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    Burke Museum

    3.7 (134 reviews)
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    Alyson W.

    Came for first Thursdays so can't speak to value for money, but had an amazing experience. Staff are friendly. Museum is chock full of artifacts, fossils, and animals. There are also lots of areas for kids to interact. I also loved that they make the research labs so accessible to the public, with signs explaining what they are doing and windows to watch the scientists work. I've never been to a museum that did that and I think it is so special. First floor is about culture with a large emphasis on indigenous cultures. I really enjoyed the weaving exhibit. Second floor is biology with some stunning set ups of ecosystems and lots of stuffed animals. Third floor is paleontology and archaeology. I found the archaeology exhibit not as engaging as the rest. The fossils are very cool and well laid out.

    Autumn d.

    Came here for a Saturday afternoon, barely any crowd so we were able to walk around freely. Tons of indigenous exhibits and they collaborated with the tribes directly which I love. Staff were friendly. I appreciated the lockers that were available to place large bags and water. Lots of accessibility features with with closed captioning on videos and binders with larger text. Lots of interactive features for all ages including play areas on each level. We used the free pass through SPL. Can't wait to come back!

    The third floor is by far the coolest with full dinosaur fossils. Took us some time to get through so I would plan at least two hours of time to walk around.

    Carol L.

    A fun little museum next to the University of Washington's Seattle campus. It's free entry for all students! I would definitely recommend visiting at least once, if not more, especially if you are a student. I know most people think these types of museums are for children but I found it to be quite fun still :) It has 3 floors full of cool artifacts and historical information. When I went, there was even a live dissection of a ball Python going on (Saturday morning). That is just so cool. Sometimes there's other special events going on as well, so check out their website for the most up to date information. All the staff are very kind and knowledgeable. There is a large paid parking lot and it's also very close to the university district light rail.

    Patty P.

    Had a private tour with LaoSA UW. They pulled out many Lao items and printed out the fact sheets on each of them for us. We got to learn about the Burke itself too. Great experience.

    Abbey O.

    I have lived in seattle a long time and had no idea we had a good dinosaur exhibit locally! I expect knowledge of this getting out is due to their recent remodel right around the pandemic. It's a small museum, but definitely worthwhile. I think their ticket prices are appropriate to the size. We had a few favorite parts: 1. The dinosaurs! My 3yo was thrilled 2. Watching scientists work on site! I love how they have offices set up so that as scientists work on fossils and biological specimens you can watch on. Very cool 3. Acknowledgement of native washington tribes, and true stories behind how their land was stolen. It's a hard history to acknowledge and many historical places skirt around the truth

    Christopher L.

    A great museum located in the U District and is a short walk from the light rail. The museum is clean and has friendly staff. The multiple floors of this museum has such a variety of artifacts to see. Each artifact was well explained and there are working labs that you can view. After seeing the museum, top off the experience with a bite from Off the Rez. It makes the whole trip complete.

    Jboogie L.

    We were able to score a parking spot ($4/hr) in front of this musuem. Enjoyed reading about the Northwest Native art, cultural pieces, and evolution of life depicted in the sample artifacts. What's cooler were the scientists sitting behind large glass windows excavating fossils right in front of our eyes and dissecting an animal (otter) as well. Free Thursday at the beginning of the month. There were some large tables & chairs at the entrance for people to sit and rest or eat. There is a dining space if you wanted to dine there as well. I took a photo of the menu. The giftshop was alright. There is also a Starbucks Coffee mobile truck nearby. Note - All gender bathrooms at this location

    Notice of acknowledgment
    Sue T.

    This museum is located on the scenic campus of the University of Washington. I was really impressed with the layout of the museum. It's narrower than most, but manages to fit a decent amount of information and exhibits inside. Expect to see about two different exhibits on each of the museum's 3 floors. I learned that the museum was updated in 2019 which was apparent since the whole building seemed not only modern, but sleek. I learned a few things about the natural history of Seattle, but also it's native people. My favorite part of the museum were the windows that showed visitors a glimpse at what research looks like behind glass windows. There's a lot of fossils and specimens of different creatures to view. I was able to walk around and get about 1.5 hours of entertainment.

    Mojdeh S.

    The newly remodeled and reopen (as of October 2019) Burke Museum is a fantastic dinosaur haven. Enjoy the window-full space with learning opportunities at each step. Classrooms, work spaces and displays of all things prehistoric. It can get crowded with class field trips and teachers/chaperones who don't reign in their wild and loud children, but the space itself is quite fantastic. Some areas of the museum are still being curated and completed, but the presentation is thoughtful, clean and easy to navigate.

    Burke Museum Main Entrance - 21 January 2020.
    Tanis L.

    The Burke Museum is aesthetically pleasing. It is artfully laid out and the architecture is nice to look at. On my visit with my aunt to the museum in January 2020 there were a number of people with sketchpads drawing/sketching different things in the museum. Fun to see what they chose to draw. For the exhibits, a lot was covered though not with much detail and not with much in relation to Seattle or the Pacific Northwest. Some of the wording used in the exhibits rubbed me the wrong way, it came across as too forceful in trying to push a particular view or idea rather than striking an informative tone. I'm glad I went, it is useful to remember that some people use this style of writing in communication. In recent years a number of museums previously dedicated to the Pacific Northwest and the greater Seattle area have been converted to a more global approach. This means the museums cover less about the area, the people of the area, and the history of the area. Instead the museums cover things that may or may not be applicable to the area in which they are located. The Burke Museum is one of those museums. Bring back more local history and culture and this would have been a better experience.

    Monica C.

    A fairly small museum with a significant number of exhibits. Beautiful exterior architecture, modern interiors. A variety of anthropology and paleontology. Fun for kids and families.

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    Very nice people there and a very interesting museum. I would highly recommend going there and spending a couple of hours.

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    Thank you Monica for the great pictures and review!

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    To less to show, ticket price so expensive, hopefully more glass from more artist. Huge building but feeling empty

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    Ask the Community - Burke Museum

    How much does parking cost and is there a UW students parking price?

    The closest lot is the N1 - It's considered University of Washington parking. From 6am - 4pm, it's $4 an hour or $17 for the day. After 4pm, it's a flat $6. On Saturdays, it's $6 flat fee until Noon. Parking is free after noon on Saturdays and all… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Burke Museum

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    Museum of Pop Culture

    Museum of Pop Culture

    4.0
    (2k reviews)
    3.2 mi

    MoPOP was one of the more unique museums I visited in Seattle…read more The exhibits cover a wide range of pop culture, from music and movies to sci-fi and fantasy. I especially enjoyed the music-related sections, which featured iconic artists, memorabilia, and interactive displays that made the experience feel more engaging than just walking through a gallery. The horror section in the basement was also top tier, with so many cool set pieces from classic horror movies on exhibit. Ticket prices were about 35$ a person but very worth the price. Highly recommend adding MoPOP to your Seattle itinerary!

    Museum of Pop Culture took me a decade to finally go. Waited too long…read more Back when Frank Gehry was still around, I lived next to Linda's Tavern, the last place Kurt Cobain was seen. Wild to be here now and the Cobain exhibit is gone after all these years, and so has Frank (RIP); architectural genius. The building still hits. The architecture alone is worth it. Sci-fi, horror, and fantasy exhibits carry the experience. At this point, I'd come back for the rotating shows, Rebels & Icons on the 15th, and the upstairs Lounge Bar. Low key hidden, solid pop art food/drinks, complimentary chips with their own seasoning, and great service. The museum should separate this bar on Yelp, I want to review this separately.(hint) That combo makes the membership make sense.

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    "I'll be back!"
    "I'll be back!"
    Gaming area
    Gaming area
    Pixel sculpture at Indie Game Revolution video game exhibition at the Museum of Pop Culture

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    Pixel sculpture at Indie Game Revolution video game exhibition at the Museum of Pop Culture
    Seattle Public Library - Central Library

    Seattle Public Library - Central Library

    4.4
    (629 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    This building is a work of art. Coupled with its services and amenities, this library is now my…read morefavorite in the United States. It's a dynamic public space, open 10am-6pm every day (and until 8pm Tuesdays-to-Thursdays). There's a community bulletin board, art to appreciate, board games to borrow (to play there, not takeaway), an auditorium, computers to browse the web, plenty of power outlets, DVDs to rent, and a cute gift shop ($1 book deals!). Plenty of seating, free Wi-Fi, restrooms. There's a filtered water dispenser (bring a water bottle!). To my surprise, there's a cafe ("Howdy Y'all Coffee", open all week except Sundays) on-site. Oh, there are books too. Recommendation: Visit the 10th floor! It has a huge naturally-lit reading room. A serene oasis in downtown Seattle.

    One of the most beautiful libraries in the U.S. is this 11-story masterpiece on a hill overlooking…read moreSeattle and the water. There's an underground parking garage or simply walk there since it's in downtown Seattle. Clear signage throughout is helpful in wandering 10 floors of thousands of books, maps, and more. There's plenty of seating, a gift shop, a cafe, reading rooms, computers, and more. Outlets for charging are everywhere. If you love travel, their travel section is among the best I've seen. Spend an hour walking up stairs or using the elevator to see the stunning architecture and views of the city.

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    Looking down
    Looking down
    First floor.
    First floor.
    Seattle Public Library - Central Library

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    Sky View Observatory

    Sky View Observatory

    4.5
    (560 reviews)
    4.0 mi

    My visit to the Columbia Tower Observatory on the 73rd floor was nothing short of amazing. The…read moreviews are absolutely breathtaking--truly one of those experiences where you find yourself stopping just to take it all in. Seeing Seattle from that height gives you a completely new appreciation for the city and its surroundings. What made the visit even more enjoyable was the staff. Every employee I encountered was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and genuinely pleasant. Their warmth made the experience feel even more special, and it was clear they take pride in creating a positive atmosphere for visitors. One observation I did have relates to the elevator experience. It has been two years since my last visit, and unfortunately, the elevator's video system is still not functioning. I remember when the observatory first opened, and the video played during the ride up--it added an engaging and memorable element to the experience. Without it, the ride feels noticeably less enjoyable. Interestingly, others seemed to feel the same way. I mentioned how long the video system has been out of service while riding up, and a couple riding up with us--visiting from Australia--commented that it would have been nice to have something to watch during the ascent. As an alternative, it might be a wonderful opportunity for the elevator operator to share a few interesting facts during the ride up. A brief, engaging introduction--highlighting that this is the tallest building in Seattle, along with a bit of history about its construction and facts about its tenants--could really enhance the experience and help pass the time in a meaningful way. Additionally, with all three video screens currently not working and visibly cracked, addressing this issue would make a noticeable difference. Either repairing or replacing the screens--or even temporarily covering them--would create a much more polished and welcoming feel for visitors and help elevate the overall experience. You can't beat the view though!

    If you're deciding between the Sky View Observatory and the Space Needle, I'd strongly consider Sky…read moreView. The experience felt much more laid back, with fewer crowds and plenty of space to take in the views. It is also technically taller than the Space Needle. The observatory floor goes all the way around and has lots of helpful information and displays explaining what you're looking at, which made the experience more engaging than simply taking photos from an observation deck. There's also a café w/ bar upstairs, making it easy to relax and spend some time enjoying the scenery. One of the biggest advantages is that you get incredible panoramic views of Seattle including the Space Needle itself, which makes for some great photo opportunities. We got lucky and it was a beautiful afternoon and were able to watch the sunset from there. Between the views, the atmosphere, and the overall value, this ended up being one of my favorite stops in Seattle.

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    Ticket area, but can also purchase online
    Ticket area, but can also purchase online
    Vita-Tini
    Vita-Tini
    A Roy rogers

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    A Roy rogers

    Burke Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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