Since its inception in 1965, the Museum of Flight in Seattle has been preserving aircraft and educating visitors on the history and evolution of flight. It’s a thrilling space filled with spacey objects and fun exhibitions to marvel at, from U.S. Air Mail planes that hang off the ceiling to immersive exhibits blending aviation with art. The museum also hosts a variety of Candlelight concerts where talented musicians pay tribute to iconic artists by candlelight.
Located at the southern end of King County International Airport in Tukwila, just south of Seattle, the museum is easily reachable by bus. Take METRO Bus 124 from Downtown Seattle or Tukwila Station and hop off directly in front of the museum. What’s more, all parking is free. So, if you decide to take your car, instead, free parking is located next to the museum entries on the east and west sides of East Marginal Way.
Facts, Curiosities and Interesting Things about The Museum of Flight
1. There are tons of materials and objects to discover.
One of the best air and space museum collections in the world, the Museum of Flight in Seattle houses over 150 aircraft, more than 25,000 small objects—meaning everything smaller than an aircraft—-over 90,000 books and periodicals, approximately 18,000 aircraft manuals and other technical documents, and nearly 5,000 cubic feet of archival materials, including more than a million images.
2. The documentation and preservation of the evolution of flight is key.
In 1964, the Pacific Northwest Aviation Historical Foundation was created out of the necessity to preserve important and historical artifacts that were being lost or wasted. One year later, the first official Museum of Flight exhibits opened in a 10,000-square-foot space at the Seattle Center, where the 1962 World’s Fair was held.
3. The museum has a restoration center, devoted to renovating and restoring aircraft to exhibition quality.
The Restoration Center & Reserve Collection is a 23,000-square-foot space that can be visited by tourists and aviation enthusiasts. Around 50 volunteers work to restore and renovate aircraft, making it an important step for the preparation of the aircraft to exhibition quality.
Candlelight Concerts at The Museum of Flight
Besides learning about the history of aviation and looking at all the amazing aircraft the Museum of Flight has to offer, you can also attend a magical Candlelight concert at the very heart of the museum. The popular concert series always selects interesting and culturally important venues for its row of classical tributes. It makes for an incredible view! As you sit back and listen to classical takes on contemporary music, thousands of candles flicker and illuminate the spacey and impressive spacecraft. From Adele and Joe Hisaishi to Metallica and Billie Holliday, there’s really a concert for everybody.
What else can you do at The Museum of Flight?
The museum is open daily, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and a heads up! Admission is free from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm the first Thursday of every month. Saturdays and Sundays, if you’re planning a fun family time, the museum offers weekend family workshops with lots of hands-on and interactive experiences, where the whole family can learn more about science, engineering, and aerospace.
Seattle is not short of cultural institutions and historical buildings, but the Museum of Flight truly is one of a kind. As if its 150 aircraft and 90,000 books and periodicals weren’t enough, the thrilling museum also plays host to a series of Candlelight concerts that are all about bringing classical music to everyone. Additionally, these tributes are illuminating other stunning spaces in the city, including Town Hall and Sparkman Cellars.