Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at 4300 15th Ave NE, on the University of Washington campus in Seattle, Washington, is the state's official natural history museum. It traces its origins to 1885 as a collection of Washington specimens, and was named for Judge Thomas Burke, a civic leader. A new building opened in 2019, designed with glass walls and a concept it calls the working museum, so that visitors can watch scientists and technicians preparing fossils, plants and cultural objects. The collections hold some 16 million specimens and artifacts across paleontology, biology and archaeology, and anthropology. Visitors can see the fossil record of the Pacific Northwest, including dinosaurs, a Tyrannosaurus rex skull found in Montana, mammoths and marine animals. The Pacific Northwest Native Art galleries display Coast Salish, Tlingit, Haida and other works, including masks, baskets, canoes, carved house posts and contemporary pieces, with Native voices guiding the interpretation. The Burke also has a large collection of insects, birds, mammals, plants, rocks and minerals, some exhibited in the Life and Times of Washington State. The curatorial approach blends thematic galleries with large windows into laboratories, and many displays are interactive. The building is a modern structure with wood, glass and stone, and a cafe and an outdoor plaza. The museum protects its collections through climate-controlled storage and conservation labs, and works with tribes on repatriation and care of cultural items. The Burke is near the University District and the Burke-Gilman Trail, so visitors can combine it with a walk around campus, and school groups are common on weekdays. The museum is educational and visually engaging for children and adults alike, and a typical visit takes about two to three hours. Special exhibitions change regularly, and the Burke also offers family programs, behind-the-scenes tours and talks by researchers throughout the year.