Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI)

Iconic museum located in a scenic setting. Great place to learn every little detail about Seattle. Upon entering, I was immediately blown away by the massive main hall and the size of the artifacts and artworks being exhibited. The museum hosts an amazing collection of artifacts, methodically presented in a manner sure to captivate the visitor. I love the detail the museum put into their presentations, especially regarding the impact Seattle has globally through its industry and entrepreneurship. I really enjoyed the experience, save for the fact that parking is limited and not free.

It is a wonderful place to explore the rich history of the city and its many achievements. One of the highlights is the breathtaking view of Lake Union from the top floor, which adds an extra touch of beauty to the visit. The museum features a decent cafeteria with ample space for a peaceful lunch. A great feature is that the cafeteria is open to the public, so you can enjoy it without needing an admission ticket. The exhibits are fascinating, especially the innovation space and the kids’ area on the third floor. With activities like Legos, magnetic tiles, bridge-building, and other imaginative toys, it’s a great spot to keep kids entertained while inspiring creativity. We truly enjoyed our visit and highly recommend it for families, history buffs, or anyone looking to learn more about Seattle in an engaging way.

nice museum, great centric location. not full 5 starts because I found it small, and with varying degrees of depth throughout. it seemed that there is more effort in some sections of the museum than others based on the content of the exhibits and the choices of their display. overall, I recommend coming here to learn about the history of Seattle from an array of angles.

Visited for the Towers of Tomorrow exhibit but really enjoyed the expansive Seattle Journey exhibit on the second floor. So much pain caused by the colonial US that was repeated during WWII. I really appreciated the museums acknowledement of censoring histories and their efforts to update exhibits to tell a truer version of past events. The Towers of Tomorrow was good, but the building stations surrounding many of the towers took away from actually being able to enjoy it fully. The LEGO scavenger hunt was fun. We visited for free with a museum pass from the Seattle Public Library and lucked out that parking along Westlake Ave was free on Saturday.

Love the "new" location. Very open for large displays in the center and many detailed exhibits around the outside on each floor. Seattle has at rich history of advancements and movements covered here.

Very nice museum, lots to see and learn about the history of Seattle. It has a few things the kids would enjoy. My favorite part was learning about the founders, the Native American history and history of Alki.

Enjoyed learning about history on 2&4 floors. Not too crowded. The special exhibit with interactive Lego building was unique. There are range of engaging parts of exhibits & 3rd floor for kids. Cool views of lake Union from top windows.

Lego exhibit was really neat, along with the industry and history sides of the museum. Very spacious with lots of reading. The outside grounds are nice to relax on and watch planes take off from the water.

This was fun! We came in expecting to be in and out. We ended up spending three hours checking out the displays! I love PNW history and this museum covered the spectrum. I really liked the railroad history and the history of the scenes right out the windows. The displays are beautiful and well constructed. It's worth bringing the whole family, there's something for everyone!

I went here for the Lego exhibit specifically. I bought tickets online. Kids are free with adult admission. For military, seniors, and students, it's slightly cheaper - $20 vs $25. It's a small museum and the Lego stuff was even smaller. I took the advice of most reviewers and went on a Sunday to avoid parking fees. The Lego thing was just a single room with a few Lego built buildings and a couple tables where you can create your own but the building blocks were basic. There's not much around that area but some water. We spent about an hour, if that. The kids were bored. I wanted to explore more but the kids were getting antsy and there's not much for smaller kids.

Took my 5 yo for his first visit and he had a great time. He's pretty into engineering-ish topics, so it was bound to be a good time. He enjoyed the special Lego exhibit, but was equally excited by the ship periscope, the historical areas, and the "kidstruction" area (which is probably most appealing for ages 3-6). He even says he likes it more than Museum of Flight, which is pretty lofty praise. If I could change one thing, I'd move the dials that control the central display of Seattle artifacts backwards, so that little kids can actually see what they're doing. Adults are pretty expensive at $25, but kids 14 and under are free so for the two of us it was reasonable and good value for the money.

Fantastic museum, community space, and organization. I really like the large exhibit on Seattle history. I spent hours there looking at everything, and I am still interested to go back. Plus, there are other rotating exhibits that are great. The location is beautiful, right on the shore of Lake Union. Highly recommended.

This museum is meh. Lots of reading, some artifacts, nothing super interesting or noteworthy. Not great for kids. Look elsewhere for a family activity.

A small, intimate museum that we spent 1-2 hours in with a 2-year-old toddler. There are lots of information on the history of Seattle, and how technology and industry have impacted the city. There are some interactive stuff for my son (lots of wheels to turn), as well as kid's play area on the third floor. There is a decent gift shop in the lobby, and a cafeteria that sell hot food. The sitting area is spacious and has a good view of Lake Union. It's a good way to pass time on a rainy day, and it's great for people who want to learn more about the history and industry of Seattle.

Small but very interesting museum about the seattle history and innovation (amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Costco etc) located in south lake Union SLU . Close to google and amazon campuses. Beautiful antique material from the old Wild West & memorabilia from the post war. With permanent and changing exhibits. Renewed the 3rd floor with kids area. Great area for also see water airplanes water land in SLU

Even at student prices, this museum is overpriced for what it is. Real talk, it's worth about $10-$15 a person entrance, max. Much of the history isn't laid out in a way that is particularly interesting and the air quality in several sections is questionable, so if you have allergies this is not the museum for you. The music area is by far the most interesting and well done, but it's relegated to simply an alcove. I would have loved to have seen them have an entire hallway for the timeline of the Washington music scene, since I never realized many of my favorites (Brandi Carlile, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Heart) were from Washington. The same went for the tech alcove. We have a computer history museum in the Bay Area and it's a hit, so I would have loved to have seen a tech timeline for Washington. Heck, even an REI or coffee timeline would have been more interesting than most of the second floor since they already had the first Starbucks sign. All in all the Museum of History & Industry is just simply trying to be too many things at once and failing at being more than passably interesting at most of it. I personally would have preferred a focus on industry (music, clothing, food) and scrapped most of second floor, so in my opinion as it exists now the museum is pretty easily a pass.

I first came to this museum right when I moved to Seattle from Chicago and the review probably suffered from my sadness at leaving the museums of Chicago which are objectively amazing. I came with my kiddo today for the Lego exhibit and was more impressed than I remembered and I'm not sure how much of that is me having changed and how much is the museum, but either way we had a great visit. The Lego exhibit wasn't even my 7yo's favorite part, tho we did enjoy it a lot. Big props to whoever did the Seattle fire musical, that was amazing. We had a great time moving the boat through the locks and my kid was amazed at the activity where you move the hills and water to change the natural landscape of Seattle. Hats off to the MOHAI, glad I gave you a second chance.

This museum is a must if you love learning about the history of Seattle Northwest, and the indigenous people. Also, there's a lot of information about the famous tech people and business innovators and musicians that have come from the Seattle area.

I'd recommend this museum to people who REALLLLLY want to know about the history of Seattle. $25 ticket is too much. Maybe worth $10 imo. The LEGO and Martine exhibits were very limited. If you'd like to know what Seattle was doing during Westward Expansion and WWI and so on... this is the place for you.

Everyone (locals, transplants, or visitors) should take the afternoon to stroll through MOHI. Set on the beautifully southern shore of Lake Union, MOHI curates northwest history like no one else. The very helpful staff cheerfully welcomed us and answered several questions during our visit. The ships docked on the lake add something special to the visit. I remember visiting the old location on Lake Washington as a kid, I finally made it to its new location.

Phenomenal experience requires multiple visits. Attended for first Thursday free museum. This should be on the welcome to Seattle package for new residents. I learned so much about the area culturally, historically and socially. The black architects special exhibit is not to be missed!! Give it at least half an hour of your time to learn and appreciate the men and women who helped form Seattle. I will be back! This is such a gem of the city!

Want to make this adventure really enjoyable? Go on a Sunday. Minimal crowds, maximum parking and plenty of time to wander around SLU without worrying about your car. MOHAI is housed in a gorgeous old building that's been totally renovated on the inside and houses an array of exhibits from history to tech, and everything in-between. We went when we learned there an exhibit featuring Black architects in the USA. If you're an architect or architecture fan, this is a great exhibit. There are a couple small theaters with short historical films and a few interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. There's a café and a little museum store.

I'm dumbfounded because I've lived in King County for two decades and never went to MOHAI. My friend recommended going so I thought why not? I was impressed with how big the museum was. As another reviewer noted it is very Seattle-centric. The museum focuses on Seattle's history through the perspective lens of industry. It is truly fascinating. While I had known much before from other tours and museums the presentation here was stellar and captivating. There's enough variety between video and printed signs that it keeps one engaged. I really loved the feel because it was so different than a typical museum. I skipped the Seattle fire theater which sounds like I didn't miss much. I loved the da Vinci exhibit - it was so cool. But every exhibit really was a treat! I enjoyed myself immensely. I realized that I could have easily spent a day here.

An museum with an interesting blend of exhibits. Only two floors of exhibits with the 1st floor being a bit drab, mostly reading about Seattleites contributions to innovation. You can easily finish the first floor in under an hour. The 2nd floor is much more informative and surprisingly enough, entertaining! The room with displays about the 1890's fire that destroyed most of early downtown Seattle provided one of the highlights of my 5 day trip to Seattle. There is a multi-media film about the fire that should not be missed. The whole 2nd floor chronologically presents the history of the Seattle area from the native American settlements all the way to the Microsoft era. History and tech are presented in a light-hearted fashion. Two helpful hints: free admission on every First Thursday of the month and 50 cents/ hour parking on narrow lots lining the southwest edge of Lake Union. Mohai takes about 3 hours to thoroughly finish.

Great museum with lots of interesting exhibits to see and learn from. Informative facts about Seattle, the history of different industries that helped boom our economy. Seattleites and visitors alike will enjoy this museum for sure.

What an awesome place to visit! This was such an excellent experience and two hours here was simply not enough time to explore every nook and cranny. I purchased tickets online the night before and reserved for 2pm Sunday afternoon. It was very nice not being overly crowded and it also made the experience far more enjoyable having the time and space to walk through each exhibit and not feel rushed. I intend to come back and would love to dedicate an entire afternoon. There's so much information to digest and ample photos and interactive content to view. This is also a very family friendly place and I encourage folks to check out the MOHAI!

Absolutely lovely museum! I read about the da Vinci special exhibit on a telephone pole and decided I just had to go! Of course, that means going to the entire museum, right?! $22 for adults with enough material that I feel it was mostly worth the money. They might want to change the name just a bit as this was a very Seattle centric museum. Not a bad idea, I mean, when you think about all the things that fall under "history & industry" on a global scale it becomes unmanageable very quickly. Sticking to the local area was the smart move and it's fun to learn more about where you live/travel to! While ticket reservations were recommended, I figured there wouldn't be a ton of people on Labor Day Sunday right when they first open. I was correct and we had the place to ourselves for a good period of time! They organized the museum as a timeline which is nice and easy to follow. I could have really done without that Seattle Fire Broadway show/movie (I hated it, in fact), but they had some interesting artifacts in the theater itself and the lighting was chuckle worthy (can we turn that volume down though? OMGosh!) Interesting artifacts and photos that send you through history with several interactive tools available (don't forget your stylus!! I *think* they have them to borrow if you ask, but don't quote me) and delightfully engaging and was a great use of a morning! And that da Vinci special exhibit? Very, very happy that I got to see that - it was lovely!

A small and artistically put together museum that explores Washington history. The views of the water are charming and the spacious main hall add up to the visual aesthetics of the space. Even though the museum has a collection of tastefully curated displays, the shrines dedicated to captains of industry, namely Bezos and Gates, aren't subtle and quite unpalatable.

The parking situation is not great. We got free tickets from KCLS which is nice. The location is lovely and makes up for the poor parking situation. My and the 7 year old went, lots of good stuff, the kids scavenger hunt entertained her pretty well. Lots of chances for her to read stuff. The Ansel Adams exhibt was nice, they even had kids books over by the couch for the kiddos to read and they had an old timey camera for people/ kids to see and touch. I've having a hard time justifying my rating but it just didn't feel like it was a 4 star experience. The cafe was nice, we had lunch and ice cream there as it was a lovely day and they have outdoor seating. They are requiring face masks inside as of last week.

This small museum is a must see for anyone living in the Seattle area, no matter if you were born here or just arrived yesterday. It will give you a great perspective on what has made Seattle what it is. They also put together special exhibits which are well worth it. The small cafe is good. The ticket prices may seem high but the cause is a good one.

It would be nice if there was more dedicated parking but that's downtown for you. Can't complain about the location, ever, in a park and right by the water, plus plenty of eateries and whatnot. So much info - hard to take it all in during just one visit. Would recommend at least 2. Glad to see some emphasis on diversity and inclusion - that could be increased; the indigenous portion at the start was kinda basic - but the chronicling of colonization was very in depth. Was nice to see a shout out to grunge music. Could def see some efforts to add PRIDE-specific items to the viewable collection. All in all, we learned A LOT.

An actually interesting museum of history? I can't tell if it's because I actually appreciate history now or if the museum does a better job at showcasing history throughout time than the ones in LA. The Seattle fire theater is super cheesy but I love Broadway so it was strangely enjoyable for me. There's a history of Seattle that actually acknowledges the mistreatment of minority groups like Native Americans and Japanese Americans. There is a small wall dedicated to Chinese immigrants for the construction of the railroad but the true grim parts of that history are too small compared to the achievements. Considering the Atlanta shootings were still recent, I have hope that the museum will add more information since it's clear that they're actively trying to update their material to the best possible representation. The first floor Bezo's innovation leaves a lot of space. But if we really want to showcase true history, could we also talk about questionable practices in Amazon's warehouses? There's definitely a conflict of interest in that so maybe not possible.

MOHAI is such a hidden Seattle gem! My friends and I spent hours walking around and did not even get through the whole museum. It was incredibly interesting to learn about the history of the city we grew up in, and there were many interactive portions to the exhibits which made it extremely engaging. They also offer company and student discounts which is just great - make sure to ask at the front desk before you pay! Something to note, they are still requiring masks here, which was not a problem for me or my group but is always good to note in advance. They do provide masks for you if you do not have your own which is nice. I will absolutely be visiting again!

This is a pretty cool museum in the South Lake Union area. There's a lake outside, and you can see ships, which is really cool. You will also probably see geese. You'll find a laid back cafe with a view of the ships. There's exhibits about Seattle's history. You can see Boeing's first commercial plane, I think. Very popular with kids. I can't get over the picture of the poor homeless cold sleeping in a cardboard box. It's so, so sad. :(

What's not to love!! You can all of Seattle's historic signs, facts and artifacts in here. Heritage! Cultures! This newer location is even better than their other one. Inside a lake union park: stunning views inside and outside. Space needle! The gasworks park. And all the museum fun inside. The theater was super cute and nice too. It shows Seattle's history in a great short video. A lot of fun cool artifacts, Japanese cultural representations, Boeing, Starbucks! And if you come first Thursday of the month: it's free admission. They've been closed for a while with covid but hope they reopen soon! Everyone should see/ experience all the fun history of Seattle in here!

We scored on parking in a public lot (small). $1.50/hr pay via machine. We got a KCLS library pass to come here. 2 free adults and kids under 14 are free. There were kids "backpack" that they handout which consists of a binocular and a magnifying glass. On the 4th floor, there is a toddler/kids section where they can play (wooden blocks, books, sketch pads, and a marble run type of contraption on the wall). There are a lot of reading and displays. You could probably spend 2 hours here. There is a cafe by the water.

An exploratory adventure each time! Fun things abound: the TOE Truck! Interactive exhibits and very informative without feeling like you're in a text book. A cafe and gift shop are also in the building but without dominating the true purpose of being in the space: learning, discovery, enjoyment. Come to learn, stay to play, listen to stories or sit back and tinker with toys.

The best museum in seattle about seattle. If you're in between on any of them, go to this one. Be sure to bow to Father Bezos before entering to offer him thanks for building such a great museum.

Cute small museum located in a picturesque area. We happened to stop by there on July 4th and literally had the whole space for ourselves. Staff is very welcoming and informative. I also found gift shop's cards selection outstanding due to its uniqueness

My favorite museum (by far) in Seattle! 3 stories of the history of everything Seattle (the best city in the world!) Interactive...engaging...great for all ages. Do not miss this museum!

I like this place so much I became a member you need to support museums like this so they can change and add new exhibits all the time it brings back memories of my childhood in Seattle and the more I know about Seattle the better off we are all so it will not change for the worse please support

I don't usually have a long stamina for historical museums, so I've either grown up () or what is more true is that the MOHAI is one of the most fascinating, well thought out museums I have ever visited. The layout is artistic and lends a flow for the visitor in a way that paints a clear picture of the history and industry of Seattle and surrounding area. I was there for three hours (!), and never got off the second floor! I can't wait to return!

Came here for the Ansel Adams exhibit (which was a featured/limited time exhibit). Loved many of the exhibits here, although admittedly I did not see everything. My 4 y/o daughter got immersed in play in their kids zone, which was a good opportunity for me to relax while my husband poured over some of the other exhibits.

The museum employees pick on people (including 80 year old women with asthma and medical conditions that make them feel like they are suffocating when wearing a mask) who take their masks off because they can't breathe. On Friday July 8th, we bought tickets for the whole family at the front desk and on our way across the lobby, the employee sitting on a couch behind ticket desk called out my 80 year old mother for not having her mask on (Washington state eliminated their mask requirement months ago -- this is the local museum employee insisting on masks, not a state or county requirement). We told them we will leave if they insist. They REFUSED to refund us our money and insisted my 80 year old mother with asthma and COPD wear her mask. This was the most disgusting experience from museum employees I have seen picking on an a sick 80 year old woman in full view of everyone. Never EVER taking any family or visitors here again. This used to be one of my favorite places to take my guests when they came to visit Seattle. Never again -- the treatment and disregard museum staff have for visitors (combined with refusal to give your money back if you want to walk out) is disgusting.

MOHAI is the place to go for a thorough history of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. With engaging exhibits, hands-on activities, and interesting films this museum is ideal for the whole family. The museum had a dedicated kids space with toys and comfortable seating and books to read. It's perfect if you have a little one that needs a break from the exhibits. There is also a great interactive railroad exhibit complete with railroad ties and hammers for construction. This is totally worth the membership. They have a great selection of events throughout the month and usually at least one weekend a month is dedicated to families with craft projects and music and interactive activities.

This Museum was fantastic, definitely in my top 3. Its located right on Lake Union and has 4 stories of history and innovation from Seattle. Also includes Jeff Bezos 10mm donation for the "Bezos Center for Innovation" Exhibition, which will be permanent. At the top there's a room with a full view of the lake and in the middle a periscope, which gives you a 360° view of the surrounding area. The museum really encompasses it all; music, medical advancements, technology etc.

I still miss MOHAI at its original Montlake location, which gave way to the 520 bridge expansion. However, its current location at South Lake Union at the former Maritime site allows larger curated exhibits to be seen. Alongside the expanding Center for Wooden Boats, it allows a portion of open access to be preserved. SLU and the Mercer development in the past 10-15 years has transformed this part of Seattle. Pricey admission ($20, kids under 14 with chaperone are free), but worth it to see a comprehensive collection of Seattle's history and contributions. Best to utilize Chinook coupons, City Pass, or ask your hotel concierge about admission deals if you are visiting. I happen to be a member and wished I used it more often. I lucked out with cheap street parking...look for stretches in the vicinity for 10 hour parking, comes out to only $1 an hour. What brought me in was to get a closer look at the Innovation Wall sponsored by the Bezos Foundation (yes, Jeff Bezos of Amazon) and the Toys exhibit (relive your childhood with toys and other memorabilia from the 50s, 60s, and 70s) before it closes next weekend. Next exhibit will be on Food...advanced notice to avid Yelpers!

My husband and I came here on a Sunday and were pleased to find that it wasn't crowded at all. We were pretty tired of the crowds at other museums, so the small amount of people here was very welcome. The museum itself is interesting for two people living in Seattle. It goes over the history of Seattle, covering topics like the great Seattle fire, the lumber industry, natural disasters, prohibition the growth of the local tech industry, the music scene, Boeing, etc. We spent about 1.5 hours walking around and seeing all of the exhibits. On the top floor, you can watch sea planes taking off and landing around sailboats. It's really neat. Overall, I would recommend this museum to locals who would like to learn more about the history of the city.

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.

The Museum of History & Industry does a great job of showcasing the history of Seattle and the surrounding area. This small museum is located on Lake Union at the north end of downtown Seattle. Check the website for parking deals and locations. The museum is rather large inside and is modern with lots of attractive and interactive exhibits. The main floor has some larger items and is surrounded by several innovation exhibits. The second floor has most of the exhibits and takes you from indigenous days to modern with a fairly balanced view of the changes in each era. Seattle has an interesting history especially for those only used to the modern era. It is easy to linger in the exhibits with lots of rich descriptions and artifacts. Kids love the interactive areas where they can burn up some energy and make some noise! This is a nice option when visiting the area. It is a great location on the lake to watch the seaplanes and other boats in the area. Prices are steep, and parking is tough. However you pay for a quality experience and a rich history lesson.

Had only a few mins to look around on First Thurs. I will come back. Mohai is a great museum to visit Spring and Summer when the weather is nice to walk around S Lake Union.

MOHAI is a great way to get a taste of the culture of Seattle! It's an interesting model: not quite a history museum, not quite a science museum. Although MOHAI has been around since 1952, this Smithsonian affiliate museum recently reopened in 2012, so it feels fresh as ever! First of all, the museum is located in a beautiful area. There's lots of green space and gorgeous views of the water to one side and the Seattle skyline / Space Needle to the other. It's definitely worth coming down here just to enjoy the area! The museum itself is an eclectic mix of artifacts from the founding of Seattle all the way to the present day. You'll want to start off with a short introductory video on the 2nd floor, and then work your way around the designated route. The exhibits cover a wide range of topics: the Great Seattle Fire, canning, Boeing, urban development, Microsoft, medical devices, and more! I'm certainly not a native, but I think even the most savvy local could learn a few things! The admission fee might be a bit steep for some ($20 for adults, $16 for seniors 62+, $14 for students/military, free for children 14 and under). They do offer free admission on the first Thursday of every month, and there's a steep discount to $2 if you have an EBT card. Overall, MOHAI might not be on the very top of my list if you only have a limited time in Seattle. But I would definitely recommend stopping by if you have seen all the typical sights already!

I absolutely loved the MOHAI! I had never been to the old one, but I'm glad I finally decided to explore the new one right on South Lake Union. The structure itself is beautiful and the exhibits are clean, educational and inspiring. There is so much to see, I think you can spend at least 3 hours here if you have the time and energy to absorb all the knowledge! I recommend this museum for everyone including tourists, Seattle natives or folks who are looking for something to do in the city. I learned so much even after living here for ten years. My favorite exhibits were the Bezos Center of Innovation, exhibit on the community activists, and the historical information about the Native Americans and how the area came to be. The great parts of the museum is that it's very visually stimulating, interactive and fun!

A gorgeous museum. Upon walking in, the grand space took my breath away. There was a neat temporary fashion exhibit that we checked out first. There is so much to discover in this museum, but since I have a tot I wanted to check out the tinker room, and this place is heaven on Earth for little ones!! Great toys, blocks, trucks, cushiony play stuff, buckets full of gizmos.. I was very impressed. And very quiet on a Wednesday morning. The only downside is the cost. I was very lucky to have a friend with a membership, but otherwise it would be a bit too costly for me at $22, and to pay for parking. There is free First Thursday admission, for those looking for a less expensive option. The cafe has a nice view of the water. My chicken wrap wasn't bad. I would probably opt for another cafe in the area if you're ordering food, depending on how much time you have. The server was super friendly.

Recently booked MOHAI as a private party space for our corporate event. Great layout to keep the party in one place while guests can explore galleries away from noise as they choose. The design is unique and it's quirky aesthetic makes a great backdrop for a fun night event. Tipping the scale is the venue coordinator's familiarity with nearby parking options and preferred vendors for catering (it helped to have a proactive coordinator ready to communicate with all parties so I could keep my attention on the job). I was picky about floor layout, and our venue contact was able to fully coordinate the requested floor plan for our party needs and event flow! Cons: The venue does come at a higher cost than most in the area, and while a higher cost with gallery access and security included is to be expected, the venue still is a bit steep considering house sound is not an option for use or even additional purchase. The venue is large and use of house sound would be preferred for av needs, as I usually see it included in bulk costs. For an evening event, uplights also need to be brought in to light up portions of the main floor exhibit that more easily standout during daytime lighting. In addition to the venue rate, use of preferred caterers is also required, which then adds on an additional service fee to the catering bill that then is received by the venue, upping overall total for venue bill. All in all, the staff included with the venue almost makes up for the rate: Full security is provided, as well as an event manager able to answer questions and control lighting throughout the night -- helpful to be able to focus on guests rather than the facility once the event is in action. And again, the venue is beautiful at night! There isn't a space like it, so having the opportunity to splurge on the space is worth it, and guests loved being able to experience galleries outside of regular viewing hours.

Vania K has it exactly right; this is primarily the "Museum of Seattle's Awesomeness." I was hesitant to spend precious vacation time at the Museum of History and Industry* because my history museum standards are pretty darn high and I didn't necessarily want to visit a general history museum. But thankfully we were guided by a friendly employee directly to the second floor, where we learned that it's very much a "the history of Seattle is really cool" museum. I loved the intro video, particularly the clip where Bill O'Reilly says Seattle has now become a beacon of secularism as terrible as San Francisco ... since apparently the curators see it as a compliment. How nice that Bill and the residents of such a liberal place can agree about something. We thought we'd spend an hour or two on the "history of Seattle" section, but it wound up being over three hours just on that second floor working around the gallery. The story of Seattle told here is truly impressive, with frank treatment of the bad and unabashed cheerleading for the good. I never understood the paranoia over admitting that nations, states, towns and citizens have done bad things in the past, and it was refreshing to see that honesty and a relatively evenhanded treatment of controversial topics. There are several interactive displays, which I'm not ashamed to say I spent a good deal of time fooling around with ... I enjoyed the neighborhood recommendation engine in particular, though apparently my wife and I will have to compromise quite a bit if we move up here and decide to live in the same house. The rest of the museum contains some nautical history, plus a variety of rotating exhibits (an homage to chocolate was there during our visit, worth it just to go in the doors and get a whiff of that cacao smell). Also worth your time but not necessarily as extensive as the core Seattle history section. Figure 4-6 hours overall, half that if you're a fast browser. Not much to the first floor. The "Bezos Center for Innovation" is a revolting abomination, a paean to the unreflective lucky^ and an embarassment to the rest of the museum. I love Amazon and have nothing against the company, but the cartoonish philosophy espoused in that area is truly disturbing. It's very much worth your time to enjoy the lakeshore near the museum as well, since you can see Kenmore Air taking off and landing their float planes. Validated parking is available on the west side of the lake. * "So THAT's why they call it MOHAI," I thought to myself a disturbingly long time after I first heard the term. ^ My point being that success = hard work + luck, in contrast to those who seem to think s = f(hw). Oh, and s does not equal $ (once $ reaches some arguable minimum threshold; I'm not going to let this note devolve into a Maslowian discussion).

The first Thursday of the month gives free admission, so save some money by going then. It is located right on Union Lake and is surrounded by a beautiful park. The 3rd floor is a children's play area, so there is something for everyone to do. The museum tells the history of the Seattle area, including the Great Fire that nearly destroyed the entire city. Top floor has some great views over looking the lake. Excellent time line exhibits. The displays are whimsical, fascinating, interactive and informative. Other displays are all worth perusing. The best way to visit MOHAI is by taking public transportation. There are several buses which run near the museum and the South Lake Union Streetcar has a stop right in front. I really wasn't expecting much out of this museum but it really turned out to be pretty cool!