Seattle Asian Art Museum Museum
Museum in Seattle specializing in Asian art
The Seattle Asian Art Museum, in Volunteer Park, houses the Seattle Art Museum's Asian collection; visitors see ceramics, sculpture and historic artworks and attend rotating exhibitions and programs.
Seattle Asian Art Museum at a Glance#
Address: 1400 E Prospect St, Seattle, WA 98112, United States (Volunteer Park)
Website: https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/saam
Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays (hours may vary for exhibitions)
Admission: General Seattle Art Museum admission: $24 adults (prices subject to change); members and children may be free or discounted
About Seattle Asian Art Museum#
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is a branch of the Seattle Art Museum located in Volunteer Park on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The museum occupies a purpose-built classical/Art Deco building that dates to 1933.
The museum presents displays of Asian art across multiple cultures and periods and hosts rotating special exhibitions drawn from the museum’s collections and loans. The building’s galleries are compact compared with SAM’s downtown campus, creating a focused experience within the park setting.
The building opened in 1933 and served as the original Seattle Art Museum site; it later became the dedicated Asian Art Museum branch. The facility underwent a multi-year renovation and modernization project and reopened in early 2020.
Sited on a hill within Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill, the museum sits beside the park conservatory and reservoir and is a short walk from neighborhood streets and transit connections into central Seattle.
- Building: Housed in the historic 1933 museum building on a hill in Volunteer Park, the site is a dedicated branch of the Seattle Art Museum focused on Asian art and exhibitions.
- Setting: Located adjacent to the Volunteer Park Conservatory and the park’s lawn and lookout, making the combination of park and galleries a common visit for museum-goers.
How to Get to Seattle Asian Art Museum#
From downtown Seattle, take the Metro bus lines that run up to Capitol Hill or the light rail to Capitol Hill station and then a short bus or walk to Volunteer Park. Street parking is limited; public transit or rideshare is recommended.
Tips for Visiting Seattle Asian Art Museum#
- Check whether temporary exhibitions are housed in the Asian Art Museum building - special exhibitions can close galleries to the public.
- Combine a visit with a walk through Volunteer Park and the nearby conservatory to experience Seattle's green spaces.
- Look for docent‑led tours or gallery talks; the museum's galleries are compact and talks add context.
Best Time to Visit Seattle Asian Art Museum#
Best in spring or autumn for pleasant park weather and moderate museum crowds.
Weather & Climate near Seattle Asian Art Museum#
Seattle Asian Art Museum's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 2°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1063 mm/year), wettest in December.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 2° - 8° | 2° | 145 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 2° - 10° | 4° | 113 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 111 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 14° | 8° | 78 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 51 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 11° - 21° | 16° | 44 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 12° - 24° | 18° | 26 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 13° - 24° | 18° | 32 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 10° - 21° | 16° | 48 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 15° | 11° | 91 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 4° - 10° | 5° | 156 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 2° - 7° | 2° | 168 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
