faith by not strapping our son into the stroller, he did surprisingly well and gave us a glimpse of what travel will be like with older kids. Our conclusion: It seems glorious!
IF YOU GO:
Where: 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107
When: Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun: 10am-5pm; Thursday: 10am-8pm; closed Monday
Cost: General admission: $15; Students (with ID) and youth (K–12): $10; members and children (0–4): free
