The natural history museum on the University of Washington campus, with dinosaurs, fossils and Northwest Native art, about a 3-minute walk from the U District light rail station. Its visitor services team lends visors, noise-reducing earmuffs and fidget wristbands, first come, first served, and caregivers get in free.
Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm (last admission 4:30 pm); first Thursday of each month, 10 am to 8 pm; closed Monday. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, on Mar 12 2027 (private event), Jun 19 2027 and Independence Day; closes at 2 pm on New Year's Eve.
4303 Memorial Way NE, Seattle, WA (northwest corner of the University of Washington campus; vehicle drop-off on the south side of the N1 lot, in front of the main entrance)
“Our visitor services team is happy to provide the following amenities on a first-come, first-served basis:”
“Visors and noise-reducing earmuffs”
“Fidget wristbands”
“Caregivers receive free admission. If you are a caregiver for a person with a disability, please let admission staff know during your visit.”
“Backpacks and large bags are not allowed in the galleries. Free lockers are available onsite to store your bags, food, and drink containers while you enjoy the museum.” burkemuseum.org (Know Before You Go)
“Touching harms museum materials. Look for the hand sign next to materials that are safe to touch.” burkemuseum.org (Code of Conduct)
The visors, earmuffs and fidget wristbands come from the visitor services team, along with wheelchairs and folding cane seats. To ask for any other accommodation, contact the Visitor Services Team at burkevis@uw.edu or 206.616.8616; when possible, the Burke prefers 10 days' advance notice.
The museum's floor guide (a PDF on the museum's site) shows the galleries, a Kids Play Area, stroller parking, the coatroom and lockers, the elevator, restrooms with changing tables, and the lactation room.
For accommodation requests, call Visitor Services at 206.616.8616 or email burkevis@uw.edu. For general visit questions, the Burke also lists 206.685.3861.
Admission: general $24, seniors (62+) $22, students (not UW, show ID) $16, youth (4 to 14) $16, children 3 and under free. Free: caregivers of a person with a disability (tell admission staff); everyone on the first Thursday of each month (online timed tickets recommended); UW Husky Card holders (one per card); Museums for All, for SNAP/EBT, WIC, foster care or kinship care cardholders and family (show ID and your card); NARM or ROAM reciprocal members and members of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and the Stonerose Interpretive Center, up to 2 adults and 4 youth. Military: $4 off per ticket, up to two tickets, with military ID. Groups of 10 or more: 15% off when you schedule and pay two weeks ahead. Discounts are redeemed at the front desk; no advance registration is needed.
Memberships: a $30 Pod membership for families in SNAP/EBT, WIC, Apple Health, ProviderOne, kinship care or foster parenting (two adults and all family members 17 and under), bought on site; $10 off a membership for students, seniors (63+), UW staff, UWAA members, educators and military.
Getting there: the U District light rail station is about a 3-minute walk. Parking is limited. The N1 lot next to the museum is pay by machine or app: weekdays 6 am to 4 pm, $5 an hour or $21 all day, $7 flat after 4 pm; Saturdays $7 flat until noon (the C1 to C6 Central Plaza Garage is $14); free after noon on Saturdays and all day Sundays. Five accessible spaces in N1 are first come, first served. Street parking along 15th, 16th and 17th Ave NE has two- to four-hour limits.
Rules: photos and video without flash are fine for personal use; pencils are welcome, but no pens, ink or paint in the galleries; no helium balloons, and no flowers or other plant material in the galleries. Service animals are welcome (you may be asked at the door); companion animals are not. For lost and found, email burkevis@uw.edu or call 206.616.8616.
Call
206.616.8616Visitor Services Team (accommodation requests and discounts)206.685.3861Visitor Services Team (general questions)
Email
burkevis@uw.eduVisitor Services Team (accommodation requests, 10 days' notice when possible)
