At the beginning I didn't want to pay $22 for a museum that praised a businessman or honor only the good side of the history of a city... at the end, we went because we had to kill about an hour... To my surprise this museum has good exhibits that enriched my knowledge about the foundation of Seattle presented in a balanced way. Mostly I loved the second floor since the first floor was a bit of an aggregation of short facts and reflections that didn't connect me with what is typical in a History museum. The second floor has an extensive, documented exhibition about how Seattle wanted to attract investors and how far the settlers were into their concept creating a modern city. Among those, the fire animated sequence with video and artifacts is catchy. This is one of the permanent exhibitions as well as the maritime exhibition. Worth checking! The history of Microsoft also had great visuals and an interesting collection of ancient computer equipment. The children's area was ok but not as enticing as the other areas.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Finally made it here on free first Thursday (5-8pm for free people). I walked right into the place and into the "innovation" section by Jeff Bezos. Pretty lame. As for the rest of the place, I'd describe it as taking a tour of your grandfather's garage (times 100), if he lived in Seattle and was a big, big fan of the place. I don't know what it is about the fan club nature of mohai but it just comes across as strange to me. Lastly, I would love to get more on the local geology including more on glaciers and volcanoes (Rainier, Adams, MSH). Even the music industry history seemed lacking to me. If you're seeing the sights and you'll be in South Lake Union I wouldn't put this place high on your list. If you are brave enough to venture into the twilight zone that is Amazon's "open campus" which is the entire neighborhood south of mohai, there is a ton of art on display outside of these buildings you can check out. Watch out for the 'bias for action' employees walking around, they will brush by you and steal your soul if they get the chance.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Price for adult entry
Free

This is the most surprisingly wonderful museum in Seattle. It is also so handicap accessible, and very welcoming of service dogs. Never was felt unwelcome due to my service dog, and even when I went to an interactive museum, one if the very kind staff watched my dog while I experienced the exhibit. I understand it was due to safety reasons, and felt completely comfortable with my companion and aide in another's care. Also there is plenty of rest stops with comfy couches and seating all throughout, a plus to someone like myself. It is truly thought of every able bodied and limited body alike. The exhibits are amazing. I love the toe trick, the marked selfie locations, the interactivity stuff, memorabilia and learning in a fun way. So much new knowledge of my home, Seattle. I will definitely return again. You could spend yours here. And they have parking right by their building past the pay lot. Didn't know that this time! All staff are incredible from the gift shop (which has something for everyone!), to the front desk, and the cafe.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the MOHAI Museum during their Free Visiting Night and I was absolutely thrilled! The exhibits were truly captivating, showcasing the vibrant history and cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest with such love and care. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, making the visit even more enjoyable. The museum was filled with a warm, interactive atmosphere that left me feeling elated and proud to be a part of such a rich community. I particularly loved the interactive exhibits and the breathtaking views of Lake Union from the museum's terrace. I left the museum with a full heart and a deep appreciation for the MOHAI team's dedication to preserving and sharing the history of this wonderful place. I am already looking forward to my next visit and would highly recommend the MOHAI Museum to anyone looking for an enjoyable and educational experience.
Price for adult entry
Free

I was able to attend the MOHAI on the first Thursday and get free admission. It is very close to the Center for Wooden Boats, another free little venue. The museum is in a good location with a beautiful view from the outside. The inside was impressive right away and the employees were friendly, even holding the door open for me as I entered and left the building. Each little exhibit has so much to see and read. I didn’t realize that the museum is dedicated to history and industry that have taken place in Seattle, which was a good surprise. Exhibits were interactive, interesting, and had something for everyone. What was fun is that I explored other free centers in Seattle (Klondike Museum, Gates Discovery) before attending the museum, and I feel like I was able to better appreciate those exhibits in the MOHAI.

We visited mostly to see the temporary Ansel Adams exhibit but we briefly walked through the rest of the museum. The Ansel Adams exhibit was very well curated. We have seen a few exhibits of his work over time and I think MOHAI had an excellent layout, although we didn't see anything surprising or new. The museum itself gives the impression of being rather sparse, more of a "highlights" museum than a densely packed display of artifacts, but personally I liked the feeling of space and the fact that the museum seemed approachable and not overwhelming. (Still, there is a lot of reading involved.) Kudos to whoever designed the space. The one thing I wish we had was more of a recommended order of viewing, arrows on the floor perhaps? A couple of the exhibits felt tucked into corners and easy to miss.

Great for free first Thursday, but I wouldn’t pay money to go here. Honestly, too many shoutouts to Bezos. I know they contributed a ton of money, but felt like they wanted us to know that. Based on photos online I expected the maritime area to be a little larger, so that was disappointing. Too much focus on modern industry, felt a little too much like yay capitalism over the actual innovation that was happening even within those business. I did love the early Seattle history area, I think they did a good job of celebrating those pioneers and calling out the atrocities that were committed against the native people. I also really liked the context we got on which Native American populations lived where compared to what we have today. I also loved to see the fresnel lens up close. Really cool!

Really great spot for both kids and adults. Lots of information presented in ways that are very easy to digest. Lots of little info placards, multimedia formats (videos in mini theaters), touch screen interactions and even a very cool large scale mechanical interaction piece. Highly recommend checking this place out if you want to learn a little bit more about Seattle's history and the progress that has been made to transform this area to the city it is today. It also contains lots of information about the lake which is located nearby which is cool and explains with awesome interactive displays about how the Ballard locks work. Reasonable entrance fee and discounts for students, military, etc. Lots of space to store coats, and lockers for larger items.

Suzy and I visited the Museum of History & Industry in Seattle and were thoroughly impressed with its engaging and informative exhibits. The museum's comprehensive collection beautifully showcased the unique history of Seattle and its people, while also highlighting important social issues, such as racial equity. The Seattle history exhibit, in particular, was refreshingly honest in its portrayal of the city's complex past, shedding light on both its successes and struggles. We highly recommend the Museum of History & Industry to anyone interested in learning more about the rich history and culture of Seattle.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Lays out the history and development of Seattle with excellent exhibits, starting from the indigenous peoples to current times. This kept our attention for 3 hours. Reception/ticket sales personnel answered questions about the building and exhibits. I am not sure children under 14 would enjoy it as much of the exhibits are artifacts and labels. They would like the model saw mill which had a wheel to spin that demonstrated how logs are sawn. An interactive video of Microsoft history was extremely interesting. The cafe had pre-prepared sandwiches which can be warmed up. Nice selection of tea, soft drinks and coffee. I recommend anyone with the time and an interest in how Seattle developed visit.

A very pleasant experience after a day at the lake, they offer student discounts by showing your student ID. It's a fascinating and interactive museum, and it holds a lot of Seattle's history, so as a tourist or newcomer, it is indeed a great visit. They offer audio-visual presentations to complement the traditional stands, from Seattle's starts to modern-day industries and facts. The only thing they lack could be souvenirs, the ones available aren't really from the museum; they're more generic type souvenirs.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

Interesting, to say the least. This museum has given me some ideas about how I want to conduct my life moving forward into the future... And how I'll influence the glorious cosmic future of humanity. Through the exhibits in this museum I have gained an understanding of the way the world around me works. I have found a purpose for my life. Now the only question is if I'm willing to put my life on the line, to fight for that optimistic & beautiful future.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$11–15

Went on a Monday morning July 2023 with family after leaving cruise ship. Spent 90 minutes on 2nd floor. Very informative and well laid out. Not exhaustive exhibit items but enough to tell the story. Didn't do first floor (learning activities) since kids grown. A few historic ships outside, but they were closed for tours. No wait, not busy. About a 35 min walk from Pikes Market and pretty close to space needle if you want to combine. 12 and under free.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Perfect way to spend two hours in the city, and it's right off of Exit 167 of the highway, so it's convenient to head into. We used the parking lot at 1010 Valley Street, and 4 hours parking was only six bucks there, so that's a convenient option. Museum has four floors chock-full of activities, talking mostly about Seattle and Washington's history, whether about the indigenous population, the maritime history, innovation, and so forth. Beautiful view of the lake as well, and next to Kenmore Air, so MOHAI is definitely worthy of being close to 5 stars overall.

Love this place. Very well done displays, friendly staff and lots of open space to spread out or let the kids run a little bit. The history of Seattle and the northwest is very well documented with pictures and examples. When I was there they had a fantastic Ansel Adams special exhibit that was very well put together. The park area outside surrounding the museum as well as the lake and the center for wooden boats makes for a very enjoyable multi faceted visit.
Visited on
Public holiday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

One of the best museums in the Seattle area—it really gives a sense for how the city developed, providing information from Chinook Wawa to Seattle's role in the modern global economy. It is located in a beautiful, developed area on the shore of Lake Union. After visiting, you can check out some of the boats docked near the building. It's a good place to visit to get a mostly positive impression of Seattle.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

For as much as admission was, I was expecting more than essentially 1.5 floors of content. However, this museum does a fantastic job of describing many different aspects of Seattle's history and was incredibly informative. The exhibits were well done, modern, and accessible. The building was also very clean. I'd probably recommend this museum, though it's not something you need to do more than once.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

One of the best museums I've visited in the city. It covers quite a bit more history than I expected and is also very interactive! This is a great place for childless adults or parents with children. The outside has some cool old boats/ ships as well. The museum is located in a beautiful park and in an actual safe and walkable part of town! Lack of parking is the only issue i have with this place.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

A fun Museum! I loved the sections dedicated to Native Americans of western Washington, Klondike gold rush, the parts that contained interactive explanations of the (Ballard) locks and finally the 360 submarine telescope on the 4th floor! The terrace view from the 3rd floor was super gorgeous! I visited for the Ansel Adams exhibition and really loved it!
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$6–10

Very Relaxed atmosphere for large groups and wheel chair guests. Lots of information so take your time and parking lot is a ways off from the museum in the AGC building. It's a light brown 8 story building next to the Kenmore Air. The Museum covers 50% of the Parkaid AGC also servicing Argosy cruise. It's worth the hike to the museum after parking 5/10 minutes walk. There's a public bathroom and a great restaurant within the museum soup and sandwiches $$.

Indeed an excellent museum to visit. It gives a comprehensive trajectory to Seattle’s history and development, from the native people, railroad building, Great Depression, two World Wars, and the most technical booming, I earned a thorough picture of how Seattle comes into the shape it has today from a land only having forest and water.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

One of the best museums in Seattle. It's definitely a must-go. They have a great space, mixed perfectly from the history of Seattle to finish with the Bezos innovation center. Try to go during summer nights and week days, the prices are accessible and they have good events like free jazz on the terrace and opera in the deck area.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

I came in on the first Thursday of the month, a free day for everyone. I love everything from this museum, especially the innovation and WWII areas. I learned more about the innovative ideas and solutions not only in Seattle but also in the world. I highly recommend it to anyone. It would help if you visited more than once.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

What a great place to learn about Seattle’s past in a place that feels artsy and historic at the same time. The video about the Seattle fire is well done and there are many hands on activities for kids throughout the museum. We usually buy a family plus membership here that is reciprocal with other museums and it ends up being a worthwhile investment. My kids have been to some of the camps and classes here and have enjoyed them too.

Great Museum to understand the roots of the city of seattle. Has an interesting part about the evolution of the city abd its industry and special expositions related to the corporations estabished in its metro area. Fair praice, good service and the park can be greately enjoyed during summer. Highly recommend!
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$16–20

What a great museum! Excellent exhibits detailing the traditions and history of the area. It was especially gratifying to see presentations include information about Native Peoples, Blacks, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. The Gourmando Cafe had a nice selection of fast meals, sandwiches, pastries, and snacks. There was indoor seating. I opted for the cafe tables outside and enjoyed the view of Lake Union.

A out of expectation museum that is really full of content and Seattle history. The MOHAI museum collects lots of materials of Seattle history, from cruise, civil activities and economic. Almost all aspects of Seattle history can be discovered here. There are plenty of interactive exhibitions and devices here, which make the overall experience more engaging. Definitely a recommended museum near SLU!

I can recommend this museum very much. It is not too big. But it tells yoz very good and really in a simple way the history of this area and the town. A lot artefacts help to understand it good. Outside are ships with historic backround. Also the cafe is nice to sit and relax.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

The Borealis lights even was awesome. There was no parking but it was to be expected from downtown seattle. There were food trucks and a bunch of different vendors. This was the first time this event was happening in Seattle so I was not expecting much. I was happily mistaken. This even was well organized, with lots of security and police directing traffic. Cant wait for next year.

Lots of fun! Had never been before today, and even as a local, I was surprised by how much I learned! Highly recommend to people who are from the area to learn a bit more about the lands they reside on. Will for sure recommend to out of town guests as well.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Big airy space full of tech tidbits. Went to the Ansel Adams exhibit and enjoyed the local curators chosen commentary photos too. Little tastes of grunge history and amusing lost Microsoft products. Baseball geeks might find the pages from Dave Neihouse's 2008 score book a fun peak at the late great announcer. 3 dollar bill theater shorts were a fun little Pride month treat.

MOHAI is an absolutely excellent venue and has been host to so many events throughout the years. One of note was when Microsoft held an event and invited Sensebellum to provide some interactive art installations like "The Sandbox of Life". It was so great to see the entire venue lit up and to be able to provide some very entertaining art pieces for guests to enjoy!

Had a blast at this museum! It seems to have gotten significantly better than when it first opened—really enjoyed learning about Seattle history from the pre-colonial time to today. And the museum has a lot of great exhibits on the industry that made Puget Sound famous (including Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana!) Nice little cafe too, and all right on the water.

Despite my many visits to Seattle, I had yet to visit so it was great to be able to see the various exhibits covering a wide range of interests. I especially enjoyed having several hands on exhibits as well as interesting displays with lots to see for all ages. It was the type of museum that you need to be sure to allow a good amount of time to see everything!

Such a wonderful museum. Love learning about Seattle's history of boom, bust, and continuous innovation. Great for visiting friends and families that like museums and don't necessarily enjoy the crowds. Plus it's in Lake Union Park so there's a lot of really scenic views, outdoor spaces; and you can even watch seaplanes take off and land on the water.

On the first floor, there are exhibits that are meant to motivate and some that provide food for thought and discussion. The exhibits on the second floor are thoughtfully and meticulously arranged. I was most impressed with the musical about the Great Seattle Fire.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

It’s a nice museum. Great activity if you are visiting Seattle and looking for activities at SLU. There are a lot of things to do around it as well. They give student discount as well. Overall I had a good experience.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
30–60 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

MOHAI is a must-visit for all interested in the history of Seattle . The exhibits are informative and engaging. It’s an educational day out for all .The museum is at South Lake Union neighborhood and the building itself was a historic Naval Reserve Armory.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

I started to visit different museums only a few years ago. Before I didn't understand why people go to museums at all. I think it comes with particular age (it's different for each person). You can explore Seattle’s story through exhibits and interactive experiences from Native Americans to uniquely Northwest Innovations. It's amazing.

A fantastic, well organized, perfect example of a museum. Visited before moving here and will still continue to frequent its exhibits. The whole place is an interactive and informative experience. Would 1,000% recommend for families and children 10+ Learned a lot about Seattle's history and you can't beat the views on the dock! Love!

The MOHAI museum is a great place for those who want to learn about Seattle and get inspired by the innovation that transformed the city. It takes about 2-3 hours to explore everything but worth if this time.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
Up to 10 min
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$21–30

We went with some family friends and had a great time. The museum was well curated with a number of interactive exhibits for kids. The boys loved playing with the various touchscreen exhibits. I liked the insight into Seattle's history. The museum was very clean and South Lake Union is a fun place to walk afterwards.

We enjoyed learning about the history of Seattle and the various businesses and products. The museum itself though is fairly old-fashioned and isn't very creative in it's exhibits.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No
Price for adult entry
$21–30

Fantastic place to experience the good, the bad, and the ugly bits of Seattle's history in the colonization of the American West through to modern times. Interactive exhibits throughout are fun for adults and children alike. Rotating gallery exhibits change on a somewhat regular basis as well.

Free on first Thursdays! Great museum that showcases the history of the city ! The special exhibit was Ansel Adams and that was fantastic as well (additional payment)
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
Free

Not from here but went with two people that are and they enjoyed it as much as I did. It was fun watching them tell stories and fill me in on some things I would never know about. The gift shop is really cool and reasonably priced. The cafe was also nice and relaxing.

Great story of the history of Seattle. Really well laid out with a mix of media. One of our favorites was an interactive map that showed how the city was shaped with both water and land masses. We also got to see the Ansel Adams exhibit which was a plus. Recommend!

Smaller than I thought. Only worth on free day of the month to be honest. But it's good to learn about Seattle history and some world changing things that where born here like Microsoft! Davinci special exhibit was very interesting but not sure if worth the price.

Great museum! Most certainly worth several hours of absorbing Seattle's history. Great restaurants nearby aa well. And if you need a quick snack, their coffee shop is quite good.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Very interesting museum, especially for kids, to learn about the history of Seattle and USA. To learn how the industry here boomed like Boeing company, train tracks set from Minnesota, how the land changed and WW2 and many other things. ~2 hours max here.

Amazing! Definitely worth visiting... make sure you have lots of time on hand to do justice to the museum especially if you like history...
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Wonderful museum, lots of history.we were there in a beautiful day. Had to wear face mask inside.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes
Price for adult entry
$16–20

It was a great introduction to Seattle’s past and the industry that has shaped the city. I was particularly interested in the info about the canning industry because that was a big part of my hometown’s history, too.

Excellent overview of local history on top floors. Also revisit for special exhibits and programs. First Thursday free donations always a good idea. Location central to Seattle but parking may be an issue.

Perfect place to learn the history of Seattle, great for kids 8-18, and adults.
Price for entry
$22
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Yes

We really enjoyed this museum with all the interactive exhibits. Amazing artifacts and photographs, showing the history of Seattle and how innovative the area and city has always been.

Super cool place, we went during covid so the restrictions were in place but it was super cool. Leaning about the history of Seattle and it's people because it's All about the people.

Definitely a trip back in time! Loved seeing all the Seattle icons I grew up with: Toe truck, Rainier Beers, Ivars clam, Slo Motion hydro plane, and so much more. Hours if fun!

What a fantastic museum! Atmosphere is amazing; exhibits are the perfect mix of fun and informative! Worth a visit; add it to your Seattle itinerary!

Engaging stories and exhibits showcasing Seattle's history and industry. I particularly enjoyed the innovation and AI exhibition.