I’ve previously shared some information on how to get free museum admission with your Bank of America card (which of these have you visited?).

That got me thinking that I should compile and share a list with you of where and when you can get free admission to Seattle-area museums. So, here’s what I found! (Leave a comment if you know of any more and I’ll add them to the list.)

Last updated: May 20th, 2019

Free Museum Admission in the Seattle Area

Asian Art Museum (Seattle)
Closed for renovation; they anticipate reopening in Fall 2019.

Bellevue Arts Museum (Bellevue)
Free the first Friday of every month or with a King County Library pass. Free for students the second Wednesday of every month with this coupon. Also a Bank of America Museums on Us participant and a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle)
Closed as they move to a new building; they anticipate opening in Fall 2019.

Cascadia Art Museum (Edmonds)
Free the first Thursday of every month from 5 – 8 pm. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle)
Always free, but you can also get one hour’s use of the Museum’s historic row boats free with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) (Seattle)
Always free.

Children’s Museum of Tacoma (Tacoma)
Pay what you wish.

Coast Guard Museum (Seattle)
Always free.

Connections Museum (Seattle)
Pay what you wish, but there is a suggested donation of $5/adult and $2/youth. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center (Seattle)
Always free, but donations are requested.

DuPont Historical Museum (DuPont)
Always free, but donations are welcome.

Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum (Everett)
Free with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Foss Waterway Seaport (Tacoma)
Free the third Thursday of every month from 4 – 8 pm or with a Pierce County Library or Tacoma Public Library pass. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Frye Art Museum (Seattle)
Always free.

Georgetown Steam Plant (Seattle)
Always free.

Harbor History Museum (Gig Harbor)
Free for all visitors in 2019.

Henry Art Gallery (Seattle)
Free every Sunday. Also free the first Thursday of every month or with a Seattle Public Library pass. Students are always free. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Seattle)
Always free.

Historic Fort Steilacoom (Lakewood)
Always free. Guided tours are available for a small fee.

Imagine Children’s Museum (Everett)
Free the third Friday of every month from 5:30 – 9 pm.

Job Carr Cabin Museum (Tacoma)
Pay what you wish.

Kent Historical Museum (Kent)
Always free.

KidsQuest Children’s Musem (Bellevue)
Free with a King County Library pass. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Klondike Gold Rush Museum (Seattle)
Always free.

Lakewold Gardens (Lakewood)
Free with a Tacoma Public Library pass. Also a Blue Star Museum participant (see below for more information).

Last Resort Fire Department Museum (Seattle)
Always free.

Living Computers: Museum + Labs (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month from 5 – 8 pm or with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Log House Museum (Seattle)
Pay what you wish, but there is a suggested donation of $1/child or $3/adult. Also free with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) (Seattle)
Free with a King County Library or Seattle Public Library pass.

Microsoft Visitor Center (Redmond)
Always free.

Museum of Flight (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month from 5 – 9 pm. Also free with a King County Library or Seattle Public Library pass and a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Museum of Glass (Tacoma)
Free the third Thursday of every month from 5 – 8 pm. Also free with a Pierce County Library or Tacoma Public Library pass and a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month or with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Nordic Museum (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month or with a Seattle Public Library pass. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Northwest African American Museum (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month or with a Seattle Public Library pass. Also a Bank of America Museums on Us participant and a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Northwest Nikkei Museum (Seattle)
Always free.

Northwest Railway Museum (Snoqualmie)
Always free to visit the depot and grounds.

Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center (Seattle)
Always free, but a donation is suggested.

Olympic Sculpture Park (Seattle)
Always free.

Pacific Bonsai Museum (Federal Way)
Pay what you wish.

Renton History Museum (Renton)
Free the first Wednesday and third Saturday of every month.

Seattle Aquarium (Seattle)
Free with a King County Library or Seattle Public Library pass.

Seattle Art Museum (Seattle)
Free the first Thursday of every month for all ages or the first Friday of every month for ages 65 and over. Also free with a King County Library or Seattle Public Library pass and a Bank of America Museums on Us participant. Also a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Seattle Children’s Museum (Seattle)
Free with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Steilacoom Historical Museum (Steilacoom)
Always free.

Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma)
Free every third Thursday from 5 – 8 pm or with a Pierce County Library or Tacoma Public Library pass. Also a Bank of America Museums on Us participant and a Blue Star Museum (see below for more information).

Tacoma Historical Society (Tacoma)
Always free.

Volunteer Park Conservatory (Seattle)
Free every first Thursday and Saturday.

Washington Park Arboretum (Seattle)
Always free.

Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)
Free every third Thursday from 3 – 8 pm or with a King County Library, Pierce County Library, or Tacoma Public Library pass.

White River Valley Museum (Auburn)
Free every first Thursday and third Sunday.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (Seattle)
Free with a Seattle Public Library pass. Also a Bank of America Museums on Us participant.

Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)
Free with a Seattle Public Library pass.

Blue Star Museums

Blue Star Museums is a program that offers free admission to museums for all active duty, National Guard and Reserve military personnel and their families from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day.

Participating museums in the state of Washington include:

• Bellevue Arts Museum (Bellevue)
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue)
• Cascadia Art Museum (Edmonds)
• Lakewold Gardens (Lakewood)
• Connections Museum (Seattle)
• Henry Art Gallery (Seattle)
• Museum of Flight (Seattle)
• Nordic Museum (Seattle)
• Northwest African American Museum (Seattle)
• Seattle Art Museum (Seattle)
• Foss Waterway Seaport (Tacoma)
• Museum of Glass (Tacoma)
• Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma)