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Every Day is Seattle Free Museum Day! [30+ Museums]

Every Day is Seattle Free Museum Day! [30+ Museums]

Free is my favorite price, so I’m thrilled to announce that every day is Seattle free museum day! Since we’re local, I assembled this master list of ALL the free museums in Seattle. 

This post is a long one! We started with all the free museum days in Seattle because there are so many. If you’re willing to drive a little, be sure to check out the rest of the free museum days in Washington.

Of course, we’ve found even more ways to enjoy free museums in Seattle! If you don’t see the one you’re looking for, then check our other posts about free and discounted admission in Washington! If you have an EBT card, ProviderOne card or library card, you can get special discounts. You may also be able to get free admission to state parks!

Every day is Seattle Free Museum Day at these 10 museums!

One of the hardest parts about going to free museums in Seattle is waiting for that one precious day per week (or per month) when you can actually go! Of course, my family usually ends up busy, sick or otherwise unavailable on those special days anyways. That’s why I love that there are so many always-free museums in Seattle.

Center for Wooden Boats

Visit the center for free! The museum exhibits reveal the history of the region’s watercraft with working exhibits, examples and experience. The Boathouse Gallery shows rotating exhibits. If you want to rent a boat, then you will have to pay an extra charge.

Coast Guard Museum

See thousands of items, including uniforms, ships wheels, lighthouse lenses, a piece of the HMS Bounty, the bell from the steam tug Roosevelt and so much more!. Visitors are encouraged to call (206) 217-6993 before their visit so they can be cleared through the gate.

Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center

Thousands of years before Seattle was a city, there were indigenous people here called the Duwamish Tribe. Learn about their way of life here, at the Duwamish Longhouse Museum.

Frye Art Museum

The collection includes 232 paintings known as the Frye Founding Collection, as well as other art that has been acquired since its opening in 1952. A schedule of rotating exhibitions and educational programming can be found here.

Hiram M Chittenden Locks

The Locks, built by the US Army Corp of Engineers in 1917, connect Lake Washington, Lake Union and Salmon Bay to the Puget Sound. They maintain the water level of the lakes at 20-22 feet above sea level and prevent the mixing of saltwater with freshwater. The visitors center provides fascinating information about this project.

The locks are in use 24/7. This is one of my favorite places to go during a Seattle free museum day. You’ve gotta check it out!

Klondike Gold Rush National History Park

Relive the exciting days of the gold rush through exhibits, park movies and more! Movies are free and shown by request. This building, which belongs to the National Parks Service, offers no outdoor components and is entirely indoors. It’s one of the best free museums in Seattle for those rainy days!

Loghouse Museum

Explore the fascinating history of the log house museum and its surrounding area. Although there is no admission charge, there is a suggested donation of $5 per adult or $3 per child.

Olympic Sculpture Park

Browse 9 acres of outdoor sculptures and scenic views. It’s a one-of-a-kind outdoor art museum featuring pieces like the Typewriter Eraser, Scale X that is often seen from the street below.

Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum

Learn about the history of policing in Seattle. Exhibits and information date back to the 1880s! An interactive kids zone allows children to try on uniforms, press buttons on consoles and more.

Washington Park Arboretum

Explore 230 acres of rare plants at the Arboretum! It’s not exactly a museum but it’s so beautiful we had to include it in this list of free museums in Seattle. Sorry (not sorry)!

Free on Weekdays

These museums offer free access on weekdays, which are Monday through Friday. Some are limited to certain hours so be sure to read carefully and call the museum before you go!

Seattle Children’s Museum

Every afternoon is a Seattle free museum day at the Seattle Children’s Museum! One hour isn’t a lot of time to explore all 22,000 square feet of the Seattle Children’s Museum, but this is a great deal for families who can’t afford regular admission. Want more time? Check out the museum’s low-income access programs.

Waterfall Garden Park

Enjoy the serenity of the Waterfall Garden Park, a hidden oasis in the city.

Schedule This Great Tour

Benaroya Hall Tours & Recitals

Tour the magnificent Benaroya Hall on select dates. Free, 1-hour, docent-led tours are offered bi-monthly.

Parties of less than 10 people, can RSVP for available tour dates. Larger groups, or those needing special accommodations, should make arrangements with the Volunteer Office, at least 2 months ahead of time.

Free on Thursdays

Last Resort Fire Department Museum

This museum is located inside Seattle Fire Department Headquarters. It features vintage rigs and equipment, information about the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and the Frye Packing Plant Fire of 1943. The Last Resort museum is open for free visits every Thursday from 11am-3pm!

The first Thursday of each month is the official Seattle Free Museum Day!

On the first Thursday of each month, these museums open their doors for free! This deal is exclusive to the first Thursday only, so don’t miss your once-a-month access to these free museums in Seattle.

Art Walk in Pioneer Square

In 1981, Pioneer Square debuted the United States’ first ever art walk. It is still going strong today! In addition, parking is free at the Frye Garage, Butler Garage and Pioneer Square Garage for this event. For a list of participating galleries and venues, please click here.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Since 1885, the Burke Museum showcases over 16 million objects to many different audiences. Collections include paleontology, geology, botany, genetic resources and more.

Henry Art Gallery

This contemporary art museum, is located on the University of Washington campus. It is also free on Sundays and is always free to students.

Living Computers: Museum + Labs

There’s so much to see and do at the Living Computers: Museum + Labs! All the computers are restored and interactive. Guests can play vintage computer games, use a Teletype and more. Kids can play with Snap Circuits and other computer-related gadgets in the BitZone. If you don’t want to wait for the next official Seattle free museum day, check out their incredible ACCESS Program for visitors with EBT cards.

Thelins enjoy Seattle Free Museum Day at Living Computers Museum
This makeup simulator is my daughter’s favorite thing at the Living Computer museum!

Museum of Flight

Learn about aviation and space history at this exciting museum! It’s one of the largest and most thorough of its kind, with millions of rare photographs, tens of thousands of artifacts, a huge library and over 150 aircraft and space vehicles. You can also click here to learn about their FREE memberships for kids age 5-18!

Thelins enjoy Seattle free museum day at Museum of Flight

Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)

Discover Seattle’s rich history and explore its potential for the future at MOHAI. Permanent exhibits include Maritime Seattle, the Bezos Center for Innovation and True Northwest. The Kid-Struction Zone is a great place for kids to build and explore! Also check out their awesome EBT discount!

Nordic Heritage Museum

Learn more about Nordic Heritage, including its history, myths, sagas, and the current Nordic World through collections and exhibits. A special gallery is dedicated to each of the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden). While entrance to the museum is free on Seattle Free Museum Day, entrance to the Special Gallery exhibition is $5.

Northwest African American Museum

This museum shares the story of people of African descent who journeyed to our region, established a vibrant community and more. Arts, music, crafts, literature, history and more are shared here. NAAM presents the story of those brought here by slavery, as well as those who have immigrated from Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries.

Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center

Tour the Tugboat Arthur Foss and Lightship No. 83 “Swiftsure” heritage vessels, which are floating museums with public programs. Onboard, guests can learn about the workings of a tugboat and her crew.

Seattle Art Museum

SAM’s collections and installations are free on the first Thursday. Access to special exhibits is half-price.

Asian Art Museum

This world-renowned collection of Asian Art displays visual arts from across many of Asia’s cultures and time-periods. There are also special exhibits for contemporary Asian artists.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

The Wing provides guided tours and ongoing exhibitions featuring the real-life stories of the Asian Pacific American community. Nestled in the Chinatown-International District neighborhood, the museum encourages visitors to explore fascinating historical spaces (including a real 1910 imports shop and an authentic Chinese American family association) through 45-minute long guided tours.

The second Thursday of each month is a Seattle Free Museum Day too!

Although there are more participants in the official Seattle Free Museum Day on the first Thursday, the second Thursday of the month also gets some love from these museums.

Asian Art Museum

This world-renowned collection of Asian Art includes pieces from Asia’s various cultures and time-periods. There are also special exhibits for contemporary Asian artists. Admission is also free on the first Saturday of each month.

Capital Hill Art Walk

Capital Hill Art Walk encourages local businesses and venues to open their doors to the public for art displays on the second Thursday of each month after 5pm. For a list of venues that are participating in the upcoming month, please check out this website.

Seniors enjoy a special free museum day in Seattle on the first Friday of the month!

Seniors can enjoy a private Seattle free museum day on the first Friday of each month!

Seattle Art Museum

If you are at least 62 years old, then you can get free admission to Seattle Art Museum on the first Friday of the month! This deal is valid for seniors only during business hours.

Asian Art Museum

This world-renowned collection of Asian Art displays visual arts Asia’s culture and time periods, including contemporary Asian artists. The first Friday discount is valid for seniors only and lasts all business day.

Free on Saturdays

Asian Art Museum

This deal is for families only! On Saturdays between 11am and 2pm, kids can create their own art! Each Free First Saturday has a theme with special workshops, performances and more. The museum event is designed for children ages 3-12 and their parents/guardians.

Theater Tours

Meet in front of the main entrance of the theater for a 90 minute tour led by a well-versed volunteer. These free tours provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the historic theater. All tours start at 10 am!

The tours include the Paramount Theater (first Saturday of the month), Moore Theater (second Saturday) and Neptune Theater (third Saturday).

Free on Sundays

Henry Art Gallery

The museum, which is located on the University of Washington campus, is always free to students. The public can visit free on Sunday afternoons.

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Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.