When on Bainbridge Island stop by the museum, open Wednesday thru Sunday, after stopping at the…read moreJapanese American Exclusion memorial.

Really good and interesting little museum and it was FREE. The docent was a Japanese woman who'd…read moregrown up on the island and been relocated to Manzanar during WW2. Lots of interesting exhibits and artifacts.

This is a great place to visit. Lots of really neat displays with a gift shop downstairs.read more

This is a cool little museum in a cool little town. It's a little on the smaller side, but it's got…read moresome cool history about the original founders. Upon walking to the entrance, you're greeted by a large anchor, a big motor and an amazing view of the water. A perfect place to snap some photos or just sit and take in the scenery. Entrance is pretty cheap: $4 for adults and $3 for children, seniors and students. Not too bad for a short educational experience, but be warned: It's cash only! Inside you'll see original pieces of the town and duplicated setups of the area's most popular spots like the hotel, ships, bedrooms, and more. They have signs at each spot for you to read and understand what you're looking at. I'd recommend checking it out if you've walked around the rest of Port Gamble. It just gives you a little bit more insight and sort of pieces everything together for you. The lady at the counter was great about providing some additional information if you needed any elaborations and even told us that they do paranormal tours during Halloween. More of a reason to come back, even though she hasn't experienced any hauntings herself. After the tour, they have a gift shop upstairs as well as a cafe. Just gives you another opportunity to fuel up and take in some of the sights. We came during a rainy day and the views were still great. When the sun is shining, I'm sure they are even better! Parking is a cinch. Plenty of free parking all over the area.

We visited the National Nordic Museum for a candlelight violin performance featuring The Beatles,…read moreand it turned out to be a really special experience. The museum itself is very modern--clean lines, open spaces, and thoughtfully designed throughout. There's a good mix of Nordic artwork and exhibits, and even just walking around the space feels intentional and well curated. The highlight for us was the performance. The candlelight setup created a really warm, immersive atmosphere, and hearing familiar Beatles music in that setting gave it a completely different feel. It's one of those experiences that's hard to fully capture in photos, but definitely stands out in person. Between the architecture, the exhibits, and the events they host, it's more than just a typical museum visit. Would absolutely recommend checking it out, especially if you can catch a performance like this.

Nicely done museum! Very informative exhibits, and some interactive. Really did a great job…read moreexplaining immigration from the different Nordic countries, and what people ended up doing once they arrived in the US. My only comment was that entrance was fairly pricey. $24 a person. Although there were various discounts.

I arrived at Cascadia Art Museum at 5:06 PM, expecting to explore the exhibits during regular hours…read moresince Apple Maps had listed them as open until 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, the museum had already closed to the public. Luckily, Sydney kindly invited me to stay for a private evening event that was just about to begin. The $20 admission ended up being incredibly worthwhile. Before the event I was able to walk around and see the gallery entirely while the staff set -up. The event featured a guest lecture by Dr. Simon Lhopiteau, a Paris-based art historian who recently opened a studio in Seattle. His talk centered on Henry Saÿen, a chemist-turned-painter whose work is rarely acknowledged in mainstream art history. We discussed Saÿen's invention of the self-regulating X-ray tube, his move to Paris during the rise of the avant-garde, and the influence of Henri Matisse on his artistic development. Dr. Lhopiteau also spoke about how both Henry Saÿen and Henri Matisse were among the early artists to shape the foundation of modern self-portraiture. Their work explored internal perception just as much as external form, and this introspective approach helped redefine how artists captured the self. He also shared how abstract and impressionist art in the early 20th century was not just rejected by the public, but often met with deep hostility and even violence. One of the highlights of the evening was Saÿen's 1903 painting titled Primitive Agricultures. We also explored the legendary artist gatherings at Le Dôme café in Paris and discussed the deeper connection between light, geometry, and perception in modern painting. The entire conversation felt alive--intellectually rich, spontaneous, and deeply human. It was one of the most engaging experiences I've had in a long time. Before leaving, I visited the museum gift shop and picked out a beautiful orange floral scarf for my mom. The shop was just as thoughtfully curated as the rest of the space. I also had the pleasure of speaking with Nancy, one of the museum ambassadors, who was incredibly kind and insightful. She told me about her travels through the Balkan countries and the museums and art collections she visited abroad. I shared my love for Renaissance art and armor from the Middle Ages and she encouraged me to visit France to experience those collections firsthand. I mentioned that my niece is French and currently studying there, so now I have even more reason to go. Before I left, I met Julie, the museum's education director, and learned that her academic thesis focused on Renaissance art and the representation of women. It was such an energizing conversation. She even gave me a list of local spots to eat, which meant a lot since I needed to grab dinner for my family after the event. I have attached the photos part of the current exhibit to this review to encourage people to see art in person because it is of amazing quality and deserves recognition. Had I arrived during regular hours, I probably would have paid $12 or gotten in free with my student ID, but I'm honestly glad I came when I did. Cascadia is not just a museum. It's a place of conversation, discovery, and connection. Whether you're visiting for the art or open to the unexpected, it's absolutely worth the experience.

I had the pleasure of attending a curator talk at the Cascadia Art Museum, and it was phenomenon!!…read moreDavid Martin is a dynamic speaker and is a world recognized art historian of northwest style arts. He walked us through an exhibit called "Urban Scenes of Seattle: 1910-1960". Apparently in the "old days" and before the internet, Eastern U.S. arts are influenced primarily by European arts, while Western U.S. arts are influenced by both European arts and Asian arts. As a result, these mid-1900s regional arts has an intriguing amalgam of art styles from other parts of the world while serving as a historical data point of our area. I highly, highly recommend attending one of his "coffee with the curator" talks that give so much behind-the-scenes story of the artists, many of whom David personally knows. Other than the Urban Scenes exhibit, they are currently featuring a special exhibit of Christmas cards that are individually made by local artists that were sent to family and friends. No two are the same! The museum is modest size but packs a punch! It is definitely a local gem. Housed in an old Safeway building, it shares space with a bistro in the same building. Their museum store also has excellent pieces from artists and/or uniquely curated pieces. And they sell books written by David Martin. He'll autograph them if you want!

The volunteer that met us at the entrance was very knowledgeable and seemed passionate about his…read morejob. Great museum with educational videos, and some hands on for both adults and children.

My wife and I had the best time exploring this museum. We spent over 3 hours looking over and…read morereading the fascinating displays. There's tons to see and learn and knowledgeable docents to add their personal knowledge and life experience. The parking is plentiful and free and admission is free, but why not sign the visitor book and then donate a few bucks to this great place to help keep things going. Very highly recommended!

Interesting, free museum with a cute children's play area. Enjoyed learning about various aspects…read moreof the US Navy. Noticed that even the Navy makes poor fashion choices.

As a woman veteran I found my welcome less than warm. I was in fact told by a volunteer --…read moreunsolicited -- that he didn't hold with women in the Navy. Too much of a distraction for the men, he said. I can't say I was surprised -- this reception is still common in military museums. I am disappointed, however, with management and with whatever training they have seen fit to provide to volunteers. I live in the hope that those who manage sites like these will someday accord women veterans the same basic respect they give our brothers in uniform. No more, no less.

I visited the Henry Art Gallery with a friend last month as part of her birthday celebration and it…read morewas a great experience. We had lunch at Ba Bar at U-Village then came to the gallery to walk off our lunch and take in a lot of interesting, diverse art. The gallery now offers FREE admission to everyone (thanks in part to 4Culture), whereas before it was only free to UW students, faculty, and staff. What I like about the Henry is the curation. They always have intriguing and interesting exhibits that are grouped well and have just enough art pieces for you to see and take in without getting overwhelmed. The space is clean, well lit, and pretty minimalist. Also like that they have a cute little cafe, City Grind, with both indoor and outdoor seating. On this visit, we were impressed by the exhibit by Diné artist Eric-Paul Riege (b. 1994, New Mexico). Riege's tactile sculptures of jewelry and other objects were HUGE and a cool sight to behold. A sign said that some sculptures could be touched gently which I fully took advantage of because these giant soft sculptures just called out to be touched. It's a terrific exhibit and is showing until October 25, 2026. Go see it while you can!

It's cool, but even though the museum spans three floors, it's really small and there aren't many…read moreexhibits. It didn't help that one of the four exhibit spaces was in transition, either. Good job. Good effort. I expected more.

FREE! Look for the puffer fish at the back window. Museum is free and or donation.read more

On our little day trip to Port Gamble, I had encountered many places that I was just too scared to…read morego into. I admit, I'm not use to that kind of town (as pretty as it may be). Of Sea & Shore was located in the general store that they have there. The actual store was packed but we were the only two who checked out the museum at the time. Needless to say, it was pretty interesting! Probably one of the highlights of the trip. They have a nice collection of a large variety of sea animals (which I have an interest in. They just look so much like aliens!) And they give you the explanation of most of the creatures there, so you'll definitely learn something! I really suggest anyone who goes over to Port Gamble to check this museum out. Especially anyone with children! It's a great experience and who can argue with the price being free?!