# Seattle Art Museum — Seattle, United States

> The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is the Pacific Northwest's leading visual arts institution, occupying a Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown building on First Avenue in downtown Seattle since 1991. The original 1933 Art Deco building by Carl Gould was expanded and wrapped in Venturi's granite facade, creating a museum that bridges historic and postmodern architecture.

## Visitor facts
- Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mon–Tue)
- Admission: From $22 standard admission
- Free entry: Free first Thursday of each month · Under 15 free
- Address: 1300 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
- Time needed: 2 hours
- Official website: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/
- Facts verified: 2026-06-30

## Highlights
- Eagle — Alexander Calder · 1971
- The Company Painter School — Panorama — Indian Company School · c. 1820
- Abstract Painting No. 3 — Mark Tobey · 1960
- Raven at the Headwaters of Nass — Haida artist · 19th century

## FAQ
**Is the Olympic Sculpture Park part of SAM?**
Yes — the Olympic Sculpture Park is a free outdoor extension of the Seattle Art Museum on the waterfront, open daily. Alexander Calder's Eagle is the most photographed work.

**How long should I spend at Seattle Art Museum?**
Plan 2 hours for the highlights. Add time for temporary exhibitions, the museum shop, and café.

**What is Seattle Art Museum best known for?**
The Pacific Northwest's leading art museum downtown — Native American art, Asian collections, European masters, and the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront. Key highlights include Native American art — Northwest Coast and Alaska, Asian art — Chinese jades, Japanese screens, Himalayan art, European painting — Renaissance to modern.

**How do I get tickets for Seattle Art Museum?**
From $22 standard admission Free first Thursday of each month · Under 15 free. Tickets are usually available on the day, but booking online saves queue time in peak season. Official site: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

**Is the Olympic Sculpture Park the same as the Seattle Art Museum?**
The Olympic Sculpture Park is SAM's free outdoor extension — a 9-acre waterfront park 1.5 km north of the downtown museum along the Elliott Bay trail. It is always free and open dawn to dusk. The downtown SAM building requires paid admission (free first Thursday monthly). Most visitors do the sculpture park separately — allow 45 minutes for the park alone.

**What is the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park?**
SAM operates a second building — the 1933 Art Deco Seattle Asian Art Museum in Capitol Hill's Volunteer Park, focused exclusively on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Himalayan art. It requires a separate ticket or SAM membership. After a 2017 renovation by LMN Architects, it reopened with expanded galleries. The original SAM building before the downtown expansion.

**Does SAM have a good Native American collection?**
SAM holds one of the strongest Native American collections in the Pacific Northwest, with particular depth in Tlingit, Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw, and Coast Salish art — cultures geographically connected to Seattle through trade routes and migration. The galleries include totem poles, woven regalia, masks, and contemporary Native artists. SAM has worked with tribal advisors on interpretation.


Source: https://worldmuseumguide.org/museums/seattle-art-museum/ — World Museum Guide, independent and ad-free.