Do you live in Olympia and need something to do on a weekend? Maybe you’re visiting the city or relocating and want to get a sense of the local culture. Either way, there are plenty of fantastic museums in Olympia, WA, that make a great place to spend an afternoon.
You’ll find a wide range of Olympia museums, from maritime history to science and mathematics. Olympia is also a centrally located city, and the nearby cities of Lacey and Tumwater also offer fantastic cultural institutions. But if you’re new to the area or not acclimated to the city’s cultural scene, finding a destination that suits your interests may be difficult. To simplify the process, here is a list of the top Olympia museums to explore today.
Bigelow House Museum | A Historic Home and One of the Top Olympia History Museum
The Olympia Historical Society owns and operates the Bigelow House Museum, a historic building and cultural center dedicated to preserving the history of Olympia, WA.
One of the best Olympia museums for history buffs, The Bigelow House is a two-story Carpenter Gothic home belonging to the family of pioneer lawyer and politician Daniel Bigelow, who settled in the area in 1854. Famous women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony famously had dinner at the Bigelow House while passing through the area on one of her lecture tours.
The home stayed in the Bigelow family for over 100 years before it became one of the most well-known Olympia museums. In 1992, neighbors and local advocates turned it into one of the best museums in Olympia WA to preserve the family’s legacy and contributions to the community. Today, the Bigelow House Museum in Olympia is one of the city’s most popular historical attractions and hosts regular talks, walking tours, and panel discussions.
It features original documents, artifacts, and furnishings spanning 150 years of Bigelow’s family history and its involvement in important local and national causes. So anyone looking for Olympia museums that tell the story of the city through the lens of some of its most prominent residents should check out the Bigelow House.
- Address: 918 Glass Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98506
- Hours: Friday and Sunday, 1 pm – 4 pm
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: $5 for adults, $2 for children under 18
Hands-On Children’s Museum | An Olympia Children’s Museum With Interactive Exhibits
For those in search of a great Olympia children’s museum, Hands On is a must-see. The mission of the Hands On Children’s Museum is to educate and entertain children of all ages with engaging exhibits designed to stimulate creativity and curiosity. It’s one of the top Olympia museums and has won numerous awards for its unique attractions, including Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award and the Best Family-Friendly Destination by King 5 & Evening Magazine.
Visitors will find over 150 interactive exhibits on everything from art to forestry to cooking, as well as an outdoor discovery center, which features a half-acre of space dedicated to free play, with fun play stations and toys for kids to enjoy. The museum also hosts regular events for children and parents, pre-school classes, summer camps, field trips, and more. Tours of the museum are open to the public seven days a week.
It’s also one of the best Olympia museums for weekend outings, birthday parties, school trips, and more. Anyone who wants family-friendly attractions in Olympia that not only educate but also entertain and engage children will love this children’s museum in Olympia.
- Address: 414 Jefferson St NE, Olympia, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 956-0818
- Hours: 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm Sunday
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: General Admission is $19.95 at the door / $18.95 for online reservations
WET Science Center | One of the Top Science Museum in Olympia, WA Dedicated to the Water Cycle
Short for Water, Education & Technology, the WET Science Center is one of the best science museums in Olympia, WA. Its exhibits teach children about the water cycle and the environmental importance of H20. The center is run by the LOTT Clean Water Alliance, a non-profit organization that provides wastewater management services to the urban areas of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater. It’s among the top Olympia museums to learn about how water impacts the ecosystem.
It features fun, kid-friendly games, displays, and activities designed to inspire kids’ love for science and the environment. It’s free to visit and open Monday through Saturday. They also host regular events on everything from recycling to marine wildlife.
It’s one of the top museums in Olympia, WA for kids and features immersive games and exhibits like the giant calculator that calculates your daily water usage and the mini treatment plant where you can learn about bacteria that’s helpful for cleaning wastewater. It’s a fun and informative museum, making it one of the best things to do in Olympia, WA for kids and parents alike.
- Address: 500 Adams St NE, Olympia, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 664-2333
- Hours: 10 am – 4 pm
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: Free to visit
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The Governor’s Mansion | A Historic Building Offering Regular Tours of Its Olympia Museums
The official residence of the Washington State governor and one of the top Olympia museums, the Governor’s mansion is a Georgian-style residence located on the State Capitol Campus that’s also open to the public for tours. It’s one of the best museums in Olympia, WA if you’re interested in government and/or architecture.
The home itself was built in 1908 by the architectural firm Russell and Babcock and consists of 19 rooms, including the Great Hall, the Drawing Room, the Library, and the State Dining Room. It’s perched atop the crest of Capitol Point, offering breathtaking views of the mountains, Capitol Lake, and the Olympia metro area.
The 30-minute guided tour of its Olympia museums takes visitors through several rooms on the first two floors of the mansion (the third floor is the Governor’s home), which has been fully restored and furnished with antiques from the Federalist Period.
Tours of this Olympia museum take place on Wednesdays and are offered four times per day (reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance). The Governor’s Mansion is an often overlooked Olympia tourist attraction, but it is a must-see for those interested in learning about the local government.
- Address: 504 15th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 902-8880
- Hours: Tours are on Wednesdays, every 30 minutes from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: Free
Tugboat Sand Man | A Floating Olympia Museum on a Historic Tugboat
Anyone interested in maritime history and nautical engineering should check out one of the lesser-known Olympia museums, the Tugboat SandMan. This small history museum is housed inside a 100-year-old, 60-foot Tugboat moored in the West Bay of the Budd Inlet. It’s one of the most beloved Olympia, WA, attractions and a proud symbol of the city’s past as a major hub for maritime activity. It’s one of the few remaining historic tugboats in the lower Puget Sound Region, and it’s one of the few Olympia museums listed on local and national registrars.
The Tugboat Sandman’s Olympia Museum is open to the public for tours most weekends, and admission is free. It contains an interesting selection of artifacts and documents telling the story of the vessel and the Pacific Northwest’s contributions to the shipping industry.
The boat can also be rented out for civic events. It’s not the largest or most expansive attraction, but for those interested in stories of the sea, the TugBoat SandMan is one of the best museums in Olympia, WA.
- Address: 504 15th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 902-8880
- Hours: Tours are on Wednesdays, every 30 minutes from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: Free
Olympic Flight Museum | One of the Top Olympia Museums for Aviation, With a Large Collection of Vintage Aircraft
The Olympic Flight Museum is the perfect destination for aviation enthusiasts within the Olympia Airport. Chock full of aircraft memorabilia, this Olympia museum features more than 10 vintage planes and helicopters, many of which are still functional.
It’s owned by a non-profit organization that founded the museum to spread knowledge about aviation history to the local community. It’s one of the best Olympia museums for aerospace enthusiasts with exhibits on both military and civilian aircraft.
It’s open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Kids under 6 years old get in free, kids ages 7-12 pay $5, adults pay $7, and seniors, veterans, and first responders pay $6. It’s also one of the only museums in Olympia WA that’s open for private rentals and special events, such as the Olympic Air Show.
With the largest collection of vintage aircraft in the Puget Sound region, the Olympic Flight Museum is one of the most interesting Olympia, Washington, tourist attractions.
- Address: 7637 Old Hwy 99 SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 705-3925
- Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: $7 for adults, $6 for vets, seniors, and first responders, and $5 for kids 7-12
The Crosby House Museum | One of the Best Olympia Museums for Local History That’s Dedicated to Preserving the Story of the South Sound Area
Situated just across Capitol Lake in the nearby community of Tumwater, the Crosby House Museum is a historic home and one of the Olympia museums listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Built in 1860 by Nathaniel Crosby III and Cordelia Crosby, the grandparents of famous singer and actor Bing Crosby, the house is an architectural gem. It represents a shift from Greek Revival to Gothic Revival that was popular at the time with its steeply pitched roof and ornamental bargeboards. This Olympia museum offers a look into the past, demonstrating what life was like during that period through a collection of antique furnishings, artifacts, and exhibits.
It operates regular tours every Sunday from April through October, including live reenactments from 1860s period actors every third Sunday of the month (tours are available throughout the year upon request).
It’s also located within the Tumwater Historical Park, a 17-acre play area with historic buildings, hiking trails, and a picnic area. So, if you’re planning a weekend outing, the Crosby House Museum is one of the best Olympia museums.
- Address: 702 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater, WA 98501
- Phone Number: (360) 943-9884
- Hours: Sundays 1 pm – 4 pm (April – October)
- Admission for this Museum in Olympia, WA: Free
Map of Museums in Olympia, WA
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