The Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is a Smithsonian-affiliate museum in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID). It focuses on the history, culture, and art of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Last updated: June 2026. Note that Free First Thursday evening hours (5:00–8:00pm) now run May through October 2026 only — a seasonal restriction that some older guides do not clearly state. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday year-round.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 719 South King Street, Seattle, WA 98104 |
| Opening hours | Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00am–5:00pm (closed Monday and Tuesday) |
| Free First Thursday hours | 5:00pm–8:00pm, first Thursday of each month, May through October only |
| Entry price | Adults $24.95 · Seniors (62+) $21.95 · Students (13–18 or with ID) $17.95 · Children (5–12) $14.95 · Children under 5 Free · Members Free |
| Nearest transit | Link Light Rail: Chinatown-International District/Chinatown station (~4 blocks) |
| Parking | No on-site parking; street and public lots within 5 blocks |
| Typical visit length | 2–3 hours |
Wing Luke Museum opening hours
The Wing Luke Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year.
The museum is also closed on the following annual public holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Free First Thursday evenings run from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on the first Thursday of each month, but only from May through October. This programme does not operate November through April.
Five of the best things to do in Seattle
- 🍴 Take a chef-guided food tour of Pike Place Market.
- 🕳️ Discover the hidden streets beneath Pioneer Square on an underground tour.
- ✈️ Go on the Boeing Factory tour and see how planes are made.
- 🚢 See the city from the water on a harbour cruise.
- 🏔️ Take in mountains and waterfalls on a Mt Rainier National Park day trip.
Wing Luke Museum ticket prices
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Members | Free |
| Adults | $24.95 |
| Seniors (62+) | $21.95 |
| Students (13–18 or with valid student ID) | $17.95 |
| Children (5–12) | $14.95 |
| Children under 5 | Free |
Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the admissions desk. Online tickets never expire, making them useful if plans change.
Admission includes all-day gallery access and a complimentary place on the Historic Hotel Tour (first-come, first-served; see below for tour times). Call ahead to confirm availability on the day of your visit.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official Wing Luke Museum website and last updated in June 2026.
Why book a Seattle CityPASS?
- 🗼 Space Needle included: Enjoy timed entry to Seattle’s most recognisable landmark, with panoramic views over Elliott Bay and Mount Rainier on clear days.
- 🐠 Seattle Aquarium admission: Get up close to local marine life, including sea otters, harbour seals and colourful tide-pool species.
- 🎨 Choose three more attractions: Pick from favourites such as Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture, Argosy Cruises harbour tour, Woodland Park Zoo or Pacific Science Center.
- 📱 Mobile pass with flexible sightseeing: Your CityPASS is delivered digitally and stays valid for nine consecutive days once activated.
- 💰 Save on entry fees: Bundled pricing offers significant savings compared with buying tickets separately, making it ideal for first-time visitors.
How to get to the Wing Luke Museum
By Link Light Rail: The Chinatown-International District/Chinatown station (on the 1 Line) exits onto S King Street or S Jackson Street, approximately 4 blocks west of the museum. This is the recommended option for visitors coming from downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport, or Capitol Hill.
By King County Metro bus: Routes 7, 14, and 36 serve the Chinatown-International District and stop near the museum.
By Amtrak: King Street Station is approximately 5 blocks (0.5 miles) west of the museum. Amtrak serves Seattle from Portland, Vancouver (BC), and other Pacific Northwest cities.
By car: From I-5 northbound, take exit 164A for Dearborn Street, turn left on Dearborn, merge right, turn right on 7th Avenue, continue 3 blocks, then turn right on King Street. From I-5 southbound, take exit 164 toward I-90 E (stay right, do not take I-90), follow signs for Dearborn Street, turn right on Dearborn, right on 7th Avenue, then right on King Street.
Parking at the Wing Luke Museum
The Wing Luke Museum has no on-site parking. Several public pay parking lots are within a five-block radius — a downloadable parking map is available on the official website.
Street parking is free all day on Sundays and public holidays. Metered and timed restrictions apply on other days — read street signs carefully before leaving your vehicle.
How long to spend at the Wing Luke Museum
Allow 2 to 3 hours for a visit that includes gallery time and one Historic Hotel Tour. The guided tour alone lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Visitors who want to explore all current exhibits, the permanent galleries, the KidPLACE area, and the neighbourhood exhibits in the Chinatown-International District may wish to plan a half-day visit.
Accessibility at the Wing Luke Museum
Detailed accessibility information is available on the official Wing Luke Museum accessibility page. The museum building includes accessible entrances and facilities.
Caregivers and paraeducators assisting guests at the museum receive free admission — mention this at the admissions desk.
Health and safety guidance asks that visitors who are unwell, diagnosed with COVID-19, or experiencing respiratory symptoms to visit another time. Masks and hand sanitiser are available to visitors, and masking is encouraged.
For specific accessibility questions, contact the museum directly at 206.623.5124 or [email protected].
What to see at the Wing Luke Museum
The Historic Hotel Tour (included with admission)
The museum is housed in the East Kong Yick Building, a preserved 1910 immigrant hotel where countless Asian Pacific immigrants first found shelter in Seattle. A guided tour of the historic hotel and the adjacent Yick Fung Company general store is included with every admission ticket on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tours run Wednesday–Sunday at 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm. Call ahead on 206.623.5124 to confirm availability. Visitors are strongly encouraged to take this tour — it is a central part of the museum experience and not replicated in the galleries alone.
Honoring Our Journey (permanent)
The core permanent gallery, described as the “heart” of the museum, presents the immigration and refugee experience of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through personal stories, photographs, and objects. It anchors the museum’s wider mission.
Be Water, My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee (permanent)
An interactive permanent exhibit exploring the philosophy and life of Bruce Lee, who grew up in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Visitors can engage with his writings, physical training methods, and personal history. The Wing Luke Museum is now the permanent home of the Bruce Lee Story.
Community gallery exhibitions (current as of June 2026)
- DISplace — visual art by regional Native Hawaiian creatives, on view through January 2027
- Ten Thousand Things — hidden stories of everyday objects through an Asian American lens, on view through spring 2027
- Lost & Found: Searching for Home — AANHPI artists exploring cultural homeland and belonging, through September 2026
- YouthCAN’s “The Sky is a Diasporic Space” — youth-developed exhibit on collective memory and storytelling, April 2026–spring 2027
- New Year’s All Year Round — KidPLACE Gallery, celebrating New Year traditions worldwide and the Year of the Horse; January–December 2026
Ongoing community galleries
The museum also maintains ongoing galleries including I Am Filipino, Vietnam in the Rearview, Cambodian Cultural Museum, Hometown Desi (South Asian American experience), and Wing Luke and the Museum (covering the museum’s namesake and history). These rotate and evolve over time.
Chinatown-International District neighbourhood exhibits
Several Wing Luke Museum exhibits extend into the surrounding neighbourhood. Nihonmachi Alley (permanent, public access) is on the north side of Jackson Street between 6th and Maynard Avenue, exploring the history of Seattle’s Japantown. Ask at the front desk for a neighbourhood map.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arrive early to secure a Historic Hotel Tour slot | Tour places are first-come, first-served and included with admission. The 10:30am tour on busy weekends fills quickly. Call ahead to check availability. |
| The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday | This catches many visitors off guard. Plan your trip for Wednesday through Sunday. |
| Free First Thursdays are seasonal | Free evening admission (5:00–8:00pm) only operates May through October. The museum is not free on First Thursdays in November through April. |
| Street parking is free on Sundays and holidays | If arriving by car on a Sunday, you can park free on surrounding streets all day — a useful saving in the CID. |
| Ask about the Connect Membership | A no-cost Connect Membership, available in person at the admissions desk, provides free admission for 2 people year-round. This is particularly useful for local repeat visitors. |
Frequently asked questions about the Wing Luke Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Wing Luke Museum suitable for children? | Yes. Children under 5 enter free. The KidPLACE Gallery has programming aimed at families, including the “New Year’s All Year Round” exhibit running through December 2026. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Wing Luke Museum? | No booking is required for general admission. Online tickets never expire. Groups of 10 or more should contact [email protected] in advance. |
| Is the Wing Luke Museum open on Sundays? | Yes, open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00am–5:00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday. |
| Is the Historic Hotel Tour included in the ticket price? | Yes. A place on the guided Historic Hotel Tour is included with every general admission ticket, on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours run at 10:30am, 11:45am, 1:30pm, and 3:30pm Wednesday–Sunday. |
| Is the Wing Luke Museum accessible? | The museum has accessible facilities; caregivers assisting guests receive free admission. Full accessibility details are available on the official website’s accessibility page. |
Things to do near the Wing Luke Museum
- Chinatown-International District neighbourhood — The museum sits in the heart of one of Seattle’s most historically significant neighbourhoods. The CID contains independent restaurants, tea shops, grocery stores, and cultural organisations representing Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and other communities. Ask at the front desk for a neighbourhood walking guide.
- Uwajimaya (600 5th Ave S) — A large Asian grocery and retail store two blocks from the museum, in operation since 1928 and a neighbourhood landmark. Free to browse.
- Hing Hay Park (S King St and Maynard Ave S) — A public park at the centre of the CID, with a traditional Chinese pavilion donated by the city of Taipei. Free and open daily.
- Kobe Terrace Park and Danny Woo Community Garden (Maynard Ave S) — A hillside public garden above the CID with city views, partly linked to the museum’s Nihonmachi Alley exhibit. Free to visit.
- Seattle Art Museum (SAM, 1300 1st Ave) — Seattle’s main art museum, approximately 0.8 miles from the Wing Luke Museum, with a collection spanning global cultures and periods. Free on the first Thursday of each month.
What to visit tomorrow: similar cultural and ethnic history museums within two hours
- MOHAI – Museum of History and Industry, Seattle (~1.5 miles north) — Seattle’s principal regional history museum, covering Pacific Northwest history from Indigenous origins to the tech era. Located at South Lake Union.
- Nordic Museum, Seattle (~4 miles north, Ballard) — A museum dedicated to Nordic and Scandinavian American history and culture, housed in a purpose-built building in the Ballard neighbourhood.
- Burke Museum, Seattle (~5 miles north, University District) — Washington State’s natural history and cultural museum, with extensive Pacific Northwest Indigenous art and cultural collections.
- Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma (~35 miles south) — A regional art museum with a strong focus on Pacific Northwest artists and a dedicated collection of Native Northwest Coast art.
- Densho Digital Repository / Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Portland (~3 hours) — For visitors interested specifically in Japanese American incarceration history, the Oregon museum (in Portland’s Japantown) offers a focused collection on the WWII-era experience.
More Seattle travel
Other Seattle travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- A practical guide to visiting the Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle.
- Watch the salmon run at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.
- How to get the best view of Seattle from Kerry Park.
- How to see the Fremont Troll in Seattle.
- Seattle attraction guides: Plan your visit to the Pacific Science Center, Museum of History and Industry, Museum of Flight and Smith Tower Observatory.
