Visit the best Seattle-Tacoma museums for less

Listed below are some of the most popular and highly rated museums in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area along with information about discount tickets, and in some cases free admission. In addition, most museums offer an annual membership, which typically includes free admission.

Additional discounts may be available that we have not included, such as online or advance purchase, children and senior or military prices, group purchases, and programs such as TeenTix and Blue Star Museums as well as other programs such as AAA and Prime. Click the link for each museum to visit their website and confirm admission prices, available discounts, museum hours, and other details.

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Museum discount and free admission information

(listed alphabetically by museum name)

Bellevue Art Museum features local and international exhibits, sometimes provocative, in contemporary art, craft, and design. Adult admission: $15. Membership begins at $65. Free admission on the First Friday of each month and with King County Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle on the University of Washington Campus is the oldest public museum in Washington State. The Burke features cultural objects, new contemporary works, and natural specimens to inspire and educate visitors and educators to value life. The Burke is a Smithsonian affiliate. Note: closed for remodel; re-opening fall 2019. Adult admission: $10. Membership begins at $60. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass. Discount admission to EBT cardholders through Museums4All program.

Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle provides a glimpse of the inspiration and influences that have informed the career of Tacoma native artist Dale Chihuly. The Exhibition includes eight Galleries featuring his significant works, the 100-foot long sculpture Glasshouse (occasionally closed for private events), and an outdoor Garden punctuated with stunning glass sculptures. Adult admission: $32. Membership begins at $110. Discount admission when purchased with Space Needle ticket or with CityPass Seattle ticket package. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

CityPass Seattle gets you discounted admission to the Space Needle and the Seattle Aquarium, plus 3 more attractions of your choice: Argosy Cruises Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Fort Nisqually Living History Museum in Tacoma at Point Defiance Park features volunteers and staff in period clothing who demonstrate crafts of the 19th century and engage visitors in historic dialogue. Regular adult admission: $9.00. Membership begins at $45. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Henry Art Gallery in Seattle on the University of Washington Campus is Washington State’s first art museum. The Henry features bold and challenging exhibitions that are known for pushing the boundaries of contemporary art and culture. The Henry is often the first to premiere new works by established and emerging artists Adult admission: $10. Membership begins at $45. Free admission on the First Friday of each month and EVERY Sunday, or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma 165,000-square-foot facility has rotating exhibits featuring hundreds of automobiles and artifacts spanning 100+ years of automotive history. Adult admission: $18. Membership begins at $50. Discount admission with a Travel Tacoma Mt. Rainier Tourism & Sports Attraction Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Museum of Flight in Seattle is a Smithsonian affiliate is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world, with over 175 aircraft and spacecraft, tens of thousands of artifacts, millions of rare photographs, dozens of exhibits and experiences, and a world-class library. Adult admission: $25. Membership begins at $89. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass and King County Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Museum of Glass in Tacoma is the West Coast’s largest and most active glass studio and contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking. You can watch live glassmaking, experience glass art from emerging artists as well as masters, and enjoy hands-on activities. Adult admission: $17. Membership begins at $60. Free admission third Thursday of each month. Adult admission: $17. Membership begins at $60. Discount admission with a Travel Tacoma Mt. Rainier Tourism & Sports Attraction Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle is a Smithsonian affiliate. The largest private heritage organization in Washington State has over four million objects, documents, and photographs from the Puget Sound region’s past. MOHAI exhibits artifacts and stories of the Puget Sound region’s diverse history, highlighting innovation. Adult admission: $20. Membership begins at $60. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass. Discount admission to EBT cardholders through Museums4All program. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) highlights contemporary popular culture and makes creative expression a life-changing force through experiences and programs that inspire and connect people. Founded by the late Paul Allen in 2000 as the Experience Music Project. Adult admission: $28 (excludes special exhibits). Membership begins at $79. Free admission with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass or King County Library Museum Pass. Discount admission to EBT cardholders through Museums4All program. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

National Nordic Museum in Seattle is an internationally recognized museum and cultural center where people of all backgrounds are welcomed to be inspired by the values, traditions, art, and spirit of the Nordic peoples. It is the largest museum in the U.S. to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Adult admission: $15. Membership begins at $55. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in Seattle embraces the important histories, arts, and cultures of people of African descent as an essential part of our shared heritage and future. NAAM highlights Pacific Northwest connections and the Black experiences in America through exhibitions, programs, and events. Adult admission: $7. Membership begins at $40. Free admission First Thursday of each month, Martin Luther King Jr Day, or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass or King County Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Seattle Aquarium. Adult admission: $30. Membership begins at $79. Free admission with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass or by contacting a participating organization (PDF) where you are a member and inquire about Aquarium tickets through the Seattle Aquarium Connections program. City of Seattle residents may contact their local Seattle Parks Community Center and request Aquarium tickets. Discount admission with CityPass Seattle ticket package. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Seattle Art Museum (SAM) in Seattle has been a world-class visual arts center in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. Collections include objects from across cultures and exhibits explore connections between past and present. Adult admission: $20. Membership begins at $79. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass or King County Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Seattle Pinball Museum collection includes games from 1934 to present day. Admission includes play. Over 50 games are available and selection changes regularly. Adult admission: $15-$20. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Suquamish Tribal Museum on the Port Madison Indian Reservation on the Kitsap peninsula and winter home of Chief Seattle. Permanent and rotating exhibits with rare and unique objects, some that have never been exhibited before will engage visitors and courage them to learn about the lives and culture of the Suquamish. Adult admission: $5. Membership begins at $15. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

USS Turner Joy U.S. Naval Destroyer Museum in Bremerton, an easy walk from the ferry terminal. Turner Joy’s service included several tours and air-sea rescue duty in the Pacific, but she is most remembered for participation in the Gulf of Tonkin incident that escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. She has been restored to her Vietnam War configuration. Adult admission: $16. Memberships are not available, but donations are always welcome and may be made online and are tax-deductible. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle, a Smithsonian affiliate advances racial and social equity by connecting visitors to the history, cultures, and art of Asian Pacific Americans through vivid storytelling found in the exhibits, tours, and programs at the Wing. Adult admission: $17. Membership begins at $50. Free admission First Thursday of each month or with Seattle Public Library Museum Pass. Half-price admission during Seattle Museum Month when staying at participating hotels.

Washington State History Museum in Tacoma collections includes artifacts, photographs, and other materials from territory to present day. Adult admission: $14. Free admission every Third Thursday of each month from 3:00-8:00 PM. Free Library Passes can be checked out by cardholders at Pierce County, City of Tacoma, King County, and Puyallup libraries.

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