The Towers of Tomorrow exhibit at MOHAI will run through September 29, 2024. Kristin Gillespie

Can I ask an honest question? Who doesn’t love LEGOs? They provide hours of entertainment for little hands, encourage creativity, collaboration, and problem solving, teach the fundamentals of architecture and structural engineering, and they are bonding opportunities that span generations.

When MOHAI announced their Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks exhibit last spring, my interest was piqued. But with juggling work and summer camps, I have to admit that it fell off my radar. Finally, with summer coming to a close, we made solid plans to visit the exhibit, seeking a fun, engaging outing for my 6-year-old daughter and one of her BFFs—a last hurrah before school was officially in session.

Two LEGO towers greet guests in the museum’s main lobby. Kristin Gillespie

Here’s the bottom line: learn from my mistake and get to MOHAI before this exhibit closes on September 29. Your child (and inner child) will thank you for it.

The exhibit features astonishing skyscrapers from across the world, from the Empire State Building to Tokyo Sky Tree to Marina Bay Sands. Each tower is constructed in breathtaking architectural detail by Ryan McNaught, one of only twenty-one LEGO Certified Professionals in the world.

But the magic of this exhibit is the interactive construction areas featuring 200,000 loose LEGO bricks and endless possibilities. After gawking at the LEGO towers that stood at twice their height, the girls were inspired and eager to dig into the brick bins, pawing through them to collect the requisite number of pink and clear 1 x 2 bricks for the walls of their dream house.

The LEGO towers above the construction zone serve as inspiration to would-be builders. Kristin Gillespie

200,000 loose LEGO bricks provide endless opportunities. Kristin Gillespie

Seeing the two of them fully engaged, my husband and I could take our time exploring the rest of the exhibit. Along with the incredibly detailed towers, there are displays that dive into the history and impact of LEGO over generations. Did you know that one of the first LEGO toys produced by the company in 1935 wasn’t a building toy at all, but rather a wooden duck pull toy? There was also a beautiful replica of MOHAI that deserved admiration, with an opening in the roof so viewers could take in the exhibits inside.

The original wooden duck pull toy released by LEGO in 1935 next to a 2020 replica built with LEGO bricks. Kristin Gillespie

A miniature model of MOHAI built entirely with LEGO bricks by local LEGO enthusiast Shane Deegan. Kristin Gillespie

Having worked through the exhibit, my husband and I still had plenty of time to join the girls at the construction table and join in on the building fun. As a mother, can I tell you how enjoyable this was, knowing that I wouldn’t later be finding loose bricks strewn about on the living room floor? Once our masterpieces were created, the girls were invited to add them to the Towers of Tomorrow display, showcasing them among contributions from other inspired visitors. They were so proud to be part of the exhibit!

After constructing their own structures, visitors are invited to display their masterpieces and admire what others have created. Kristin Gillespie

And yet, our time at the museum had not yet come to an end. Upon entering MOHAI, each girl was handed a scavenger hunt featuring miniature LEGO figures depicting different aspects of Seattle’s history, incorporated into displays throughout the museum. It motivated the girls to explore the rest of the museum, engaging with the many interactive displays and hopefully retaining bits and pieces of Seattle history along the way.

MOHAI provides a LEGO-themed scavenger hunt to encourage exploration in other parts of the museum. Kristin Gillespie	A grunge-themed LEGO minifig, hidden in the music display at MOHAI. Kristin Gillespie
A LEGO minifig depicting a warehouse employee, hidden in the Amazon display at MOHAI. Kristin Gillespie	Finding a LEGO computer hidden in the Microsoft display provides another checkmark on the scavenger hunt sheet. Kristin Gillespie

All in all, we spent close to four hours at the museum—which astounded both my husband and I—and the girls would have happily stayed longer. Bonus: youth 14 and under receive free admission—how’s that for value? In terms of finding ways to entertain my active, inquisitive daughter, this felt like a win. You can bet that I will not let MOHAI’s next exhibit fall so easily off my radar.

The Idea Lab at MOHAI provides the opportunity for hands-on learning through play. Kristin Gillespie

The current Idea Lab activity encourages visitors to experiment placing various materials over a fan to see which has a greater propensity to “fly.” Kristin Gillespie

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You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums on seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: history & heritage! Here are some of my recommendations if you want to discover the stories behind the people and places of the Northwest.

In these museums you’ll find fascinating looks at aviation history, a deep dive into Seattle’s innovative roots, stories of the Alaskan Gold Rush, and more.

A great first stop is the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Housed on the south shore of Lake Union in a restored historic Naval Reserve Armory, this Smithsonian affiliate boasts a collection of more than 4 million objects, documents, and photos that trace the history of the Puget Sound region. MOHAI’s award-winning exhibits are engaging, enlightening, and entertaining. And their focus on innovation explores the global influences that all began here: Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks, Costco, Nintendo, Boeing and more. My tip: don’t miss the musical telling of the 1889 Great Seattle Fire, complete with heart-tugging solo by the guilty glue pot that started it all, and two current special exhibitions. Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science. explores stories from four Indigenous communities in real-world examples of how traditional knowledge and cutting-edge science can be blended together to provide solutions to contemporary concerns. And Pulling Together: A Brief History of Rowing in Seattle is perfectly timed to the national release of the new film The Boys in the Boat, based on the bestselling book by Seattle author Daniel James Brown, and directed by George Clooney. In 1936, the University of Washington men’s rowing team did the unthinkable: despite injuries and illness, they defeated British, German, and Italian crews and brought home a gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. MOHAI is proud to display a selection of rare artifacts and photographs related to the 1936 champion crew which offer a look into the rich history of rowing in Seattle.

courtesy of MOHAI

While you’re in the neighborhood, see if you can spot any of the historic ships that are typically docked at the Historic Ship Wharf adjacent to MOHAI: the Virginia V, Arthur Foss, Swiftsure, and the Duwamish. You might also want to visit The Center for Wooden Boats next door, and the Wagner Education Center.

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is a favorite of all ages. Washington’s oldest museum (dating from 1899) is now one of our newest, in a dynamic purpose-built building (opened in 2019) that brings the collections and the research to the forefront, allowing visitors to see the conservation and discovery in action. From contemporary native culture to ancient dinosaur fossils, this museum will inspire and delight.

Burke Museum. Photo: Dennis Wise.

Another don’t-miss: one of Seattle’s most popular museums, The Museum of Flight. Located in south Seattle, it’s the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world! With over 175 aircraft and spacecraft and tens of thousands of artifacts, the museum brings the incredible history of flight to life. A handy visit planner on their website can help you focus your time depending on your age and interests.

In the historic heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, a visit to the free Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park located in the restored 1889 Cadillac Hotel offers an absorbing look at a time when anyone with about $600 ($20,000 in today’s dollars) could dream of traveling to the Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada, to strike a claim, mine the gold, and try to change their fortunes. This branch of the National Park Service is a key link to understanding the impact on Seattle from the Klondike, and how modern day global and regional companies such as Nordstrom and Filson got their start in the explosive growth of the gold rush period.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Wayne Bressler

A beautiful ride on the Seattle-Bremerton ferry will bring you to Bremerton, home of the USS Turner Joy Naval Destroyer Museum Ship. You can walk on for the hour long ferry ride, saving money and time. The Turner Joy is located on the Bremerton boardwalk, an easy walk from the ferry terminal. To fully explore the ship, allow 1-2 hours and wear flat or rubber-soled shoes, dress in layers (the ship is cold in February!), and keep your hands free for safe ladder climbing. Or, take the scenic ferry ride to Bainbridge Island instead, walk a  short distance into town and visit the small but engrossing Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. Fun fact: pickleball was invented on Bainbridge Island in 1965, and you can learn about the roots of this popular national sport in the “Our Community” exhibit.

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month and find your perfect hotel at seattlemuseummonth.com.  See my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest. See you in February!

Banner image: The first big rowing event of the 1916 season was an April race against Stanford. University of Washington and Stanford fans crowded the shores of Lake Washington to cheer for their teams. The UW crew won by seven boat lengths, and afterwards started preparing for a May race against the University of California at Berkeley. This photo shows the 1916 men’s varsity crew, in uniform, at the University of Washington boathouse. Credit:  MOHAI, PEMCO Webster & Stevens Collection, 1983.10.10267.

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Today’s topic is: one-of-a-kind places. This post highlights unique experiences, to be found only here in the Seattle region.

Located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, The Wing Luke Museum is a National Park Service affiliate and the first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. As the only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the nation, it offers an authentic and unique perspective on the American story. Be Water, My Friend is a popular exhibition exploring the life, teachings and legacy of international icon Bruce Lee, who had deep roots in Seattle. Another exhibit on view in February, Sound Check!: The Music We Make allows you to discover the role music has played in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander lives & communities.

Wing Luke Museum Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects

Nearby you’re in for another treat: Seattle has a pinball museum! The Seattle Pinball Museum offers about 50 playable games from the 1960s to the present. Your admission allows you unlimited play, although please note that kids must be 7 or older to play the games and must be supervised by an adult. One tip: this can be popular and crowded, so my advice is to choose a non–peak time for your visit if possible, so you can enjoy the games and maybe even talk with the owners, who are passionate pinball fans.

Courtesy Seattle Pinball Museum

If you haven’t filled up on snacks at the Pinball Museum, you’re in luck because you’re right in the Chinatown-International District, home to delicious dumplings and noodles to take a fuel break from your busy day of museum hopping.

Located at Seattle Center, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center offers the opportunity to explore interactive exhibitions, global health innovations, and powerful stories of community. You can also discover ways to take action on causes that you care about. Admission is always free.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center Courtesy of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A few miles north, Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood drew significant numbers of Scandinavian immigrants in the early 1900s, drawn by jobs in fishing and lumber mills, and this neighborhood still bears traces of their cultural traditions. So it’s the perfect place for the National Nordic Museum, an internationally recognized museum and cultural center that collects and preserves the values, traditions, art, and spirit of the Nordic peoples. It’s the largest museum in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries, and the stunning new building, which opened in 2018, was recognized by Architectural Digest as one of the 15 most noteworthy museums opening in the world that year. As an extra bonus, the museum is home to Frankie Feetsplinters, one of five oversized recycled material trolls in the NW Trolls Project. The trolls were built and installed in late summer of 2023 by internationally known artist Thomas Dambo, along with his pro crew and hundreds of community volunteers.  Tip: If you didn’t eat in the C-ID, this would be a good spot to have a lunch break at the museum’s Freya Café, or venture a couple blocks west for some classic fish and chips at the Lockspot.

Rachael Jones

For an entirely different sort of museum experience, head south about 24 miles to the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Set in a forest of towering conifers, the outdoor museum connects people to nature through the living art of bonsai. This unique place stewards more than 150 bonsai and the most diverse public collection in North America with trees from Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the United States. Featuring 60 trees at a time, this cultural gem offers contemporary and traditional exhibitions, group tours, and education.

Courtesy Pacific Bonsai Museum

Learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com and see my other posts for suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and families. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of The Wing Luke Museum

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You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: arts & culture! Here are some of my suggestions if you enjoy art.

Seattle Art Museum, or SAM, has been the center for world-class visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. In the heart of downtown Seattle, light-filled galleries invite you to wander through permanent collections and special exhibitions. SAM’s diverse holdings include Asian, African, Islamic, European, Oceanic, modern and contemporary art, and decorative arts and design. Visitors especially enjoy the remarkable Native American galleries and the charming Porcelain Room. In February you can see Calder: In Motion, an exhibition of the iconic American artist who revolutionized sculpture, including more than 45 works shown publicly for the first time.

Fish, 1942, Alexander Calder. Photo: Nicholas Shirley

The renovated Seattle Asian Art Museum is not to be missed. Housed in a beautiful art deco building in Volunteer Park, the expanded Asian Art Museum breaks boundaries to offer a thematic, rather than geographic or chronological, exploration of art from the world’s largest continent. February highlights include a solo exhibition of international artist Anida Yoeu Ali.

Asian Art Museum Jacob Foltz

Olympic Sculpture Park is SAM’s free outdoor art experience. In summer, it’s packed with dog walkers and joggers and strollers (both kinds), but in winter you can enjoy the art with more solitude. The collection includes large works by Richard Serra, Roxy Paine, Jaume Plensa, Louise Bourgeois, and Alexander Calder. While it might be brisk weather in February, you also might get to enjoy some beautiful clear views of Elliott Bay and the snowcapped Olympic Mountains.

One of Seattle’s top visitor attractions is also one of its most artful. Located at Seattle Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass is bursting with color and light and offers a comprehensive look at the work made by Dale Chihuly, one of the world’s living glass art masters. It never fails to delight with its rooms upon rooms of glass, impressive suspended sculptures, and colorful garden. On view through February, Winter Brilliance is an original light and music installation, using innovative video projection technology.

Art enthusiasts will also want to plan a short trip south to Tacoma. In addition to interesting special exhibitions, a highlight of visiting the Museum of Glass is the chance to watch glass artists at work in the Hot Shop Amphitheatre, located inside the 90-foot tall steel cone.

From the downtown Seattle waterfront, a 30-minute ferry ride to Bainbridge Island (tip: walk on as a foot passenger for ease and savings) and a short stroll will bring you to BIMA, the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. Admission is always free, but even without the promise of saving on your admission cost this small gem of a museum is a worthy excursion for an engaging look at the art and craft of the Puget Sound region, in an impressive LEED Gold building.  An onsite café is great for a lunch break, or walk a bit further into town for numerous tasty choices. The ferry ride is another iconic Northwest experience, offering fantastic views of the Seattle skyline and Elliott Bay.

courtesy of Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Also free, the Frye Art Museum is another gem, located just east of downtown Seattle. Established in 1952, the museum is now known for contemporary art exhibitions that explore the issues of our time, and thought-provoking programming.

Courtesy Frye Art Museum

A bit further to the east, in downtown Bellevue, the Bellevue Arts Museum is one of few museums in the nation with a focus on art, craft, and design. On view in February, Positive Fragmentation: From the Collections of the Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation features more than 200 works by contemporary women artists. Opening February 2, Washi Transformed presents a traditional medium of Japanese paper in the hands of present day innovative artists.

And not least, Washington State’s oldest art museum, the Henry Art Gallery, beckons you to the University of Washington campus. Don’t let its age fool you, the Henry specializes in presenting world-renowned contemporary artists and nurturing emerging talent. My tip: don’t miss Light Reign, the Skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell. This immersive installation is one of my favorite contemplative spots in the city.

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com.  You’ll also find more suggestions for history & heritage buffs, families, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences on our blog. With so many participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner Image: Courtesy of the Frye Art Museum

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You can go to as many museums as you like during your stay, and up to four people staying in the hotel room are eligible to use the discount, so it’s perfect for trips with friends or family. You’ll find the entire list of museums at seattlemuseummonth.com – but how to choose? Let’s dive in and I’ll try to make some suggestions according to your interests.

Today’s topic is: family fun! Here are some of my recommendations if you have kids in the mix.

First up, the Burke Museum. Re-opened in late 2019 in a newly constructed, purpose-built facility, the Burke offers a new kind of museum experience, making the research and scientific discovery accessible to visitors. With amazing fossils, dinosaur bones, minerals, cultural artifacts, and an engaging team of scientists and researchers to welcome you, the Burke is a must-see!

Courtesy Burke Museum

At Seattle Center, the colorful Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) is eye-popping inside and out, and will thrill older kids and their parents too. Music fans can dive deep into exhibits on Seattle icons Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix, while fans of Harry Potter or The Wizard of Oz will delight in Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic. Indie Game Revolution offers an immersion into contemporary video game culture. Maybe zombies, vampires and other things that go bump in the night are more your speed? Then Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film is for you! (Note that this one is for the age 13+ crowd, due to high scare factor & graphic content.) Sound Lab invites you to get hands-on and explore the tools of rock ‘n’ roll through electric guitars, drums, samplers, mixing consoles, and more.

Indie Game Revolution exhibit at MoPOP Courtesy MoPOP

Also at Seattle Center, the Pacific Science Center has been a family favorite since 1962. From the Tropical Butterfly House, to the Planetarium, from Beyond Human Limits to Dinosaurs: A Journey Through Time, a variety of exhibitions and experiences are ready to delight and inspire.

Pacific Science Center Rachael Jones

Seattle Children’s Museum is also located at the Seattle Center, offering hands-on exhibits and daily programs for kids from birth to age 10, sparking imagination and discovery through exploratory play.

Seattle Children’s Museum Megan Ching

Seattle Aquarium delights visitors young and old on the Seattle waterfront. A leader in hands-on marine experiences and conservation education, the Aquarium makes learning about Puget Sound and our world’s one big ocean fun and engaging. Daily diver shows in the Windows On Washington Waters exhibit introduce the fish that you can find in our Washington waters. Wearing specialized masks, the divers are able to talk back and forth with Aquarium interpreters on the outside of the exhibit, and answer your questions.

courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

From the waterfront, you can walk on a Washington State Ferry for a 30 minute crossing to Bainbridge Island, where a short stroll up from the dock leads you to Kids Discovery Museum, which is geared for little ones from 6 months to 8 years.

courtesy of Kids Discovery Museum

A few minutes north of Seattle Center is Woodland Park Zoo, another perennial favorite for all ages. Established in 1899, the Zoo has been an urban oasis and is now a leader in animal conservation efforts. Its 92 acres are divided into bioclimatic zones, featuring natural habitats ranging from humid tropical rainforests and coastal deserts to temperate rainforests like those of the Pacific Northwest, housing a wide range of interesting animals.

bear, bear cub, brown bear, juniper, living northwest trail
Woodland Park Zoo

Find your perfect hotel and learn more about Seattle Museum Month at seattlemuseummonth.com. See our other blog posts for more suggestions for arts & culture lovers, history & heritage buffs, and those seeking one-of-a-kind experiences. With more than 25 participating museums, we’ve got something for every interest.  See you in February!

Banner image: Courtesy of Seattle Aquarium

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