The Grooviness that is still Seattle Part 3 (Pacific: house, school)

[homesinseattle]

Things I love about Seattle:

Seattle's fascinating ethnic heritage museums.

Seattle Asian Art Museum. When I got to Seattle 24 years ago, this was Seattle's Art Museum. Now it is filled with a surprising collection of Asian art, both ancient and contemporary. The setting is lovely, gorgeous Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. It is in a lovely building designed and built in the 1930s. There are regular classes and events at the museum and the grounds afford great views of the space needle, ancient cedars with low hanging branched for kids to climb on. Seattle Asian Art Museum: Visitor Information

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. I can't even tell you how many people I have mentioned this museum to who don't even know about it. Set in a fantastic building in the International District quite close to our main sports stadiums, a visit here can be combined with a sporting event or just an afternoon in this part of town, getting lost in the little shops and alleyways. This building the museum is in used to house Asian immigrants, parts of the building (which you will see on the tour) have been left exactly as they were many years ago, including a top floor mahjong room, a grocery store frozen in time and old beams integrated into the new structure. The displays are gripping and really help you understand the profound influence Asian Americans have had on Seattle and the Northwest. From the first waves of Chinese who came to build the railroads to the Japanese in the early 1900s, to the Filipinos who came to work in canneries, to the Koreans, Vietnamese and Cambodians who came here fleeing horrible wars and genocide. The exhibit about Japanese internment during World War 2 is very good. The Asian influence in Seattle is everywhere, you will understand it better when you come here. Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

Seattle Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard: Peoples from Norway, Sweden and other Scandinavian countries have been essential to the fabric of Seattle since the late 1800s. They came for fishing, timber, for the promise of opportunity. They created successful business, affected everything you see around you. When I got here 24 years ago, there were many jokes about slow ancient Norwegian drivers. You don't see them as much anymore but dig a little deeper and come to this museum, look for the Viking festival in Ballard, realize how many Andersens, Carlsens and Bjaarnasons are in your midst. Link to the museum: Nordic Heritage Museum: Home

Seattle Northwest African American Museum: From Jacob Lawrence to Jimi Hendrix, African Americans have contributed mightily to the Seattle area. The Northwest African American Museum opened March 8, 2008.Intended to "document and exhibit the unique historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest", the museum is part of the new Urban League Village at the former Colman School (built 1909,and with official status as a City of Seattle landmark. The building will also contain 36 units of mixed income housing for "artists, historians, teachers, and others who would be attracted by the activities of the museum. The museum is located in Seattle's Central District. Go visit, great place: http://www.naamnw.org/

SAM (Seattle Art Museum) and the Burke Museum (on the UW campus) have truly exceptional exhibits of Pacific Northwest Native American culture and artifacts.