A must-visit on Asian history in America. What might have been not written and also not known if this museum didn't save much of the simple artifacts that were from the time when Asians were discriminated against. It is a part of history and this place really tells the story. I didn't know much about Wing Luke, but I got to know him after joining a walking tour led by a museum employee. Sign up at the front, and they will also take you to restricted areas. You can see how small some of the rooms are. A supermarket that many people have been in. They also have a Bruce Lee exhibit. I hope this museum gets to last long into the years. read more

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Terrific museum. Enjoyed the docent tour and highly recommend. Bruce Lee exhibit is cool. Learned a lot about Wing Luke who is an inspiration. Incredible legacy he has given us. read more

If you're in Seattle, go to this incredible museum! It's a hidden gem packed with POWERFUL stories and lots lots lots of history. I was genuinely moved emotionally, it's thought provoking and truly unforgettable. It's at the top of my must-visit in the entire country. Wong Chong Luke was so special and I'm happy I know about him now, bc of this museum. It is his 100th celebration! They also have one of the coolest gift shops, very inclusive and currently they have a Bruce Lee exhibit--absolutely top tier! They offer a $1 discount per ticket if you have a national park pass. read more

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I stopped by on a rainy Saturday and I went on the tour of the Kong Yick Building, which includes the Yick Fung Store, Freeman Hotel, and Gee How Oak Tin Family Association. The docent was excellent and painted a vivid picture of how life was back then for Asian immigrant and Asian Americans. I learned about hot bedding, which involves sharing a bed with a stranger while sleeping in shifts, so that the room rental could be split to save money. I would budget about 3 hours to see everything. They have a gift shop on the first floor that sells books and other items. It's worth checking out if you like tchotchkes. I'll be back for their food tours! read more

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Phenomenal tour from Mimi and the Wing Luke Museum of the history of the International District and Asian American immigration to Seattle. I had an impactful tour that made me understand a lot more of the city. Thank you so much to everyone who makes it possible read more

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I totally respect the fact that this museum exists for the Asian community of Seattle. It is an attempt to document the history of this community. If you are an Asian kid who lives in the area this is definitely a must see. As for everyone else there is simply not enough here to justify a recommendation at this time. Hopefully in 20 years they can expand on this and make it into a real museum. read more

Superb museum on immigration history and the Asian-American experience in the Pacific Northwest! I came here in mid-November 2024 to take an afternoon break while in town for a conference. It's about a 10 minute walk from the Chinatown/International District (CID) light rail stop. If you have a National Park Pass, a $2 discount is applied. Be sure to sign-up for a historic hotel tour which is the highlight of visiting the museum. The tour is led by knowledgable docents who will guide you through each room and reveal a lot of interesting details about the history of Asian-American immigrants to Seattle (especially Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants). The main exhibit hall also has a nice display on Wing Luke's political career and the Bruce Lee story which presents a more intimate perspective of his time growing up in Seattle. Some content you'll hear from the docent will be disturbing. For example, I learned about the 1924 Immigration Act which banned all Asian immigrants. It was not until President Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the 1965 Immigration Act that Asian immigrants were allowed to enter the U.S. Also, the museum discusses the devastating impact on the community in 1942 of FDR's Executive Order 9066 which led to the forced relocation of all Japanese Americans into internment camps. You'll learn about how the neighborhood of Japantown (Nihonmachi) was thriving over 72 city blocks, but shrank to 2 blocks as many families did not return to their homes. A few Japanese American families were lucky to have neighbors who looked after the empty properties during the internment. However, real estate speculators "took over" many properties and flipped the land for development (i.e., gentrification). You can see gentrification today on the far side of the interstate highway (I-5). Overall, this is a superb visit if you enjoy history (be sure to allocate 2 hours or more including the historic hotel tour). read more

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Got to partake in the one of the food tours hosted by Wing Luke and if you're looking for to host a social event for your coworkers, I can't recommend it enough. The hosts were super friendly and they make a point to support locally owned, mom and pop restaurants. They have a list of restaurants that participate in the program, so you'll have a fresh experience every time and they any funds they raise go to support the local community in International District. They kick off the tour with an introduction to the neighborhood and a little snack (pandan waffles from Phin). On my trip, I got to try 2-3 dishes at Tai Tung, Fortune Garden, and Szechuan Noodle Bowl. Once you're done stuffing yourself, they end with some desserts (mine was ube cookies from Hood Famous) before sending you on your way. The tour lasts just about 2 hours and comes with complimentary tickets to the museum. read more

A great museum, very interesting exhibits. I'm a Bruce Lee fan, so I really enjoyed that exhibit as well. read more

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Great exhibit of a Kung Fu master that was Bruce Lee. The place was great and had clean restrooms. read more

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Continuing the tour of places I'd missed on my previous trips to Seattle, my friend walked me down the street a few blocks from Tai Tung to the Wing Luke Museum. We didn't have much time, but we were able to hang out in the exhibits for about an hour before having to move on. He brought me here specifically for the Bruce Lee exhibit, which was thoughtfully-crafted and thought-provoking. I loved the quotes on the walls, the interactive exhibit in the back (though it didn't work exactly as planned, it was still fun spinning in circles to get the sensor to notice I was on the circle and to play a new scene.) I most of the time in the non-Bruce Lee part of the museum, though. I was fully immersed in learning about the city's fights for equality, the deep musical roots, the different forms of activism and entertainment, and how they melded together into something truly beautiful and powerful. There's so much to see and read here. From the zoning of the neighborhoods to the fights for justice to the acknowledgement of talent, it's all there for you to witness, if you have the time. I easily could have spent half a day in this museum, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. It's definitely on my list for my next trip to the city, though. Highly recommended. read more

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This is an outstanding and important museum with thoughtful exhibits that highlight the Asian and Pacific Islander experience in Seattle and the surrounding area. This place goes to 11 for me. Our visit was serendipitous, as our original plans to meet with a friend fell through and we found ourselves with an unexpectedly free last day in Seattle. I discovered Wing Luke through the North American Reciprocal Museum Association; we are benefactors of another museum in Chicago and one of the benefits is complimentary admission to hundreds of member museums across the nation. We were greeted warmly by the front desk staff, and were told of a guided tour of the old hotel starting shortly. Normally we pass on these opportunities, but this sounded particularly interesting. And it did not disappoint. Our small group of about 10 visitors was led by two enthusiastic docents who provided a detailed and fascinating history of the museum's namesake, the store next door, and the hotel that was used by thousands of Asian and Pacific Islander immigrants in the 1800s and early 1900s. The tour lasted an hour and we enjoyed every minute. I highly, highly recommend this tour, but be aware that it does describe a lot of examples of the laws and policies that were established by those who opposed API immigration and integration. It can be upsetting to hear. After the tour, we took our time to explore the three floors of the museum. There are a couple small Bruce Lee exhibits that document his life not just as a movie action hero but the gung fu master and philosopher that he was. There was a thoughtful exhibit about music in the AAPI experience. The permanent collection had displays that describe the Japanese American experience during World War II, when President Roosevelt approved the incarceration of hundreds of thousands of persons of Asian descent - including tens of thousands of native-born American citizens - on the pretense that they were all collective threats to the nation based on their ethnicity alone. There is also a display about the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regiment, composed of Japanese American who served in WWII and became the most highly decorated combat unit of the war. In total we spent nearly 2.5 hours at the museum and could have spent even longer if we didn't need to make our way to the airport. This is a truly excellent museum and I'm looking forward to returning on our next visit to Seattle. read more

An informative, impactful museum. It's not huge, but the value and culture it holds is great. I particularly enjoyed the Bruce Lee section, as well as the section dedicated to the Japanese internment camps. It's an important, beautiful contribution to society and I'd recommend anyone interested in Asian culture (or really anyone) to give this museum a visit! read more

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The Wing Luke Museum is a must-stop not just once but several times a year. Their exhibitions are excellent. Timely. Educational. Innovative. Creative. They make a concerted effort at all times to support the community in which they are located, and have many extracurricular activities both inside and outside the Museum itself. This is the place to go if you truly want to know the history of our city and feel closer to that history. Also, they have a great gift shop, read more

I've been visiting Wing Luke Museum for a number of years now. It covers the broader group of Asian Americans (including Pacific Islanders and more) who have called Seattle home. A number of artifacts are housed there including from the hotel that once stood there. Bruce Lee has a nice longer term exhibit that houses a number of his books from his personal library. They have a couple tours of the museum and the surrounding International District. Great info that always broadens my perspective. Don't forget the gift store. I'm pretty sure i get something from there on every visit. Pick me up a Bruce Lee poster or t-shirt if you can. :-) read more

This museum and the tour was awesome!! Me, my mom and wife all came here and we are glad we did. Our tour guide was Hana and she was super nice and informative! Learned a lot about early Chinese, Japanese and Filipino history in the greater Seattle area. Also, get to see how early Asian stores, hotels and councils were during the tour. Very similar setup of the buildings and storefront. Great for people coming in from out of town or locals. I have lived here 25 years and loved it. My mom was just visiting and she loved it too. Tour takes about an hour. Got some books and souvenirs from the little gift shop on our way out. Very cool and recommended by me. read more

This is probably my third visit to the museum. I'm a member and definitely need to take more advantage of my membership. This trip was specifically for the exhibit "Resisters: A Legacy of Movement fromthe Japanese American Incarceration-explores the deep cultural aftershocks left by Executive Order 9066 on tens of thousands of Japanese American families during WWII, with a look to the present and future of Asian American justice movements and activism". I had forgot to renew my membership but was able to do it day of. I really wanted my dad to attend this exhibit with me it's running through September of 2023. As a Japanese American this exhibit was very impactful to me and what my dad and mom's families went through being incarcerated in Minidoka. I was familiar with three of the Japanese American artist works and had been to individual exhibits of theirs. It was nice to see them in one location and discover new activist artists. Was a wonderful exhibit and we went though the rest of the museum as my dad had only been years ago when it was in it's tiny previous location. The most touching experience for us was seeing a photo of my uncle and his name among the exhibit. My dad was quite touched Imm sure. Staff is always friendly. Always love walking up the stairs to the second floor. read more

Wing Luke Museum - Bruce Lee Exhibit - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We walked a mile from our hotel to visit this amazing museum of Asian American history in Seattle. It was worth every step. It also included archives and history of Bruce Lee, which i didn't expect so it was a nice surprise. The exhibits were emotional. My favorite, of course, homage to Filipinos. It so nice to see voices speak up about the Filipino American experience in the US. Of course, the exhibit included the Japanese incarceration, which is so difficult to understand and high emotions were visible throughout the exhibit. I wish we could participate in one of their history tours but with limited time, it was hard to fit it in our busy schedule. I'd love to see more museums including Asians and Asian Americans. read more

Wing Luke Museum - My favorite room at Luke Wing Museum. - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I can not say enough good things about this museum. Just go. So much information presented so well. During our visit they had a Bruce Lee exhibit. We learned quite a bit about this man and were able to read letters, see photos and watch videos from and about him. They also had an exhibit on beauty, how we define ourselves based on what society expects of us and how difficult it is to break free of these constraints. A very thoughtful display with beautiful and historic imagery. The upper level has an exhibit on the expulsion of Japanese Americans from the west coast during WWII to 'camps'. Heart wrenching and informative. Lessons from history that we need to remember. There are displays of other Asian cultures on this level as well curated by the communities themselves. There was actually more than I could see in one day, and I have every intention of stopping by again on our next visit to Seattle. Included with admission is a tour of items only available with a docent. I had to miss that because of a previously scheduled appointment and hope it's still available when I return. Affiliated with the NPS, this museum has so much information to offer. I really appreciate the exhibits and the staff were excellent and informative. I wasn't sure if this would be one of my stops, and I am so very, very glad we made it here. I hope you do too. read more

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A museum with rich history on minority heritage. Located in the heart of China town in Seattle this venue is a must see if you are intrigued with the different races that are a part of Seattle. What brought us here was the Dragon Exhibit of Bruce Lee and his Green Lantern collection. I was in awe of what Wing Luke brought to the Emerald City and I was delighted to see and read about what the different minority races contributed to Seattle. Bruce Lee impacted my life and it was a honor to see actual items in Bruce's lifetime like Ruby's menu and the actual cost of food items. Cards, contracts and correspondences from his business and personal life. There were several interactive items that made my experience more rich and memorable. read more

Wing Luke Museum - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A great museum and community space. It has several exhibits on display (3 floors or more) covering history, art, culture, politics, pop culture, etc. The Bruce Lee stuff is very cool, but I especially loved the beautiful and historic Tokita/Nomura/Fujii paintings. They combine art, Seattle history, and Japanese American history in a beautiful way. That exhibit alone was worth the cost of admission, and there was lots more. I was there for at least 3 hours total. And I liked how you can leave and come back the same day. This allowed us to take a lunch break after the first hour or so, and then come back to see the rest. Highly recommended! Everyone should support it. I'm looking forward to going back and taking some of the tours. read more

Museums like this is a rarity and a gem to those who walk through these walls. There's a lot to absorb walking through the exhibits. So much history that is not taught or even mentioned in history classes, you can get a glimpse into that past from the well- thought- out exhibits here. read more

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What a gem. In a city where museums are plentiful - this one is definitely worth a visit. I didn't know much about what to expect here - we bought passes in a charity auction. I heard that this was an "Asian-American Museum".... I didn't expect the wealth of immigration history that was captured here. We grabbed a lanyard for one of the tours of the old hotel when we arrived. Entrance is limited to first-come-first-served based on getting a lanyard. This tour was so well presented. I had my 3 kids with me - ages 5, 8, 11. The guide skillfully included them in a lot of the information delivery - while also masking some more grown-up content for those of legal age on the tour. My littlest was a little bored - but not discouraged. The museum itself is relatively small with an eclectic collection of depictions of different cultural groups and historical periods.... in all honesty, I'm not sure how much my kids really took in from it because it was a LOT presented very efficiently.... but I loved it and hope to go back for an adult-paced trip! To top it off, we found a new author and bought one of his books from the gift store - a historical fiction writer who's books are all set in the Seattle area. read more

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A beautiful space, but without the very informative historic hotel tour, sort of a small limited museum. The exhibits were very well put together, but from the displays we saw on our visit, the emphasis was more on the now (current ecology issues) than the then (Asian-American experience). I wish there was more history and culture or even a piece or two about Asian-Americans in pop culture or the arts (besides the ever present Bruce Lee stuff). The historic hotel tour was the highlight of the museum and basically made the price of admission worthwhile. The old Chinese store and the living spaces were nicely preserved or recreated. I wish there were more spaces that did similar things (i.e., how Asian-Americans lived throughout history with authentic recreations & appropriate products/items shown). The tour took a little over an hour, the remaining museum could be viewed in another hour. Still, a nice break from eating and shopping in the International District. Helpful hint: free parking on Sunday. read more

Wing Luke is an extraordinary museum in every sense, from stunning displays, to powerful storytelling, to engaged, knowledgeable staff; and with one of the most meaningful tours you could possibly imagine. I've lived in Seattle for several years but came here for the first time when a relative was visiting from out of town. Han, a talented member of the Wing Luke team, guided us on a tour that was among the best we've ever seen. The museum closed shortly after Han's tour finished, but I kept the staff working to sign me up as a member. Wing Luke is rich with stories that will touch you intellectually and emotionally. I could not recommend it more highly. read more

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I'm a senior and I got a ticket from the Seattle Public Library and went down. I noted to the folks at the front desk this was my first time there. No one said anything about "forbidden areas" in the museum. I walked through the exhibits starting on the first floor and went up. I NEVER entered any area noting do not enter or forbidden. The museum itself is charming and I was enjoying myself. On the 3rd floor a guided group passed me. A moment lady the guide from the group (I could not tell if an employee) came up to me and "you have to go now with your group." I said "I'm not part of that group. I'm here by myself." They walked away, but came back again a few minutes asking me "How did you get in here?" I was taken aback at the rudeness, I noted "I got a ticket from SPL and said hello at the front desk and got a wrist band" showing them my wrist band. The person left again only to return a minute "you cannot be here, you should have been here only with a guide" - at this point I was tired of the rudeness and said "It is OK I'm leaving now, as I am as irritated with you as you seem to be with me" and I walked out. read more

My colleague told me about this spot. So I took my niece and my family. Here was my experience on a Saturday afternoon Parking: Paid parking and plaza parking. Costs may vary on the location/day/time Art: Love, love, love. It's a good balance of artifacts, engaging activities, and knowledge. The beginnings make a powerful statement of the tone while acknowledging different ethnicities within the API culture. Overall: 5 stars. I'm pretty biased since I'm API and for spaces like this so I do dig it. Having the Bruce Lee exhibit doesn't hurt as well. My only wish is that there's more stuff about his stuff. It has a great location as it's close to the park and other eateries. I need to come back. Tips: * They offer student & military discounts * Check out their hotel tours read more

Wing Luke Museum - Photos not allowed in the exhibit - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is chock full of information presented in a thought-provoking, beautiful, relatable, and educational manner. The staff was kind and happy to provide recommendations for locals' picks for dinner nearby! Note: leave yourself enough time to browse the gift shop, which is full of offerings by local artists. read more

This was an incredible experience. As an Asian American it is so important to me and my family to see ourselves and histories represented. I loved the Bruce Lee exhibit because he is an icon!! The museum does an incredible job of displaying the agency and organizing power of Asian Americans and the breathe of experiences of Asian Americans (which is not a monolithic group!). I'm glad they are in Chinatown/International District and carrying on the work of preserving the history of Asian Americans in this country. A perk - their gift shop is really cute and has lots of good gifts. read more

I was here last fall and this is truly a must-see if you're asian and in Seattle. It's conveniently within Seattle Chinatown and really close to Seattles J-town (and so many fantastic asian bakeries). The Wing Luke is unlike any museum I've ever been to (and I love going to museums) in that the way it's curated feels extremely intentional and relevant to the world we live in today. Every exhibit is as historical and educational as it is engaging and creative. I will happily pay the entry fee every time I come back to Seattle. read more

We had a wonderful day in the CID. Then I visited this museum and was deeply disappointed. Although the exhibits were decent, the experience was overshadowed by the staff's rude treatment of a Jewish couple, which was both upsetting and unacceptable. Additionally, the entire place had a damp, musty smell that made it quite unpleasant. I would not recommend visiting this museum. Price was decent so if you just want to get out of the weather it would be an option. read more

I came here as part of the Smithsonian Free Museum Day. As an Asian American, this museum stuck out to me and I wanted to check it out. Even though I was not born or raised in the Pacific Northwest, I was still interested in the history of Asians here. If anything, it made me more interested to read about the stories of Asians who shared similar struggles even though they were living in a different part of the country. There are three floors of exhibits and they also have scheduled tours where a tour guide walks you through all of them. You can also walk around on your own and at your own pace. The Bruce Lee exhibit was just so amazing as it had memorabilia, old letters and photos, and stories of his life and childhood. My favorite was the central gallery that tells the journeys of different Asians in America. They all have their own history and stories and it was mind-blowing to read about the struggles they went through. Reading about the stories of immigrants who left their native country to come to America thinking all their dreams come true and that it was "made of gold" and then reading about their struggles of assimilation really stuck with me. Certain laws and events in American history that discriminated against Asians don't get talked about as much as other events in history but in the Wing Luke museum you read about all of them. I truly can't imagine what some of them had to experience. I didn't have much time to really read everything (we only had an hour until our two hour limit was up after eating lunch) in all the exhibits but I could easily spend a couple hours reading every single description because it was truly fascinating. read more

Wing Luke Museum - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is for a visit to the Wing Luke Museum back on 10/13/17 where the museum admission and docent guided tour was part of the Noodle Slurp walking food tour. Bad Yelper for a delayed post! Succinctly, whether you are a local resident, transplant, or a visitor to Seattle's historical International District, just go. It is part of the National Park Service and Smithsonian Institutions network. With today's political climate, learning and understanding other diverse cultures from a historical perspective is key. I will post a ton of photos to give an overview of the main museum displays, featured show, visuals from the docent led tour, and highlights from the Noodle Slurp Tour. Their culinary themed tours are seasonal and often sell out. Note: this is by advance reservation and payment and a separate event from visiting the main museum area and the docent led tour. Whether you do all of it or an amended portion plan accordingly, it is definitely worth a visit! read more

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Honestly, the Wing Luke Museum got me interested in going to more art museums in the future. My brother and I went together on a rainy Sunday afternoon and spent about 2 hours just browsing the exhibits. We went when they had the Bruce Lee exhibit (which was my personal favorite) and I loved learning about the rich history of Wing Luke! The Bruce Lee exhibit was really engaging and I liked how a lot of the descriptions of items also included questions to ask yourself. It was very well-thought-out. There are a few floors here, I personally really liked the origami hanging from the ceiling. On the second floor, there were a lot more exhibits (I'm not sure if they were seasonal) that detailed Asian Americans and their history in the US, which I thought was pretty cool. I feel like this is stuff that I never learned in elementary+middle and even high school. It is a must-see in Seattle if you're interested in learning more about Asian American experiences and art exhibits inspired by Asian Americans. I would love to go here again! read more

Purchased the Groupon and decided to come here as a post-lunch/pre-dinner activity, and I'm so glad I did. A well-curated series of exhibits that cover pan-Asian/Pacific Islander/American history. The exhibits covered a large range: from redlining in Seattle to Southeast Asian oral histories. Coming from the east coast, it was really helpful to come to a museum that was locally, nationally and globally informed. A totally doable and accessible museum that I did in 2.5 hours. Tour was super informative & the intimacy of a small group made it a lot more interesting to walk through this beautiful space. The staff were super helpful in answering all questions I had--whether it was with regards to APIA history, professional resources relevant to my line of work, or just places to visit as a tourist. One of my favorite exhibits was the one put on by high school youth, in which they made sonic mappings of their neighborhoods, which was a super cool idea and an intimate dive into learning the microhistories of Seattle (through sounds and visuals and personal reflections!). read more

A nicely decorated museum that spans three floors, although certain rooms are locked or reserved for special events. I liked that it didn't feel as if I was reading a history textbook as I learned about the experiences of the Asian Pacific Americans. The popular Bruce Lee Exhibit showcased his personal life and thoughts, and was rather neat to be able to make connections from his references to Seattle. No photography is allowed in this section though. Adult tickets are $17 for general admission, which includes the Historic Hotel Tour. The museum offers other tours across Chinatown at an additional cost as well. I didn't participate in any of the tours, so the museum only took me a little over an hour to finish. read more

Wing Luke Museum - "Honoring Our Journey" Central Gallery on Second Level: Lightwell. - Museums Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I really wanted to like this museum. Telling the stories of Asian Americans who helped shape Seattle, the West Coast, and America is important work. However, aside from the exhibits on Wing Luke, which were well done, the museum lost the thread on the story they wanted to tell. Every ethnic group had a room, and the information shared was poorly curated - it felt like a random assemblage of stuff with some dated information that only the most avid local historian would care about. Additionally, the tour guide declared everything she showed us as the product of racism (rooms recent immigrants stayed in were small = racism, people who knew Wing Luke as a highschooler returning to the museum = undoubtedly racist people, etc.). I 100% don't dispute that Asians and Pacific Islanders experienced clear racism, and managed to overcome it via their grit and determination, but the tour talk-track was lazy and off putting in its tenor and (lack of) analysis. read more

Wow! What a cool museum! Much, much more than expected! Make sure you go to every nook and cranny area on every floor. I loved the area where it was windows and you heard random noises from apartments to give you a feel of times past. The Bruce Lee area on 3rd floor was cool. A hidden Seattle Gem! Must see! read more

As an Asian American studies major in my undergrad years I definitely saw a lot of light and darkness in many of the pieces at each exhibit. Highlighting our communities' success and drive for awareness of Asian Americans is what made my heart feel so full after viewing everything at the museum. Definitely have much more to say, but I really loved visiting Seattle especially to see this culmination of art, culture, and history. read more

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The Wing Luke Museum is engaging, full of life, and thoroughly enjoyable. I was enthralled by every single exhibition and spent several hours exploring the various sections. I left having learned so much, and I cannot wait to go back again soon. I would recommend visiting the museum early, because you will want to take your time and engage with everything. I promise you will not want to skip anything. Visit this museum, and support AAPI storytelling and artistry! read more