Henry Art Gallery, University District
Explore contemporary art at the Henry, on the University of Washington campus near 15th Ave NE and NE 41st St, where admission is free to all visitors. It is open Thursday through Sunday, with a later closing on Thursdays, and James Turrell's Skyspace is usually open on weekends.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Pioneer Square
Step into the Seattle unit of this national park at 319 Second Ave S to learn the story of the Klondike Gold Rush; the National Park Service says no entrance pass is required. It sits a short walk from the Underground Tour.
Olympic Sculpture Park, Belltown
Stroll the Olympic Sculpture Park, the Seattle Art Museum's free-admission outdoor sculpture park at 2901 Western Avenue, which opened in 2007 and stays open from sunrise to sunset, according to its history.
Free first Thursdays
The first Thursday of the month is Seattle's big free museum day. Here is what each museum offers; times can change, so check the official page for the month you visit.
- Seattle Art Museum, downtown: free all day, with galleries open into the evening, as listed in a current first Thursday roundup; confirm on SAM's website.
- Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park: free during regular daytime hours on first Thursdays; the museum sits in Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill.
- National Nordic Museum, Ballard: general admission is free for all visitors on the first Thursday of every month, with a small extra charge for the rotating special exhibition.
- Burke Museum, University District: free on the first Thursday, when it stays open until 8 pm.
- MOHAI, South Lake Union: free admission to the permanent exhibits from 5 to 8 pm.
- Museum of Flight: free from 5 to 9 pm, with no reservation needed; arrive before 5 pm and you pay regular admission.
- Wing Luke Museum, Chinatown-International District: free general admission from 5 to 8 pm on first Thursday evenings during its season, which has run from May through October.
Make an evening of it with the galleries of the Pioneer Square Art Walk, which also falls on the first Thursday.
Free with a Seattle Public Library card
Reserve a free pass through the Seattle Public Library Museum Pass program, which covers the Burke Museum, Center for Wooden Boats, Henry Art Gallery, Holocaust Center for Humanity, Museum of Flight, MOHAI, MoPOP, National Nordic Museum, Northwest African American Museum, Northwest Railway Museum, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Children's Museum, Seattle Japanese Garden, Volunteer Park Conservatory, Wing Luke Museum and Woodland Park Zoo.
- Log in with your library card number and PIN and choose a museum and date up to 30 days ahead; new passes are released each day after noon.
- You can reserve one pass per calendar month, counted by the month of your visit.
- Show the PDF from your confirmation email, printed or on your phone, with a photo ID on the date you booked; each museum sets how many people a pass covers.
Our Museum Pass guide walks through how to plan a visit around it.
Free with an EBT card and other discounts
Several museums take part in Museums for All. The Burke Museum offers free admission with ID and a SNAP, EBT or WIC card, the National Nordic Museum admits up to five people free with a public assistance card, and the Wing Luke Museum admits EBT cardholders and up to five guests free. Little ones often get in free too: children 3 and under at the Burke and children 4 and under at the Nordic Museum, and the Burke is free for University of Washington students, faculty, staff and retirees.
MOHAI Discovery Packs
The Museum of History and Industry sits right on the water in Lake Union Park, an easy trip from downtown. Bring the kids to the front desk and ask for a free Discovery Pack, a kit filled with puzzles and scavenger hunts. Then wander through the True Northwest exhibit, which traces the city's story from Native American cultures to the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.
Free Rowboats Next Door
Once you finish inside, step outside and book a free Peapod rowboat at the Center for Wooden Boats. You can also linger by the shore and watch seaplanes take off over the lake, all at no cost.
Make the Most of Seattle Center
Head to Pacific Science Center, where hundreds of hands-on exhibits fill Minoru Yamasaki's science pavilion from the 1962 World's Fair. Daytime Laser Dome and planetarium shows come with general admission, while IMAX films and some laser shows cost extra. Grab your show tickets when you arrive so you can plan the rest of your visit around them.
Just nearby, MoPOP invites you to make your own music in the Sound Lab. To reach the campus, hop on the Seattle Monorail from Westlake Center.
Half Off During Seattle Museum Month
Plan a February trip and you may catch Seattle Museum Month, which has offered 50 percent off admission at more than 20 museums for guests of participating hotels, so confirm the current terms on the official program page.
History Outdoors, No Ticket Needed
Some of the city's best history needs no ticket at all. Spend an afternoon at Gas Works Park, where the towers of the last surviving coal gasification plant in the United States still stand. Then stroll over to the Fremont Bridge, which rises about 35 times a day, more than any other drawbridge in the country.
For more ideas that cost nothing, see our guide to free things to do in Seattle, or browse all Seattle museums.
