On the University of Washington campus, the Burke Museum brings Pacific Northwest natural history and Indigenous culture together under one roof. Look for dinosaur fossils, regional Native art and cultural exhibits, plus working labs where you can watch scientists prepare and study specimens. Hands-on displays and upstairs play spaces give younger visitors ways to explore, while clear links between the region’s past and present make the collections rewarding for adults too. Set aside time to move through the galleries at your own pace, and visit the lab windows to see research in progress.
Natural history, culture and living research
The Burke Museum is on the University of Washington campus and brings together natural history, science and cultural collections. Its galleries cover subjects including paleontology, biology, archaeology and regional Indigenous art. Fossils and dinosaur displays sit alongside objects and stories connected to the cultures of the Pacific Northwest.
The museum also makes its research visible. Through glass, you can watch scientists working in laboratories and learn about the tasks underway. These windows connect the exhibits to the ongoing work of studying and caring for specimens, including fossil preparation and curation.
Indigenous art and contemporary context
Indigenous art and culture have a substantial place in the museum. Exhibits include Northwest Native art and material from cultures across the Pacific Rim. The displays address both historical traditions and contemporary life, and include acknowledgment of colonialism and the effects of past collecting practices.
Some exhibits connect cultural objects to familiar modern references. One example explores how a Northwest Coast mask from the Kwakwaka’wakw community on Vancouver Island influenced the Seattle Seahawks logo. The museum’s approach places such connections within the context of the people and cultures represented.
Fossils and hands-on exhibits
The natural history galleries include fossils, animal specimens and dinosaur displays. Among the exhibits are casts of a 40-foot Elasmosaur and the skeleton of an Allosaurus. The collections also include specimens from the region’s natural history, giving visitors several ways to explore the area’s past.
Interactive displays invite visitors to handle objects and take part in activities, including exhibits about fossils and animals. Children can also use play spaces upstairs. If you are visiting with family, these activities add variety to the galleries, while the visible labs give older children and adults a closer look at how research happens.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the Burke Museum?
It is at 4303 Memorial Way Northeast on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.
What can you see at the Burke Museum?
The collections include dinosaur fossils, animal specimens, Pacific Northwest Indigenous art and cultural exhibits, as well as working research labs visible to visitors.
Is the Burke Museum suitable for children?
Yes. It has interactive exhibits, hands-on activities and upstairs play spaces.
When is the Burke Museum open?
It is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Mondays.
