National Nordic Museum, Seattle: Tickets and Info

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About the National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic Museum is a Seattle cultural institution dedicated to the history, culture and values of the Nordic countries. Its exhibitions follow themes such as connection to nature, sustainability, social justice and innovation, from the earliest anthropological records to Nordic society today.

The museum has five distinct galleries, including the permanent Nordic Journeys exhibition and rotating special exhibitions. It also runs film, lecture, concert, storytime and genealogy programs for visitors of all ages.

Freya Cafe and the Museum Store are on site.

Address: 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107
Founded: 1979 (opened to the public in 1980)
Current building opened: May 2018

Why Visit the National Nordic Museum?

Discover Nordic Heritage in a Modern Setting: The museum has been in its current building on NW Market Street since 2018. Designed by Mithun with Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa, the building has a zinc exterior and houses five distinct galleries.

Explore Rotating Exhibitions: Special exhibitions change through the year, so there is often something new to see. They sit alongside the permanent galleries and are included with general admission, except on Free First Thursdays.

Join Film, Music and Learning Programs: The museum hosts film screenings, lectures, concerts, storytime and genealogy programs. Family programs and summer camps are available for children.

Celebrate Julefest: Each November, on the weekend before Thanksgiving, Julefest turns the museum grounds into an outdoor Nordic holiday market. Expect handcrafted gifts, traditional foods and live music.

Walk Through Fjord Hall: Fjord Hall is the long first-floor corridor that runs the length of the building, shaped like a Nordic fjord. Narrow bridges cross above it and connect the second-floor galleries.

See Project Aurora: Project Aurora is a permanent 20-foot wall of light in Fjord Hall. It uses 34,560 LED lights and AI to evoke the northern lights. Artist Ginny Ruffner made it with technologist Ed Fries and scholar Wanda Gregory.

Nordic Journeys Core Exhibition: This permanent exhibition covers 12,000 years of Nordic life, culture and immigration. It draws on the museum’s collection and on objects lent by the national museums of all five Nordic countries.

Timings

Regular Hours:

Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Extended Hours:

Thursdays, open until 8:00 PM

Closed On:

Mondays, plus Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The museum is open all other days of the year.

How Do I Get There?

By Car
By Public Transit
By Bicycle
By Walking

The museum is in central Ballard, reached via the Ballard Bridge or Highway 99.

The paid parking lot is on the south side of the building, entered from the corner of NW Market St and 28th Ave NW. Parking starts at $2.00 per hour, plus taxes and fees, and is paid at the kiosks at the base of the stairs or online through Premium Parking.

Street parking is available along NW Market Street and in the surrounding residential streets. The Hiram Chittenden Locks parking lot is a five-minute walk away.

Things to Know Before Visiting the National Nordic Museum

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and until 8:00 PM on Thursdays. It is closed on Mondays.

Walk-ins are welcome, and booking ahead secures your entry, especially for special exhibitions and events.

The museum welcomes visitors of all ages, with family programs and summer camps for children.

The building meets ADA accessibility standards, with ramp entrances and elevators to the second-floor galleries.

Large bags, backpacks, pens and markers are not allowed, and food and drink are not permitted in the galleries.

Events and camps have their own dates and times, which change through the year.

The museum is at 2655 NW Market Street in Ballard, on the corner of 28th Ave NW.

Freya Cafe and the Museum Store are on site.

National Nordic Museum - Additional Information

Facilities
Souvenir Stores
Special Events

The museum has five distinct galleries, Freya Cafe and a Museum Store.

Freya Cafe serves espresso drinks, fresh pastries and a light lunch, and is open to the public without museum admission.

Ramp entrances and elevators connect the galleries, and the Admissions desk lends wheelchairs, magnifiers and EnChroma glasses.

Accessibility Facilities at the National Nordic Museum

Low vision and color accessibility: magnifiers are available at the Admissions desk for use in the museum galleries. EnChroma glasses can also be checked out at the desk.

Mobility: entrances along NW Market Street are always accessible during museum hours, and the west entrance on 28th Ave NW and the south entrance from the parking lot both have ramps. The first-floor galleries are reachable from the ground floor, and two elevators serve the second floor. Two manual wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Admissions desk, first come, first served. The parking lot has four ADA spaces, free with an ADA pass displayed.

Service animals: service animals are welcome. Pets, therapy, emotional support and comfort animals are not allowed inside.

Interesting Facts about the National Nordic Museum

The National Nordic Museum is the only institution of its size and scale in the United States that presents the history and culture of the entire Nordic region, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

It was founded in 1979 as the Nordic Heritage Museum and opened to the public in 1980 in a former school building. It moved to its current building on NW Market Street in May 2018.

The current building was designed by the Seattle firm Mithun with Finnish architect Juhani Pallasmaa. Its exterior is wrapped in zinc, and timber bridges cross the interior fjord.

The Nordic Journeys exhibition covers 12,000 years of Nordic life, culture and immigration.

Besides its exhibitions, the museum hosts film, lecture, concert, storytime and genealogy programs.

The Museum Store sells Nordic art, design and cultural mementos, in person and online.

The building won a 2018 Citation Award in the civic category from AIA Washington Council.

Fjord Hall runs the length of the first floor. Its walls are faceted white planes that recall the glacial origins of a fjord.

Project Aurora, a 20-foot wall of light in Fjord Hall, uses 34,560 LED lights to evoke the northern lights.

Each year the museum hosts Julefest, an outdoor Nordic holiday market with handcrafted gifts, traditional foods and live music.

FAQs about the National Nordic Museum

What is the National Nordic Museum?

The National Nordic Museum is a cultural institution in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. It presents Nordic history, culture and immigration, from the earliest anthropological records to contemporary Nordic society.

Where is the National Nordic Museum located?

The museum is at 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle, WA 98107, in the Ballard neighborhood, on the corner of NW Market Street and 28th Ave NW.

What can I expect to see at the museum?

The permanent exhibition Nordic Journeys covers 12,000 years of Nordic life, culture and immigration. The museum also shows the Project Aurora light installation and rotating special exhibitions.

Are the exhibits suitable for children?

Yes. The museum welcomes visitors of all ages and offers family programs, including children’s camps in summer.

What are Free First Thursdays?

On the first Thursday of every month, general admission is free for all visitors, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Special exhibitions require a separate ticket on those days.

Does the museum offer guided tours?

Yes. Drop-in docent-led tours run on select Fridays and are included with museum admission.

Is the museum accessible for visitors with disabilities?

Yes. The building meets ADA accessibility standards, with ramp entrances and two elevators to the second-floor galleries. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Admissions desk, and the parking lot has four ADA spaces.

Can I buy tickets on-site or do I need to purchase them in advance?

You can do either. Walk-ins are welcome, and tickets can be bought at the Admissions desk during open hours. Booking online in advance secures your entry.

What are the museum’s main themes?

Core themes include the Nordic connection to nature, sustainability, social justice and innovation.

Are there events or special programs?

Yes. The museum runs film, lecture, concert, storytime and genealogy programs, children’s camps in summer, and the Julefest holiday market in November.

Is food available on the premises?

Yes. Freya Cafe, inside the museum, is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and until 7:00 PM on Thursdays. Food and drink are not permitted in the galleries.

Can I shop for Nordic items at the museum?

Yes. The Museum Store sells Nordic art, design and cultural mementos, both in person and online.

Does the museum host temporary or traveling exhibitions?

Yes. Special exhibitions rotate through the year alongside the permanent galleries. They are included with general admission, except on Free First Thursdays.

Are pets allowed inside the museum?

No. Only service animals are allowed inside. Pets, therapy, emotional support and comfort animals are not permitted.

Is photography allowed inside the museum?

Personal, non-commercial photography is welcome, as long as you don’t use flash.

Can I use public transportation to reach the museum?

Yes. Metro bus routes 17 and 44 stop next to the museum, at NW Market St and 28th Ave NW. Routes 40 and the D Line also serve Ballard.

Is there parking available near the museum?

Yes. A paid lot on the south side of the building is entered from NW Market St and 28th Ave NW. Street parking and the Hiram Chittenden Locks lot, a five-minute walk away, are alternatives.

Can I attend cultural festivals at the museum?

Yes. Julefest, a Nordic holiday market on the museum grounds, is open to the public and is held the weekend before Thanksgiving.

How long does a typical visit last?

There is no set time limit. Admission is good for the whole day, and you can leave and return to the galleries with proof of purchase.