Museum of History and Industry in Seattle

As we walked out of Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (otherwise known as MOHAI), my teenage son said… “Every city should have a museum just like this.” I couldn’t have agreed more. The museum was full of information that told the story of Seattle – Innovators, technology, the city on fire, natives, Prohibition and so much more. If you really want to understand the Emerald City, spend an hour or two at MOHAI.

Although Seattle has several hot spots for tourists, the Museum of History and Industry is great for locals and visitors. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find at the museum.

Tickets, Parking and Finding the Museum of History and Industry

Like many other museums across the country, the Museum of History and Industry requires timed entry. The best way to grab tickets is on their website. Start by reading about all the protocols in place to help keep people safe. Then click on the button to reserve your timed ticket. Entry windows are 40-minutes, which allows some flexibility for your arrival.

Walk-up tickets are available, but only based on museum capacity. So I recommend grabbing tickets online in advance of your visit.

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MOHAI is located on the south tip of Lake Union, northeast of Seattle’s Space Needle. As for a place to park, there’s special $10 all-day parking rate when museum visitors park at the AGC lot, located at 1200 Westlake Ave N. Grab your discounted rate ticket at the MOHAI admissions desk. There are also several private and city-owned parking lots nearby MOHAI.

You could also just walk there from some of the other popular attractions in Seattle, or grab a rude share (UBER/Lyft). Public transit is an option, too.

Start at the Top: Maritime Gallery

Once you check in at the admission desk to show your tickets, head to the stairs/elevator and make your way up to the fourth floor. The Maritime Gallery is a great spot to start your visit to MOHAI. You can look across Lake Union through a working periscope. See how the lenses are arranged in a lighthouse bulb and learn about some history of boats and ships in Seattle.

The single room won’t take long to explore (maybe 10 minutes), but it’s worth checking out. Then you can make your way down to the second floor.

But what about the third floor? The third floor is a play-place for kids and some large conference rooms. However, with COVID protocols, the play-place has been closed. They were unsure of when and if it will reopen, or if they’ll use that area to expand some of their other exhibits.

Take in the the Story of Seattle: 1790s to Present

On the second floor, the best place to begin your tour is by entering the Seattle Journey. The history begins with the natives who called this area home in the late 1700s. Eventually Europeans began exploring the area, turning it into a mill hub and seaport. After learning about that early history of Seattle, you’ll come across one of the best exhibits and multimedia presentations in the museum: Don’t Blame the Glue.

Did you know that in 1889, a devastating fire destroyed downtown Seattle. The song is entertaining – something that brings you back to those silly songs from elementary school – and the lights and projections keep you engaged. Don’t miss out on this fun presentation. If that means hanging out in the room until the presentation starts again – it’s worth it!

TRAVEL TIP: Don’t miss the presentation of Don’t Blame the Glue

As you continue through the exhibits, you’ll learn about the changing landscapes of Seattle, how locks work, the Gold Rush and much more. Exhibits highlight some of the other major world events and how it impacted Seattle. For example, prohibition, World War I and World War II, marvels in flight and commercial airlines and more.

The second floor is where you’ll spend most of the time during your visit. There’s a lot to see, so don’t rush through it.

Visit the Special Exhibits Area

Located on one end of the second floor is the Special Exhibit area. During our visit, the exhibit was about Democracy in Seattle. It looked at the process of laws, the differences people made in influencing those laws and gives you an opportunity to share you opinion on political involvement. The downside of this exhibit – as an outsider, most of the information was specific to local laws and issues, as opposed to more national laws and political challenges. But the key message that anyone can take away from this exhibit – VOTE!

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As of the writing of this article, the Stand Up Seattle: Democracy Project was concluded. The next special exhibit is all about the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. It opens July 31, 2021. It looks like a great exhibit and definitely worth checking out. General admission tickets include access to these special exhibits.

All About Innovations from Seattle

One of my favorite exhibits at the Museum of History and Industry were spread across the first floor. I’m always intrigued by how people tackle problems with innovative solutions. For example, vaccines need to stay cold. But in places like the Congo in Africa, the lack of electricity and ice makes keeping them cold a real challenge. Some inventors have developed a portable cooler that keeps vaccines from spoiling for up to five days with no power plug needed.

RELATED INFO: Check out Visit Seattle’s “Things to do in Seattle” page

Other innovations were on display. There were also inspiring quotes about team work and the opportunity to share your thoughts about how to make the world better. I took the time to answer one very simple questions – Where do you find inspiration? As you can see from the card below, it’s through travel. As I learn more about the world through the museums and places I visit, I want to be better and inspire others to be better as well. While I don’t think I’ll be able to solve the major problems facing the world today, I can play a role in doing my part.

“Success is empty if you arrive at the finish line alone. The more winners you bring with you, the more gratifying the victory.”

Howard Schultz, Starbucks

Beyond innovations that change the world, there are also inventions that bring joy to kids – like the invention of slinky dog. You may recall the character from the Toy Story movies, but slinky dog was created by a Seattle resident in the early 1940s.

Get inspired as you learn about the many ways innovative thinking has helped influence the world for the better.

And don’t miss out on a little humor as well. Grab a selfie with the pink “Toe Truck” and learn about it’s history in Seattle.

The Details:

Address: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle WA, 98109

Cost: $22 for adults (age 15 and older); $18 for seniors; $17 for military. Youth 14 years old and under are free.

How Long to Spend: 1 to 2 hours

Parking: There’s special $10 all-day parking rate when museum visitors park at the AGC lot, located at 1200 Westlake Ave N. Grab your discounted rate ticket at the MOHAI admissions desk. There are also several private and city-owned parking lots nearby MOHAI.

Hours: Thursday through Monday, MOHAI is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some Thursdays the museum is open extended hours (10-8 p.m.), but check the website for your specific travel dates.

Website: https://mohai.org/

Phone: (206) 324 1126

Disclosure: My family received complimentary admission tickets to the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

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