First Thursday and Beyond: Galleries and Museums in the Seattle Area

The First Thursday of each month is a free art day in Seattle. Museums are free. Here is a huge list! Did you know we had this many museums in the area?

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Bellevue Arts Museum
Free – first Friday of every month.
Center for Wooden Boats
Free – always.
Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center
Free – always.
Frye Art Museum
Free – always.
Henry Art Gallery
Free – first Thursday of every month, always students.
Imagine Children’s Museum
Free – third Friday of every month 5:30-9pm, half price admission every Thursday 3-5pm.
Klondike Gold Rush Museum
Free – always.
Living Computer Museum
Free – first Thursday of every month 5-8pm.
Loghouse Museum
Pay What You Wish – always
Museum of Flight
Free – first Thursday of every month 5-9pm.
Museum of Glass
Free – third Thursday of every month 5-8pm, every Sunday for college students with ID.
Museum of History and Industry
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Nordic Heritage Museum
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Northwest African American Museum
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Northwest Railway Museum
Free – always.
Northwest Seaport Maritime Heritage Center
Free – first Thursday of every month.
Olympic Sculpture Park
Free – always.
Seattle Art Museum Downtown
Free – first Thursday of every month, first Friday ages 62 and over.
Seattle Asian Art Museum
Free – first Thursday and Saturday and second Thursday 5-9pm of every month, first Friday ages 62 and over.
Seattle Children’s Museum
Pay What You Wish – every weekday 4-5pm.
Seattle Public Library Museum Pass
Free – always, Seattle Public Library card holders reserve and print free admission tickets to Seattle museums.
Washington Park Arboretum
Free – always.
Wing Luke Asian Museum
Free – first Thursday of every month.

Galleries in Pioneer Square open new shows. Many serve drinks and snacks too. The Alliance for Pioneer Square has a terrific website with maps, dates and this history:

“Did you know First Thursday in Pioneer Square was the first Art Walk in the USA? In 1981, a group of Pioneer Square art dealers printed handout maps and on the first Thursday of the month painted footprints on the sidewalk outside their galleries. First Thursday soon evolved into a beloved fixture on the local arts calendar.

Today, First Thursday takes place each month in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, from 6 pm to 8 pm, when leading art galleries throw open their doors to introduce their new exhibitions and artists.

The Art Walk in Pioneer Square is enhanced by the dozens of public art installations that can be found when walking between galleries. From the historic Native American Totem Poles in Occidental and Pioneer Square parks to the bright red “Sentinels” on guard outside the new Fire Station 10.”

First Thursday also has a Face Book page.

IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE OR CANNOT MAKE IT TO FIRST THURSDAY EVENTS, VISIT AN ART GALLERY NEAR YOU. TELL US WHERE YOU WENT IN THE COMMENTS!