Seattle Museums: Book Tickets Now

Dinosaurs and a butterfly house, four floors of vintage cars, and a museum built for your camera roll.

LeMay - America's Car Museum

From $24.50

Original Selfie Museum - Seattle: Entry Ticket

From $39.00

Seattle’s museums are an easy mix to choose from. Pacific Science Center has hands-on science and a planetarium, LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma fills a four-story building with classic cars, and the Original Selfie Museum makes you part of the exhibit.

Book your museum tickets online and pick the one that fits your day.

Which Seattle Museums Should I Visit?

Pacific Science Center: hands-on science at Seattle Center

Pacific Science Center began as the United States Science Pavilion at the 1962 World’s Fair, and it has been a science museum ever since. The Tropical Butterfly House is the favorite for many visitors, with butterflies flying freely around you. There is also a planetarium, a laser dome and two IMAX theaters, plus dinosaur displays and a makerspace where you can build and tinker.

It is aimed at families, but plenty of adults enjoy it just as much.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma

LeMay – America’s Car Museum opened in Tacoma in 2012 and fills four floors and 165,000 square feet. It grew from the collection of Harold LeMay, who owned more than 3,000 cars, trucks and motorcycles at his peak, a total Guinness World Records once recognized as the largest private collection of its kind. The museum sits near the Tacoma Dome, overlooking the Foss Waterway, and its exhibits have covered topics such as Ferrari in America, Indy cars and the classic car era.

If you like engines, design or just a good road-trip story, it is worth the trip south.

Original Selfie Museum: art you pose with

The Original Selfie Museum is a museum in a looser sense. Instead of looking at art, you step into it. Each installation is lit and styled for photos, and many come with props to play with. It is in Post Alley, near Pike Place Market and the Gum Wall, which makes it easy to fit around a market visit.

Most people spend about an hour, and it works well for friends, couples and families who want a lighter stop on their itinerary.

Good to Know Before Visiting Seattle Museums

Pacific Science Center is at Seattle Center, which you can reach by monorail from Westlake Center downtown.

Some experiences at Pacific Science Center, such as films and planetarium shows, run at set times, so check the schedule when you arrive.

LeMay – America's Car Museum is in Tacoma, south of Seattle, so allow extra travel time and plan it as its own outing.

The museum sits near the Tacoma Dome on the Foss Waterway, on a nine-acre campus.

Original Selfie Museum is at 92 Union Street in Post Alley, near Pike Place Market, and a visit usually takes about an hour.

The Selfie Museum is built around photos, so bring a fully charged phone and anyone you'd like to pose with.

Most of the museum space is indoors, which makes these visits a good fit for a rainy day.

Each museum has its own entrance and schedule, so check the time and location on your booking before you head out.

Seattle Museums - Gallery

Seattle's Top 5 Picks

Seattle Aquarium

A Pier 59 waterfront aquarium focused on Puget Sound marine life, with a 400,000-gallon Underwater Dome at its center.

Sky View Observatory

A 360-degree viewing floor 902 feet up on the 73rd floor of Columbia Center, with Mount Rainier and the Space Needle in sight.

Woodland Park Zoo

A 92-acre zoo in Phinney Ridge known for habitat-style exhibits, from grizzly bears on the Northern Trail to giraffes on the African Savanna.

Smith Tower

A 1914 Pioneer Square skyscraper with a 35th-floor observatory, an open-air deck and the carved Chinese Room.

National Nordic Museum

A Ballard museum, in a purpose-built building that opened in 2018, devoted to the heritage of the five Nordic countries and Nordic Americans.

FAQs about Seattle Museums

What museums can I visit in Seattle?

Pacific Science Center and the Original Selfie Museum are in Seattle, and LeMay – America's Car Museum is a trip south in Tacoma.

What is there to do at Pacific Science Center?

You can walk through the Tropical Butterfly House, watch a planetarium or laser show, see an IMAX film, and try the dinosaur and hands-on exhibits.

Is Pacific Science Center good for kids?

Yes, the dinosaurs, butterflies and hands-on exhibits are popular with younger visitors.

What is the history of Pacific Science Center?

It began as the United States Science Pavilion at the 1962 World's Fair and has been a science museum at Seattle Center ever since.

Where is LeMay – America's Car Museum?

It is in Tacoma at 2702 East D Street, near the Tacoma Dome, south of Seattle.

How big is LeMay – America's Car Museum?

The museum covers 165,000 square feet across four floors, on a nine-acre campus.

Whose car collection started LeMay – America's Car Museum?

It grew from the collection of Harold LeMay, who owned more than 3,000 vehicles at its peak.

What is the Original Selfie Museum?

It is a photo-focused attraction where colorful installations and props are lit and designed for pictures.

Where is Original Selfie Museum in Seattle?

It is at 92 Union Street in Post Alley, near Pike Place Market and the Gum Wall.

How long does a visit to Original Selfie Museum take?

Most visitors spend about an hour taking photos and trying the different installations.

Can I book Seattle museum tickets online in advance?

Yes, you can book online ahead of your visit and plan the rest of your day around it.