Museum of Pop Culture
Photo: EMP|SFM Archive — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle showcases exhibitions on music, science fiction, fantasy, and video games in a striking Frank O. Gehry-designed building.
Planning your visit
MoPOP occupies Frank Gehry's most divisive building — a heap of crumpled, multicoloured metal at the foot of the Space Needle, reportedly inspired by smashed guitars, which Seattle has never entirely made peace with. Paul Allen funded it, originally to house his Jimi Hendrix collection.
The music holdings remain the strongest element: Hendrix material in depth, the Nirvana and grunge exhibition covering a movement that came out of this region, and a substantial guitar collection including instruments played by significant figures.
Beyond music, the museum covers science fiction, fantasy and horror with props and costumes from major films and television, and video games. The Sound Lab lets visitors play instruments in soundproofed booths, which is more engaging than it sounds.
It sits at Seattle Center beside the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden. Allow two to three hours. Bookable options include skip-the-line private tours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Museum of Pop Culture?
Museum of Pop Culture is in Seattle, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
How long should I allow for Museum of Pop Culture?
Allow two to three hours. That is the time the collection itself takes at an unhurried pace, before any queue.
Do I need to book Museum of Pop Culture in advance?
Skip-the-line entry is worth booking ahead here: the saving is the queue, which is exactly what sells out.
