Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park is a beautiful nine-acre waterfront park that combines art and nature. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, it showcases impressive sculptures with views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. When visiting Seattle, it's a perfect outdoor complement to the downtown museum, transforming a former industrial area into a space where art, nature, and community unite.
Discovering the Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
Many Olympic Sculpture Park visitors begin their artistic journey at the main Seattle Art Museum. Located in downtown Seattle, the museum houses an impressive collection spanning global cultures and time periods. With Seattle Art Museum tickets, you'll gain access to the museum's permanent collection and most special exhibitions.
Collection Highlights: Must-See Works
The museum's permanent collection includes these four standout masterpieces that shouldn't be missed:
- "The Judgment of Paris" by Lucas Cranach: A Renaissance masterpiece from the European collection depicting the Greek myth where Paris must choose the most beautiful goddess.
- "Yéil X'eenh" (Raven Screen): An exceptional piece of Northwest Coast Tlingit art featuring intricate formline designs depicting Raven, a central figure in Tlingit mythology and storytelling.
- "Some/One" by Do Ho Suh: A striking contemporary sculpture made of thousands of military dog tags forming a traditional Korean robe, exploring themes of individual and collective identity.
- "Mercedes Benz Coffin" by Kane Quaye: Part of the museum's African art collection, this elaborate fantasy coffin from Ghana represents the deceased's status and aspirations in the afterlife.
Tours and Special Exhibitions
The Seattle Art Museum offers engaging, docent-led tours across all of its locations. These hour-long tours are free with admission and give you the chance to explore highlights from the museum's collections as well as rotating exhibitions.
Highlights from SAM's Collection: Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 AM, with additional sessions on the first Thursday of each month.
Discover the Olympic Sculpture Park: Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 PM.
Tour topics rotate throughout the year, making each visit a fresh and informative experience.
Rotating Exhibitions and Seasonal Events
Rotating Seattle Art Museum exhibitions highlight different aspects of its collection or bring traveling shows to Seattle. Past notable exhibitions have included "Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence from the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston," which showcased works by the legendary Japanese artist beyond his famous "Great Wave." From March to September 2025, the museum will feature "Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei," an exploration of the renowned Chinese artist's provocative works.
Throughout the year, both the museum and sculpture park host special events like community family fun workshops. The Summer at SAM program includes live music, yoga, and art-making classes. These events transform the spaces into community gathering places where art becomes a catalyst for connection and conversation.
Fusing Art and Nature
Olympic Sculpture Park represents a revolutionary approach to displaying art outside traditional museum walls, creating an immersive experience where sculpture and landscape become inseparable.
How the Park Integrates Art and Nature
The Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park is built on a former industrial site and combines environmental restoration with art. It revitalizes a brownfield while supporting salmon habitat recovery, collecting rainwater, and reintroducing native Pacific Northwest plants.
The park's Z-shaped layout connects four distinct landscapes, each representing a native ecosystem. This design promotes biodiversity, varied habitats, and space for large sculptures.
- Valley: This area near the PACCAR Pavilion and Gates Amphitheater resembles Washington's coastal evergreen forests, featuring tall conifers like fir, cedar, and hemlock, along with flowering shrubs and ancient trees like ginkgo and Dawn redwood. Its dense, moist environment provides a rich forest experience for visitors.
- Grove: The grove marks the transition from urban space to shoreline. It features native aspens found in drier parts of the Pacific Northwest. Beneath the canopy, native currants and irises highlight the seasonal changes.
- Meadows: The meadows, located on both sides of Elliott Avenue, consist of open grasslands and wildflowers. They invite visitors to explore and allow space for sculptures and site-specific art.
- Shore: At the water's edge, the park restores habitat by moving rocks to create a pocket beach. Native plants and intertidal kelp support salmon recovery and reconnect visitors with Puget Sound's shoreline.
Notable Sculptures and Renowned Artists
The park features significant works by international artists:
- "Eagle" by Alexander Calder: A bold red abstract form that has become emblematic of the park.
- "Wake" by Richard Serra: A massive weathered steel form that creates an immersive spatial experience.
- "Love & Loss" by Roy McMakin: A mixed-media installation that spells "love" and "loss" when viewed from above.
- "Seattle Cloud Cover" by Teresita Fernández: A glass bridge offering colored views of the surroundings.
- "Echo" by Jaume Plensa: A monumental white head inspired by classical sculpture.
Planning Your Visit
You typically need one to two hours to explore Olympic Sculpture Park and two to three hours at the Seattle Art Museum, depending on your interests. Both locations are accessible from downtown. The museum is within walking distance, while the sculpture park is about a 15-minute walk north along the waterfront. Public transportation is available, and paid parking is offered at the PACCAR Pavilion garage.
Location and Accessibility
The Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park is located at 2901 Western Avenue, along the waterfront just north of downtown. The main Seattle Art Museum stands at 1300 First Avenue in the heart of downtown.
Both locations offer accessible features, including:
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances and paths
- Elevators connecting multiple levels
- Accessible restrooms
- Service animals welcome
Hours of Operation
The Olympic Sculpture Park welcomes visitors daily, opening 30 minutes before sunrise and closing 30 minutes after sunset year-round. This schedule allows you to experience the sculptures in different lighting conditions and seasons.
The main Seattle Art Museum operates on a weekly schedule with extended evening hours on Thursdays. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, allowing time for maintenance and installation work.
Always check the official website before your visit, as hours may be adjusted for holidays or special events.
Explore More With Seattle CityPASS® Tickets
Make the most of your adventure by combining the Seattle Art Museum with other top attractions using Seattle CityPASS® tickets. While Olympic Sculpture Park is free to all visitors, the main Seattle Art Museum is included with your CityPASS® ticket, along with other iconic things to do in Seattle like the Space Needle and the Seattle Aquarium.
Plan your perfect trip today with Seattle CityPASS® tickets, and soak in the artistic and natural beauty that makes the Emerald City so special.
Seattle Lodging
To get the most out of your stay in Seattle, we recommend finding lodging near Seattle's top attractions. Use this map to find the right lodging for you: