Don’t miss out on Seattle museums’ free admission days!

Seattle is a beautiful city to explore but it can also get expensive fast. If you’re a student, a parent with young children, or just on a tight budget, there are ways to immerse yourself in the city’s art and culture without spending any money. Most of Seattle museums’ free admission days reoccur on the same date every month. Some even offer daily free admission!

Important note: Be sure to check each museum’s website before you go, as the hours for free admission can vary and sometimes you need to reserve your ticket in advance.

Check out upcoming Seattle museums free admission days below:

Summary of upcoming free admission days (February 2023):

February 2 (first Thursday of every month):

• Seattle Art Museum (tickets available online and onsite)
• National Nordic Museum (must be reserved in advance online)
• Museum of Flight (from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. only)
• Museum of History and Industry (from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. only)
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
• Henry Art Gallery (free admission every Sunday as well)

February 24 (last Friday of every month):

• Seattle Asian Art Museum

Daily free admission:

• Frye Art Museum
• Olympic Sculpture Park
• Center for Wooden Boats
• The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
• Klondike Gold Rush Museum
• Center on Contemporary Art

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Additional free admission tips:

• Make sure to check each museum’s free admission hours before you go, as they can vary.
• Some museums require you to reserve your ticket in advance for free admission days—another reason to check their website first.
• You can use your Seattle library card or King County library card for free admission to many Seattle museums such as Museum of Pop Culture (as well as the zoo and the aquarium).
• Smithsonian Magazine hosts a free museum day every year on September 17. Mark your calendar now for next year!
• Many Seattle museums offer free admission for children; see details below.

Now, in no particular order, here’s all the museum details:

1. Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Art Museum (SAM), located downtown a block away from Pike Place Market, offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month as well as other discount access programs. Admission is always free for children age 14 and younger.

In the summer months, be sure to check out Summer at SAM. The museum hosts free outdoor events in Olympic Sculpture Park during July and August.

2. National Nordic Museum

National Nordic Museum in Ballard offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month. It also participates in the Seattle Library Museum Pass program; use your library card for a free visit! You can visit to learn all about Nordic culture, heritage, history, and art.

3. Museum of Flight

The Museum of Flight offers free admission from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Children age four and younger are always admitted for free.

4. Northwest African American Museum

Northwest African American Museum in the Central District just reopened their doors on January 16, 2023 with a Martin Luther King Day celebration. Adult admission is $10 but ages 18 and under are $5, and ages 3 and under are admitted for free. Other than extended hours on that day, there’s nothing currently on their website about free first Thursdays. Follow their Instagram page for updates.

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5. Museum of History and Industry

The Museum of History and Industry in Lake Union Park offers free admission from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month but you must reserve your ticket in advance. Children age 14 and younger always have free admission. Visiting this museum is a great way to learn about the history of Seattle and the surrounding region!

6. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture—located on the University of Washington campus—offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month. It also participates in the Museum for All program. Children age 3 and younger as well as UW students, staff and faculty always have free admission.

7. Henry Art Gallery

Henry Art Gallery operates on a suggested admission donation of $0 to $20. It also offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month as well as on every Sunday. Children, students, military personnel, and members of the University of Washington community always enjoy free admission. This contemporary art museum is located on the University of Washington campus. It also often has offsite exhibitions such as the free outdoors exhibition Chloë Bass: Soft Services currently located in Volunteer Park.

8. Frye Art Museum

Frye Art Museum is always free! This contemporary art museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located in First Hill. They also have a variety of ongoing programs at the museum that are free to participate in.

9. Olympic Sculpture Park

Olympic Sculpture Park is an outdoor sculpture museum located downtown that is always free. It is open daily 30 minutes after sunrise and closes 30 minutes before sunset.

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10. Center for Wooden Boats

This maritime museum is always free. It is open Wednesday through Sunday. Keep in mind that it is closed on Thanksgiving Day this month. You can also check out their free rowboat rental program.

11. Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center

This cultural center in West Seattle is open in a limited capacity with daily free admission. They are closed Sundays and Mondays.

12. Klondike Gold Rush Museum

Located at 319 2nd Ave S, this museum has a lot of interesting information about the 1890s Klondike gold rush in Seattle. It offers daily free admission for its self-guided exhibits.

13. Center on Contemporary Art

This downtown art gallery is open to the public free of charge Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

14. Seattle Asian Art Museum

Seattle Asian Art Museum offers free admission for all on the last Friday of every month and children age 14 and under are always admitted for free. It is located in Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill. The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

15. Museum of Pop Culture

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) does not have any free admission days but participates in Museums for All, which allows free admission anytime if you present an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card from any state. MoPOP also participates in the free library pass program with the Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System, so that’s another great reason to get a library card! Children age 4 and younger always have free admission to MoPOP.