Northwest African American Museum

The Northwest African American Museum is in Seattle’s Central District, at 2300 S Massachusetts St, inside the former Colman School. Its galleries trace Black experiences in the Pacific Northwest and beyond through photographs, video, artifacts, art and personal stories. Look for work by Seattle artist Jacob Lawrence and exhibits on the Civil Rights movement; a photo scavenger hunt gives younger visitors a way to explore. Plan about an hour, and check the museum’s current exhibition details before you go, since displays change.

A museum in the former Colman School

The museum is housed in the former Colman School, a Seattle landmark and the first school in the city attended by Black students. Its location in the Central District connects the building to a neighborhood with a long African American history.

The museum’s focus extends beyond Seattle. Its exhibitions and programs explore connections between the Pacific Northwest and people of African descent, and share Black experiences in America through art, history and culture.

Stories told through art and artifacts

Photographs, video, artifacts and written narratives bring the region’s Black history into the galleries. The subjects include the journeys of people of African descent to the Northwest, the communities they established and the struggles and achievements that shaped their lives. Exhibits also address the Civil Rights movement and the local Black Panther Party.

Art is part of that history. Work by Seattle artist Jacob Lawrence has been shown at the museum, alongside displays by other local artists. Exhibitions rotate, so check what is on view before making a specific display the focus of your visit. A photo scavenger hunt offers a guided way to look through the galleries, particularly for families.