Visitor Information
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Seattle Art Museum Downtown |
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Entrance Closure
The 1st Avenue and Union Street entrance will be closed from Friday, May 16 to Friday, May 23 and will reopen Saturday, May 24 at 10 a.m. During this period, please use the 1st Avenue and University Street entrance and exit to access the museum. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Hours
Tuesday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–5
p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Monday: closed
Tickets
Suggested General Admission
- $13 adults
- $10 seniors (62 and over)
- $7 students (with ID) and youth (13–17)
- FREE for children 12 and under
- FREE for SAM members
SAM Audio, the permanent collection audio guide, is free with admission.
Upcoming Special Exhibition Ticket Prices*
Inspiring Impressionism
June 19–September 21, 2008
- $20 adults
- $17 seniors (62 and over)
- $14 (students with ID) and youth (13–17)
- FREE for children 12 and under
- FREE for SAM members
*Includes access to the SAM collections and installations. Tickets may be purchased online or at the museum.
Sorry, no discounts or special passes will be accepted for Inspiring Impressionism .
Free Days
A surcharge does apply for special exhibitions.First Thursdays
The Permanent Collection Galleries are FREE on the first Thursday of every month.
First Friday Free for Seniors
Seniors may see the Permanent Collection Galleries for FREE on the first Friday of every month.
Second Friday Nights Free for Teens
On the second Friday of every month, the entire museum is FREE for youth ages 13–19 with ID from 5 to 9 p.m.
Members are always FREE. Join SAM.
Holidays
Open on the following holidays:
- Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 21, 2008
- Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 18, 2008
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2008
- Independence Day, Friday, July 4, 2008
- Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2008
- Veterans Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Closed on the following holidays:
- Columbus Day, Monday, October 13, 2008
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27, 2008
- Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2008
- Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, 2008
- New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2008
- New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2009
Directions
The new museum entrance is located on First Avenue on the corner of Union Street.
Heading North: I-5 to Seneca Street exit (#165), west on Seneca Street to First Avenue, and turn right (north).
Heading South: I-5 to Union Street exit (#165B), west (toward Puget Sound) on Union Street to First Avenue.
From I-90: Heading west, merge onto I-5 North, take Madison Street exit (#2C). Turn left on Madison and right on First Avenue.
Maps
Map courtesy Microsoft Live Search
Where is SAM in relation to the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the Olympic Sculpture Park?
Use this map of the galleries (PDF) to design your own tour of the Seattle Art Museum.
Parking
WaMu Parking Garage
Entrance is below the SAM building on Union Street between First and Second Avenues.
206.264.8444
Monday–Friday: 6 a.m.–midnight
Saturday: 9 a.m.–midnight
Sunday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
More information....
This is an ADA-accessible garage; it has an elevator that will leave you around the corner from the museum’s main entrance or inside the museum.
Drop-off areas for visitors with special needs, other paid parking lots and metered parking are available near the Seattle Art Museum.
Bus Information
The museum is easily reached by using the Metro bus system. Detailed rider information is available by calling Metro at 206.553.3000, Sound Transit at 206.398.5000 or Community Transit at 206.353.7433.
Visitors with Disabilities
Museum facilities are wheelchair accessible and we offer a variety of services for the visually and hearing impaired. More Information...
SAM SHOP
Tuesday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–5
p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Monday: closed
The SAM SHOP is located in the new North Building on the First Floor next to the new SAM TASTE Restaurant. Visitors can enter from the street level on First Avenue or from Sarkowsky Hall at the new museum entrance. Gifts inspired by the current special exhibit are available at the special exhibition shop, located on the Fourth Floor.
Museum members receive a 15% discount at all SAM SHOP locations. Contact the store at 206.654.3120.
TASTE Restaurant
Open for lunch, happy hour and dinner
Tuesday–Sunday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Monday: closed
www.tastesam.com
Make a reservation
During construction to improve its space, TASTE Restaurant will be open for limited hours:
-
May 19–June15
Tuesday–Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. -
Post-construction (starting June 17)
Tuesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Monday: closed
Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Monday: closed
TASTE Restaurant at the Seattle Art Museum features simple yet upscale, reasonably priced foods created with “fresh from the market” ingredients. You will enjoy a seasonally changing assortment of small and large plates from its sustainable-focused menu, created by executive chef Christopher Conville, and a list of excellent Northwest wines and beers. SAM members receive a 10% discount.
Visit the TASTE website for the restaurant menu and seasonal recipes.
Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library
Tuesday–Friday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Although primarily geared to support the museum staff, docents and educators, the library is open to members and the general public. The library offers a number of resources to aid you in your research or educational endeavors.
Public Tours
Designed to help visitors make the most of their SAM experience, these tours are at once insightful and critical. In addition to these ongoing tours, SAM offers specialized tours for special exhibitions on view.
Highlights from the Collection: View and discuss outstanding artworks from SAM's global collections, including new purchases and promised gifts. Offered Thursdays at noon and 6 p.m.
In Focus Gallery Talks: These 20-minute gallery discussions focus on one or two selected works in a single gallery, allowing the visitor to experience a work of art in depth. Topics change monthly. Offered Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m.
My Favorite Things: These tours introduce the pieces in SAM’s permanent collection that are most exciting and appealing to SAM staff, community leaders, artists and others. Offered Thursdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
Group Visits
Planning to bring a crowd? Groups receive up to 40% off with advance reservations. Call 206.344.5260 or email boxoffice@seattleartmuseum.org.
Get a complete description of our group visit program. For a list of specific special exhibition group fees view a rate list.
Are you an educator? Learn more about our School
Tour Program.
Plan an Event
Plan your next event at the Seattle Art Museum. A variety of stunning spaces are available to serve small and intimate gatherings as well as large gala celebrations.
More Information...
Lost and Found
Do you think you may have lost something at the Seattle Art Museum? Report your lost article using this form, and we will let you know if it turns up.
Air and Hotel Packages
Planning a visit to Seattle? For a list of hotels in and around the museums please visit Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For Artists
Slide Review by Curators
SAM curators regularly review artist submissions in the form of slides and DVDs. Materials may be sent to the Curatorial Department, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Avenue,
Seattle, WA 98101-2003. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like your material returned. Due to the volume of submissions received, please allow at least 6 weeks for a response.
Learn more about the art councils and council events.
The Annual Betty Bowen Memorial Award Competition takes place each spring, juried by the Betty Bowen Committee, which includes local artists and SAM curators.
Links to art-funding resources.
Photography
Photography is not permitted in any galleries. Still photography is permitted for private, noncommercial use only at the Olympic Sculpture Park, the Seattle Asian Art Museum Fuller Garden Court, and the Seattle Art Museum North Building Brotman Forum and the Art Ladder in the South Building. Photographs cannot be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, distributed (including publication on the Internet) or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner whatsoever. The use of a flash or tripod is prohibited. Movie and video cameras are prohibited.
For press and other special photography, including filming and videotape projects, please contact the Public Relations office at pr@seattleartmuseum.org. For images of works of art owned by SAM, please see Image Rights and Reproductions.
SAM reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises or to reproduce images of objects in its collection.
Copyright © 2008 Seattle Art Museum. All Rights Reserved.
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