Seattle Art Museum (SAM)

Some/One, Do-Ho Suh
Photo: Paul Macapia

Parts of the museum are free for everyone, including the "Art Ladder" staircase featuring ancient Chinese animal statues, and the lobby area. There are a number of admission levels for the rest of the museum, and it is free to all visitors on the first Thursday of every month. Admission is good for the full day, so you can visit in the morning, have lunch or visit other attractions, and return in the afternoon.

Gathering Storm, Lin Onus
Photo: Beth Mann

There is a large collection of Native American and Australian Aborigine art, both ancient and modern. One highlight is a massive aborigine tapestry accompanied by a looping video of its creation by a group of elders, sitting crosslegged in a circle as they chat and add their tiny precise dots of color to the looping design. Other notable aborigine pieces include "Old Woman Dreaming", a complex interlocking design in muted colors, and "Gathering Storm" by Lin Onus, fish swimming through reflected trees and clouds.

Meissen Clock
Johann Friedrich Stalpp, ca. 1748

At the time of our visit there was a special exhibition of Roman Art from the Louvre, approximately 180 pieces spanning several galleries and covering nearly 300 years of imperial Roman history. There are many fine statues and bas-reliefs, as well as mosaics, ornaments and other items, accompanied by accompanied by historical text and maps. The power of the Romans comes through even millenia later, not simply the emperors and nobles, but the strong individual faces of a group of soldiers on a bas-relief speaking through time, or the vivid portrayal of dogs and oxen. This exhibition runs through May 11 and is highly recommended.

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

Pacific Science Center

The Pacific Science Center is a Seattle institution, a part of Seattle Center since the original 1962 World's Fair that also created the Space Needle. It includes two IMAX theaters and one of the world's largest Laser Dome theaters, as well as hundreds of science exhibits and hands-on displays.

One highlight is the tropical butterfly house, where you can walk around a miniature tropical forest and watch the colorful butterflies feeding on fruit and flowers, flying overhead, or simply basking in the sun. An airlock system on entry and exit keeps the butterflies from being accidentally carried away.

The dinosaur room has both real fossils and life-size robotic dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops, that can move and roar! For a change of scale, try the insect room, with its many live displays and interactive exhibits. Other permanent scientific exhibits include technology displays, the Science Playground, and Adventures in 3 Dimensions. Children will especially enjoy the "Kids Works" area, where they can see themselves on TV and make hands-on experiments.

Also free with your admission is the Willard Smith Planetarium, where you can find out about astronomy and the local sky. Each day's main presentation covers the stars that will be seen that night, and prepares the visitor for some real stargazing.

You can include a current IMAX movie in your admission ticket for a small additional charge, and choose from a variety of high-definition experiences such as "Bugs 3D" (very popular with kids).

The Laser Dome is open Thursday through Sunday evenings, and features songs by a chosen musical artist such as Queen, Pink Floyd, The Beatles or Radiohead accompanied by fantastic laser effects.

The Space Needle

© Laura Swimmer

The German Connection

In 1959 Eddie Carlson, then president of Western International Hotels, took time off to join family friends the Moffetts on their European vacation in Stuttgart. A German friend Margot Colden told them “You must have dinner at the TV Tower”. The 350-foot tower was an icon of the new Stuttgart, a chimney-shaped concrete television tower hosting a restaurant, perched on the top like a water glass.

After the Carlsons, Moffetts and Coldens had taken their seats at the top, Eddie had an epiphany. He had just taken an elevator to a rooftop restaurant, and paid money for the privilege. Not only that, but the restaurant was actually full of others who had done the same. Unable to sleep that night due to a combination of the idea forming in his head and jet lag, he thought of the world’s other famous towers, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. The following morning, he had breakfast alone at the Graf Zeppelin Coffee Shop. He doodled his creation on a place mat, later transferring the sketch to a postcard of the Stuttgart Tower which he then mailed to Ewen C Dingwall, General Manager of the World’s Fair.

Three weeks later, Carlson was back home in Seattle and the idea of a Stuttgart-style tower for the Fair had become his obsession. Ironically, Dingwall never received the postcard.

The Space Needle Today – SKYQ

One thing you can never accuse the Space Needle of is taking its status as Seattle’s top tourist attraction for granted. In 2000, the owners of the Needle committed over 20 million dollars to keeping the city icon in step with the times. It was redone from top to bottom with a new base entrance pavilion and souvenir shop, a more open view on the observation deck and a reinvention of the restaurant. But it was keeping up with new technology that represented the biggest challenge.

The result is SkyQ. The most modern technology has been used to bring the observation deck experience up to date and allow visitors to share a wealth of information about Seattle and an in-depth physical view of our city, bringing millions of visitors up close and personal to Seattle in a way that hasn’t been encountered until now.

Its five kiosks offer a unique hands-on way to explore Seattle on an entirely new level from 520 feet above the city, and give the visitor the maximum experience no matter what the weather or visibility, fulfulling the promise of the 1962 Century 21 World’s Fair that spawned the Space Needle. A 24-hour panorama of Seattle is controlled by dials that allow you to watch the city unfold as time elapses. The people of Seattle appear on screen and talk about their city, saying what Seattle means to them. Interactive touch screens allow the visitor to put their fingers on exactly what they want to experience. On the outer deck, all telescopes and binoculars are free or charge and have easy zoom controls that let you focus on any neighborhood in Seattle. Inside, two rooftop webcams allow an even more powerful zoom experience.

“We have been working on this project for more than 10 years. As Seattle’s reputation has grown around the US and abroad, finding a way to wrap this experience up into one package has been a challenging goal,” said Dean Nelson, president and CEO of the Space Needle Corporation. “I’m proud to say I think we’ve accomplished that and more with this new view of our community. The eye of SkyQ reaches every corner of our city."

The Space Needle – A Place To Spend Time

© Paul Gjording

On the observation deck, free guided tours are available, and everyone working there is eager to help answer your questions about Seattle and how to get around. See someplace down below that you'd like to visit? Just ask any employee and get detailed directions on how to get there! The Space Needle is located in the heart of Seattle Center, not far from EMP, but you can also see many other downtown and outlying attractions from the observation deck.

The Space Needle is also a center of Seattle life, decorating itself for special events, and hosting the city's biggest display of New Year's Eve fireworks. The view is spectacular from all over downtown Seattle, and for the maximum experience you can join a special New Year's Eve party inside.

If there is one Seattle attraction not to be missed on your visit here, it's the Space Needle!

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Pioneer Square is not a park in the classic sense, but a fascinating and well-maintained museum run by the National Park Service, in a newly-rebuilt building in Pioneer Square.

The park tells this story with original maps and documents, as well as many original artifacts, including the goods the miners would have been hauling north, and the gold they might have been lucky enough to find. Interactive displays around the park allow you to follow the history of one of five chosen gold rushers, including Henry Daum of Germany. Volunteer guides are there to answer your questions, and there is an informational brochure in German available upon request.

In the summer months, a free walking tour of Pioneer Square is offered every afternoon at 2pm (mid-June through Labor Day), as well as a gold-panning demonstration at 10am and 3pm. There is also a regularly-scheduled film about the gold rush in the summer; in the winter months this can be seen on request. Entry to the park is free, though donations are also accepted.

Museum Site

Olympic Sculpture Park

Macapia
© Seattle Art Museum

Opened in the fall of 2006, the Olympic Sculpture Park represents a radical transformation from the previous work of the Seattle Art Museum. Set in 8.5 acres of park, the sculptures have transformed the waterfront in the Belltown part of the city. Blessed with spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound, the former industrial site is now one of Seattle’s most vibrant, and free, tourist attractions.

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks and Elliot Avenue divide three parcels of land and the collection itself features works commissioned specifically for the park, loans and changing installations. A Z-shaped path links the three sections and helps to create several distinct landscapes, with a focus on environmental restoration and sustainability.

As well as many sculptures large and small, the park includes The Paccar Pavilion, with a cafe and space for art and performances, and the Gates Amphitheater, an outdoor terraced space for large-scale performances.

Notable sculptures include "Father and Son" by Louise Bourgeois, a father and son facing each other inside a fountain; "Wandering Rocks" by Tony Smith, like giant scattered crystals; "Perre's Ventaglio III" by Beverly Pepper, shiny interlocking cubes that reflect the surrounding landscape; and Alexander Calder's "Eagle", a massive curving abstract in orange-painted steel.

Other works include Riviera, Anthony Caro; Neukom Vivarium, Mark Dion; Bunyon’s Chess, Mark di Suvero; Schubgert Sonata. Mark di Suvero; Seattle Cloud Cover, Teresita Fernández; Curve XXIV, Ellsworth Kelly; Love & Loss, Roy McMakin; Bench, Roy McMakin; Sky Landscape, Louise Nevelson; Typewriter Eraser, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen; Split, Roxy Paine; Persephone Unbound, Beverly Pepper; Capula XVl and Capula XVII; Photoversammlung (Heavy Metal, Trainwatchers, BNSF, Boat, Passing Squall, Trolley, Cape, Salmon, North Camp, Barbeque, Barry the Trainman/Walkman, Ricky, Joey, Travelers, Ramona, Feeding the Feral Cats), Glenn Rudolph; Wake, Richard Serra; Stinger, Tony Smith.

Olympic Sculpture Park Website

Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum

The Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum is located in Pioneer Square, at the south end of downtown Seattle. It contains a comprehensive historical overview of policing in Seattle, plus several special exhibits.

Seattle's history as a frontier city is evident here, with vigilantes taking the law into their own hands, and marshalls trying to keep order. The first police force was incorporated in the late 1800s, and the first police chief was the former head of the marshalls. From there, progress was swift. In 1891, police telegraph callboxes were installed all over the city, to allow officers on the beat to communicate with headquarters. The first police cars, the machine guns of the prohibition years, an early breathalyzer, and many other historical artifacts are also displayed, including guns, badges, uniforms and in-car computers.

There is a children's section where kids can dress up in uniforms and helmets and switch a flashing police light on and off, as well as a real holding cell from the 1930s. You can also practice dispatching from the interactive police communications center.

The entrance fee is only $3 for adults and $1.50 for children, and includes a knowledgeble attendant who is ready to tell you more about anything of interest. This represents one of the best value for money exhibits you could ever expect to see.

http://members.aol.com/smpmuseum/

Lenin Comes To America

What has Vladimir Ilyich Lenin to do with Seattle? Well, nothing much, so what in the world is his statue doing in its Fremont?

The 16-ft. tall bronze statue of the driving force behind the Russian revolution once stood in Poprad, Slovakia (1988) and now stands next to the Taco Del Mar on 35th Street and Evanston.

It was taken down in Poprad with many other political statues in 1989 and lay there face down in a dump for years until in 1995, when an American entrepreneur named Lewis Carpenter, who admired the artistry, mortgaged his house to buy and transport the statue to Seattle.

Carpenter died in a car accident in 1994. The following year, his family made arrangements to loan it to the Fremont district in hopes a buyer would take it off their hands. Fremont put the statue up in the center of town, near a Cold War era rocket also displayed as public art.

Then again…it is art. And Fremont is an artist’s haven where politics be dammed if it means good art. So maybe there is no better place for likes of a Lenin statue or a post Cold War era rocket that will never launch. Unless, of course, you feel like buying it.

Fremont Troll

Fremont Troll

In Scandinavian myth, trolls are these huge, ugly, malevolent creatures that consider humans more of a nice afternoon snack than anything else. Sometimes, although very rarely, they’re portrayed as friendly, less monstrous creatures.

Under the north end of the Aurora Avenue Bridge dwells such a creature considered by locals as one of the most popular and friendliest trolls on the planet (though this one won’t win any beauty contests), and it seems to prefer the taste of VW Beetles to human beings.

How did a creature of Scandinavian folklore end up under a bridge in a city named after an American Indian chief?

It all started in 1989 when the local Fremont Arts Council was approached by the city about doing something imaginative with the space under the Aurora Bridge which was slowly degrading into a junk yard of sorts. So, a national competition was organized to select the best ideas, and the Troll created by a team led by sculptor Steve Badanes was voted best by far. 7 weeks and 2 tons of ferroconcrete later, the eclectic neighborhood of Fremont had a new tenant.

Every year on October 31st, the Troll plays host to its own version of a Halloween party called “Trollaween”. Fremont being known as the artists’ district is in true form this night. The party starts at the Troll and winds its way down past visual and performance art and into the heart of Fremont. This community oriented event draws thousands of people of all ages and walks of life and continues to grow in popularity with each passing year.

So, your curiosity is piqued, you’ve made it to Fremont and you’re wandering about trying to figure out where this damn thing is. Don’t worry...if you get lost you can ask just about anyone there “Where’s the Troll?” and they’ll happily point you in the right direction.

When you get there, feel free to get up and close and even climb up and around the beast, but be sure to show him respect while there because you never know if he might ever turn his appetite from bugs to beings.

Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market © LEVYsheckler LLC

The Market's upper level contains the seafood and produce stalls that have made the market famous. Watch for a little while and you will likely see a giant salmon fly through the air. Produce comes from local farmers and much of it is organic. There are also flowers, fresh baked goods, cheese and other delicatessen items, and don't forget Uli's Famous Sausage!

Along with the all the edible items are many craft stalls, featuring handmade goods including t-shirts and clothing, candles, ceramics, woodwork, glass and jewelry, and many different types of art. You can find something here for everyone on your gift list at home.

Pike Place Market © Aaron Morris

Street musicians and performers are often around, and there are sometimes special events at the market, such as cooking demonstrations and holiday displays.

Market hours are Monday through Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Experience Music Project / Science Fiction Museum

The Experience Music Project (EMP) and Science Fiction Museum (SFM) are both housed in EMP's famous multicolored structure at the Seattle Center, and one admission covers both. Whether you're a music fan, a science fiction fan or both, you will want to set plenty of time aside to explore the many amazing exhibits.

Fontäne aus Gitarren

Just inside EMP is the Sky Church, an open performance space backed by the world's largest indoor video screen (composed of thousands of individual LEDs) and powered by a massive surround-sound system. There is always something playing on the screen during visiting hours, and private events and shows are held here on a regular basis.

Further on, you will see a fountain of guitars and other musical instruments two stories tall, containing hundreds of individual instruments. This is the "Roots and Branches" sculpture, created by Seattle artist Trimpin (who grew up near the Black Forest in Germany), which can actually play itself!

Permanent exhibits include the Guitar Gallery, where you can trace the evolution of the modern electric guitar from its most primitive beginnings, the Northwest Passage, the history of the Northwest music scene and the "grunge" movement, and Sound and Vision, where you can watch videotaped oral history of many musical artists. There are also shorter-term exhibits such as the history of hip-hop and the featured exhibit at the time of our visit, "American Sabor", a fascinating overview of the Latino influence on American popular music.

But the best part of your visit to EMP is in the interactive studios upstairs. The Sound Lab features a series of soundproof rooms where you can sing and play instruments. Step by step video instruction is available, and some of the instruments will even show you how to play them! Or, just jam out on your own. Some rooms are best for solo play, others are meant for two or more to jam together. You can also work with mixing gear, and learn how to DJ.

When you're done with the studio, rock out live in the "On Stage" room. Sing and play along in front of a massive "live" audience, and when you're done, you can check out a recording of your band's performance.

Science Fiction Museum

The Science Fiction Museum covers both written and filmed SF, from its earliest roots up to the present. Exhibits include spaceships, spacesuits, weapons and costumes from popular SF films and series, a science fiction timeline, overviews of SF's new technology, and a wall devoted to the Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

There are also exhibits that allow the visitor to explore and discuss the ideas behind science fiction, such as the Brave New Worlds exhibit and the many experimental societies and post-apocalyptic futures that SF has offered us as a way to explore our own society and see where current political and cultural trends may lead us.

http://www.emplive.com.

Fremont Market

Located just a couple of blocks from the north end of the Fremont Bridge, the market's street is closed off to traffic for the day and marked beginning and end with huge brightly-colored flags dutifully placed by volunteers. The location is ideal, surrounded by shops, restaurants and pubs that are all abuzz on the weekends with both locals and tourists. It’s also within walking distance of two of Fremont’s infamous landmarks: The Lenin Statue and the Fremont Troll. When you reach the end of the market, be sure to notice the historic brick building on the right that’s now home to Seattle’s only organic chocolate factory, “Theo”. If you like chocolate, then stopping in for a tour and free samples should be a must-do for the day (www.theochocolate.com).

The Fremont market has been such a success over the years that other neighborhoods have followed suit with their own weekly versions: Ballard (Sundays), Madison (Fridays), Wallingford (Wednesdays) and the most recent addition, Queen Anne (Thursdays). Unlike the Fremont Market, these all focus more on locally grown produce, but there are some vendors with original products thrown in for added flavor.

Check the website for details on hours and location at www.fremontmarket.com.