Greater Seattle Museums for Families to Visit on Free First (And Third) Thursdays

girl and mother looking at exhibit through glass at National nordic museum during a free museum day

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Give kids a taste of art, culture and history on free admission day. Photo: Jim Bennett/Photo Bakery for National Nordic Museum

The whirlwind of the festive season is in the rearview; and post all that holiday spending, January sure has our pocketbooks feeling the pinch. Meanwhile, winter’s Big Dark is still upon us and as the long, rainy days stretch out, we find ourselves choosing between dealing with cooped-up, stir-crazy kids or splurging on outings with pricey entrance fees.

Lucky for us, Seattle-area families have a fee-free loophole for getting wound-up kids out of the house for creative, culture-filled educational outings. I’m talking about Free First Thursdays (Free Third Thursdays if you live near Tacoma) — an initiative that lets patrons visit local Puget Sound museums with no admission fees one day each month.

Visiting during these no-admission-fee hours means kids can see cool art, examine historic artifacts, learn about other cultures or even see impressive machines. After doing lots of exploring myself, these are the museums around the Sound that top my list and allow families to have all the fun, without spending a dime.

Where to spend Free First Thursdays in Seattle

Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Asian Art Museum

Free First Thursday hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (Seattle Art Museum), 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (Asian Art Museum)

The Seattle Art Museum (and its satellite location the Seattle Asian Art Museum) is home to more than 25,000 works of art from around the globe, making it a fantastic accessible introduction to the world of art for kids of all ages. Learn all about critter brains with the new animal intelligence exhibit; be fascinated by the sculptural Geometry of Light installations by a Pakistani American artist; and delight littles with the beyond-adorable smiley clouds suspended from the ceiling in the ongoing “Little Cloud Sky” exhibition, intended to bring whimsy and joy.

little girl at the Seattle Asian Art Museum — A child enjoys animal art on display at Seattle Asian Art Museum. Photo: Meredith Charaba

Burke Museum

Free First Thursday hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Young dino lovers and budding paleontologists already know and love the Burke Museum for its awesome dinosaur exhibits. The Fossils Uncovered gallery is the only place in the state to view real dinosaur fossils, including one of the best-preserved T. rex skulls ever found. Other awesome exhibits document the stories of the planet: from evolution and environments, to the lives of local Native communities and the work of archeologists; and a play area lets littles get the wiggles out if you need a break.

National Nordic Museum

Free First Thursday hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Discover the cultures and stories of North America’s Nordic settlers in this modern Ballard museum. Follow in the steps of the Vikings in “Nordic Journeys,” which spans over 12,000 years of history; and experience the wonder of the Northern Lights in the 20-foot Project Aurora light installation. And don’t miss Way of the Bird King outside: one of the six beloved Northwest Trolls popping up around Washington state, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.

The Museum of Flight

Free First Thursday hours: 5–9 p.m.

The wonder of charting the open skies and massive flying machines are a never-ending source of fascination for humans big and small — and The Museum of Flight is the place to satisfy their curiosity. Holding one of the largest air and space collections in the country, this Tukwila spot has it all: from giant hangars to open-air pavilions, World War fighter jets, a NASA space shuttle, flight simulators and much more. Young pilots will love hanging in gliding simulators and climbing into real cockpits in the fab Kids Flight Zone; while older family members can take in current exhibits like the untold stories of World War II or Apollo rocket engines.

kids at the Museum of Flight — Wander through the Great Gallery to experience a century of flight at The Museum of Flight. Photo: Kathryn Mueller

MOHAI

Free First Thursday hours: 5–8 p.m.

Curious kids and their grown-ups can delve deep into the roots of Seattle’s urban fabric and the industries that shaped it at MOHAI in South Lake Union. Explore the city’s stories through hands-on exhibits: from the Bezos Center for Innovation, to see how the region’s big ideas came to life; to Maritime Seattle and its gallery of marine vessels and more. Budding builders ages 2–7 will adore the Kid-Struction Zone set with brain-boosting activities like Duplo tables and giant foam bricks.

Northwest African American Museum

Free First Thursday hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

The colorful stories and spirit of African American people in the Pacific Northwest await discovery at the Northwest African American Museum, housed in the historic Colman School building in Seattle’s Central District. History, culture, storytelling, civil rights and more are traced through evocative exhibits such as “Freedom of Expression,” showcasing the work of local Black visual artists; and “History Lives Here,” which tributes the vision of inspiring community leaders. Have a teen interested in the arts? Ask about the Youth Curator program, which lets students experience the field of museum curation firsthand.

Museums participating in Free Third Thursdays

Washington State History Museum

Free Third Thursday hours: 3–8 p.m.

From Indigenous communities and migration to trains and hovercrafts, Tacoma’s Washington State History Museum is the spot to learn all about the state’s past and future. Discover the stories of Washington’s settlers; explore our cultural fascination with futuristic flying cars; and don’t miss the largest permanent model railroad in the state amidst the engaging, interactive exhibits.

oxens at the WA state history museum — The Great Hall of Washington History is a permanent exhibit at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. Photo: Tonya Strickland

Tacoma Art Museum

Free Third Thursday hours: 5–8 p.m.

From European impressionists to Japanese prints and Dale Chihuly’s vibrant glass art, there’s something for everyone to discover at this artsy Tacoma destination. Get inspired by the amazing artists on display; then, head over to the TAM Studio, the museum’s free drop-in art space stocked with supplies, hands-on activities, books and more — no admission required. Third Thursday nights also host the Teen Open Studio — a space just for teens to create art, express themselves and build connections with scheduled artmaking activities.

Museum of Glass

Free Third Thursday hours: 5–8 p.m.

This funky cone-shaped building in Tacoma is all about the contemporary art of glass; showcasing the medium through eye-catching exhibitions, live glassblowing demos and hands-on glassmaking experiences. A highlight for families is the Kids Design Glass program, which lets kids bring their imaginations to life and take part in the transformation of glass into art. Kids can submit drawings for selection by the museum to be made into blown glass creations that are then displayed in the museum.

Foss Waterway Seaport

Free Third Thursday hours: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. (Free admission daily, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.)

You don’t need to wait until Third Thursday to visit the Foss Waterway Seaport, which has recently made its admission free every day! Set in the historic Balfour Dock building, this living museum dives into Tacoma’s maritime history through interpretative, interactive displays. Learn the history of the Puget Sound’s boating and fishing industries and marine ecosystems; and don’t miss the working model of the Half Moon Yard railroad at Tacoma Wharf, where miniature trains can be dispatched with the push of a button.