History Museum Hours & Admission - Washington State Historical Society

Washington State History Museum will re-open on September 29, 2020, after being temporarily closed since mid-March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to opening our doors to our community again!

Visitor Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Note: Tuesday’s 10:00-Noon are reserved for visitors ages 65+.

Half price admission through October 23: The Museum’s Great Hall of Washington History will be open on September 29, however the 5th floor galleries remain closed while we install new exhibitions. Admission is half price during this time! On October 24, the 5th floor will reopen with new exhibitions and admission returns to regular pricing.

We look forward to seeing you at the museum again, and you can also continue to connect with Washington’s rich history virtually as well. Our public programs will be held online through the end of 2020. And see our History at Home page for links to learning resources, virtual programs, our new museum app, and other ways to explore history at home.

Washington State History Museum

Museum Hours

Closed on Monday.
Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Note: Tuesday 10:00-noon reserved for visitors ages 65+.
Third Thursday of each month: Open 10:00 AM-8:00 PM with FREE admission from 3:00-8:00 PM, generously sponsored by Columbia Bank. NOTE: Third Thursday evenings will not be held during October, November and December 2020.

Located on Pacific Avenue in Tacoma, the museum’s brick façade and vaulted arches create a distinctive landmark in keeping with neighboring Union Station (now a federal courthouse) and the repurposed brick warehouses that comprise the University of Washington Tacoma campus. You’ll enjoy visiting the thriving Museum District and Pacific Avenue with plenty of places to snack, dine and shop.

Directions and parking

Events and exhibitions

What's happening at the History Museum?

Fascination and fun come together at the Washington State History Museum! Explore our state’s people and places and our impacts on the country and the world through interactive exhibits drawn from the Historical Society’s collections, exciting traveling exhibitions, and dynamic events.

Events and Exhibitions

Field trips are paused for the 2020-2021 academic year

A note about field trip season

NOTE: There will be no field trips during the 2020-2021 academic year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The Washington State History Museum happily serves about 15,000 students each year. Field trips help students make meaningful, lasting connections between the past and present.

March through mid-June are the peak months for field trips. Students are often in the building during the hours of 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Tuesday through Friday. If you prefer to visit at a quieter time, please plan your trip accordingly.

Field Trip Scholarship Fund

Admission Rates

Ticket Type	Price	Half price through 10/23/20
Washington State Historical Society Members	FREE	FREE
Adult (age 18+)	$14.00	$7.00
Senior (age 65+)	$11.00	$5.50
Student (age 6-18 or older with current high school ID)	$11.00	$5.50
Child (age 5 and under)	FREE	FREE
Military (active duty or retired with ID)	$11.00	$5.50

Admission Discounts

Discount Type	Discount Value
Blue Star Museums Program: From Memorial Day - Labor Day, active duty military with ID	FREE with up to five family members
Washington Foster Parent (with foster parent license and ID)	$1.00 per person, $2.00 per family
Washington Quest cardholder discount (card required; card cannot be used for admission purchase)	$1.00 per person, $2.00 per family
Group Discount: Groups of 10 or more, ages 6+	$10.00 per person
Travel Tacoma Mt. Rainier Tourism & Sports Attraction Pass (purchase here)	25% admission discount
AAA members discount: Up to two discounted regular price adult admissions per membership. Not valid during Model Train Festival. Must present AAA card at Admissions.	15% on up to two adult admissions
Third Thursdays, 3:00 PM-8:00 PM	FREE for all
Library Passes: Pierce County, City of Tacoma, King County and Puyallup libraries offer free passes that can be checked out. Not valid during Model Train Festival.	FREE with some restrictions, see pass for details.
University of Washington Tacoma annual institutional membership	FREE for students and faculty with valid UWT ID

Holiday Schedule

The History Museum is open on these holidays:

New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents Day
Easter

The History Museum is closed on these holidays:

Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

Worth a visit!

"I took my sons to see the Men of Change Exhibit. My God what an exhibit. My two sons came out of there just excited to know that there are black men."

- Drayton Jackson
"This is a beautiful museum that is located in an area with stunning views of the bay and Mt Rainer. Lots of great local restaurants in walking distance makes for an easy day out."

- Jim's Opinion (Google Reviews)
"This is an awesome Museum. It takes you through the history of Washington State. The geological, historical, cultural, art, science and technological journey across different time frames. The museum is located in the downtown Tacoma easily accessible via public transit. If you are driving, the parking is spacious...The museum is really worth visiting."

- Prashant KC

Inclement Weather Policy

Snow, hail, freezing rain?

The Washington State Historical Society follows the closure status of the Tacoma Public Schools.

If TPS schools are closed, the History Museum will be closed.
If the TPS schools choose a delayed start, the History Museum will operate under normal hours from 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Sunday.

When weather is questionable, you can check the TPS website and look for a banner across the top of their home page, where you’ll find details about closures.

We will also post a banner in yellow across the top of our website in these situations.

WSHS Conduct Policy

What to do (and not do) when you're in the History Museum

Conduct Policy

Image credit: Good Conduct Medal, created 1944-1945. Bronze medal reads, “EFFICIENCY – HONOR – FIDELITY,” and on the reverse it reads, “FOR GOOD CONDUCT.” Awarded to Theodore Christensen, Jr., a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne who participated during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge. Washington State Historical Society, 2014.158.4