The Burke Museum's wood clad building at the University of Washington with Burke spelled in tall letters

Burke Museum

Photo: 许玄清 via Google Maps

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture sits on the University of Washington campus in Seattle’s University District, and it is the official state museum of Washington. It cares for roughly 18 million objects, from dinosaur fossils and minerals to bird specimens and Northwest Native art, and it is a Smithsonian Affiliate accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

What makes the Burke different is how much of the work you get to see. Its building, opened in 2019, has working labs you can see into, so the research side of a museum is part of the visit instead of hidden away. It is also easy to reach without a car, with a light rail station just down the street.

What You’ll See

The museum has five permanent galleries spread across three floors:

  • Fossils Uncovered: the museum says these are the only real dinosaur fossils on display in Washington, including one of the best preserved T. rex skulls in the world, along with Ice Age mammals that once lived in the region and ancient plant fossils that reveal past climates.
  • Our Material World: an archaeology gallery on the third floor.
  • Amazing Life: the biology gallery on the second floor, drawn from collections that range from insects and spiders to fish, birds and mammals.
  • Northwest Native Art and Culture is Living: two first floor galleries in the museum’s arts and cultures wing.
  • Visible labs: working labs you can see into from the public spaces.

Outside, the grounds are planted with a native plant landscape of some 70,000 plants grown for the museum.

The Story Behind It

The Burke dates its founding to 1885 and a group of curious Seattle teenagers called the Young Naturalists, who began collecting as they watched their city transform. They sought official recognition so their collections would be a permanent public resource, and in 1899 the Washington State Legislature designated the collection as the Washington State Museum.

The museum takes its name from Judge Thomas Burke. After his death in 1925, his widow Caroline offered funds for a new museum building on the condition that it bear his name, and that building was dedicated in 1964. The current home, a 110,000 square foot building designed by architect Tom Kundig, opened to the public on October 12, 2019.

Tips for Your Visit

  • Take Link light rail. The museum says the U District station is only about a three minute walk away.
  • Driving? The closest parking is UW lot N1 next to the museum, where you pay by machine or phone app, and it also has the closest accessible spaces. The Central Plaza Garage and the Padelford Garage are other options.
  • Arriving by bike? The museum has bike racks near the entrance.
  • Plan a meal at Off the Rez Cafe inside the museum, which serves fry bread and other dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
  • Groups arriving by bus need to reserve bus parking in advance with the museum’s visitor services team.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA 98195
Phone: 206.543.7907
Website: burkemuseum.org
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps

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