Seattle has a breadth of incredible museums to visit, but parents know there are some, where it’s better to leave the kids at home. We visited the National Nordic Museum in Ballard with our eyes peeled for whether this would be an appropriate kid-friendly outing and were happily surprised (with a couple of caveats).
A troll’s welcome
When you arrive at the National Nordic Museum, you will be greeted by one of Thomas Dambo’s troll sculptures, “Frankie Feetsplinters.” Frankie is a fitting feature, as he’s made of recycled material. This speaks to one of the shared values of the Nordic nations that the museum honors: respect for nature (plus, he is super cute!). The troll will be at the museum for up to three years (now in its second year), so be sure to check Frankie out before he’s gone.
Opening exhibit: Project Aurora
Once inside, a huge map of the five Nordic countries represented in the museum covers one wall: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. On the other side, next to a cheerful fireplace, is a large glass sculpture called “Project Aurora.” Kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by the changing colors of the northern lights on the glass. The sculpture is created from 34,560 individual LED lights, and AI dictates the changing pictures based on the natural phenomenon. Pro tip: You can see Project Aurora at night during extended museum hours every Thursday night.
(Image: Jim Bennett/Photo Bakery for National Nordic Museum)
Permanent exhibit: The history of the Nordic people
The core exhibit, “Nordic Journeys,” tells the story of migration, Viking adventures, and immigration of Nordic people to North America spanning 12,000 years. Visitors can see replicas of Viking boats, 4,000-year-old tools, and objects used in everyday homes. There are even religious artifacts from the Christianization of the Nordic countries. You’ll also see the impact of Nordic people in North America, like Swedish American weaver and loom inventor Margaret Olofsson Bergman’s studio, the corporate archives of the pioneering Norwegian American-owned Ibsen Ski Company, and drawings by Danish American artist Dines Carlsen.
Visual history
In another area, you can learn about the people of these countries. This includes a fun display of clothing and objects typical to each region. The Sense of Place Gallery is a cozy, carpeted area with birch tree trunks and upholstered loveseats fronted by a giant screen. The screen shows a video with breathtaking pictures of scenery from all Nordic countries. Another short audiovisual display discusses what it is to be Nordic through interviews with Nordic people, some speaking their native languages. I learned a lot at this stop, especially about the Indigenous Sami. Values like a commitment to social justice, an abiding respect for nature, an intellectual curiosity, and an openness to new ideas are emphasized.
(Image: Godfrey Guerzon)
Gift shop and café with Nordic flair
There is a fun gift shop and a café near the entrance called Freya. The menu features Nordic-inspired cuisine that is a bit pricey for kids but great for teens or adults. Adults can also indulge in a flight of Aquavit or a delicious cocktail if the mood strikes. You don’t need a National Nordic Museum ticket to visit Freya, so this would also be a fun date idea for adults.
Visiting exhibit
The “Fischersund Faux Flora” exhibit has been on display since early November and ends on January 26, 2025. This is a multi-sensory exhibition created by the Icelandic family-run art collective Fischersund. Four siblings combined their talents in photography, 3D art, sculpture, music, perfumery and videography in this multimedia exhibit centered around invented plants. They’re divided into five sections mirroring the human lifecycle: germination, growth, flowering, seed formation, and dispersal. Walking into the dimly lit exhibit, you see screens along the wall playing looped video. The instructions tell you to walk slowly toward each picture to see the changes and movement. Lift the bell jar next to the picture to smell the plant’s perfume, then lean in closely to hear each unique soundscape.
One offers the sound of gentle rain and the scent of lavender. Another shows flowers with pinkish globs melting and dripping and the smell of cotton candy. Another, called “Grandma’s Purse,” features the scent of leather and menthol cough drops. Interspersed between the moving pictures are other works of art. Think: glass sculptures of plastic bags, hand-drawn flowers coming out of unlikely objects, like a box of Nerds candy or a jar of Vick’s Vapor Rub. The display ends in a huge screen of gently waving brown grass.
(Image: Godfrey Guerzon)
Art is always up for interpretation. I talked with a few kids I met, including two 11-year-old girls who enjoyed the exhibit and one 6-year-old who didn’t like the strong smells. “I really liked that it was a multi-sensory experience,” said Daniela. “I liked seeing the fictional flowers and seeing what they would smell like if they were real, [and] hearing the sounds too, especially the ones that sounded like rain or bubbles popping.” Another 11-year-old told me they loved the scent part of the exhibit.
Age recommendation
In the regular galleries, many objects in the National Nordic Museum are behind glass or “do not touch” signs. There’s a small corner upstairs with coloring and puzzles, but younger children used to children’s museums might be bored. I recommend this museum to kids interested in history, perhaps those in fifth grade or older. However, younger kids might enjoy the interactive exhibit, “Faux Flora.”
Way to keep kids engaged
- A printable scavenger hunt sheet to keep kids engaged and encourage deeper thinking and discussion
- The Nordic Stories program for preschool-aged children and their caregivers. It combines children’s stories from the Nordic countries with fun craft projects. Check out their upcoming events via the calendar.
- Nordic-inspired craft projects online you can do at home
(Image: Godfrey Guerzon)
Things to do in the area
The Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens Park are fun areas for kids to get the wiggles out. Or check out Larsen’s Bakery for Danish pastries.
Know before you go
- Location: 2655 NW Market Street Seattle, WA 98107
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays
- Cost: Adult: $20, 65+ and college students: $16, ages 5-18: $10, Teen Tix: $5, and ages 0-4: Free
- As a participant in the Museums For All program, the National Nordic Museum offers free admission for all visitors with public assistance identification cards. Bring your WIC, EBT, SNAP, Medicaid, ProviderOne, etc., or Registered Foster Family identification to the museum to receive free general admission for up to 5 people per card.
- Don’t forget that entry is free for everyone on the first Thursday of every month.
- Parking: We parked in the National Nordic Museum’s lot on the south side of the building at the corner of NW Market St. and 28th Ave. NW. Parking was $2/hour, and two hours was plenty of time.
- Alternative parking is available in the museum’s residential neighborhoods and a five-minute walk at the Hiram Chittenden Locks parking lot.
- Metro buses 17, 40, 44, and the D Line serve Ballard.
(Image: Godfrey Guerzon)
Read more
Check out our guide to free First Thursdays in Seattle for more museum options.
While you’re in Ballard, check out The Cove at Ballard Commons Park a brand new playground opened last year that quickly made our Top 7 list.
