Attraction
Space Needle
Built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Space Needle at Seattle Center has an observation level at 520 feet and The Loupe, a revolving glass floor.
Olympic Sculpture Park
Run by the Seattle Art Museum, the free Olympic Sculpture Park is a nine-acre waterfront park with large works by Alexander Calder, Richard Serra and others.
At a glance
- Type
- Sculpture park
- Area
- Belltown, Seattle, United States
- Official site
- seattleartmuseum.org
Good to know
- Free entry
- Open 365 days
- Pavilion
- Beach
- Free smartphone tour
Why we recommend it
The Olympic Sculpture Park opened on 20 January 2007 on a former industrial site at the northern end of the downtown waterfront. The land was once used by the oil company Unocal and was later a contaminated brownfield before the Seattle Art Museum transformed it. The design, by Weiss/Manfredi Architects, links the city to the shore of Elliott Bay and has a small beach on Puget Sound.
The park covers about nine acres and holds large outdoor works. Alexander Calder's Eagle dates from 1971 and Richard Serra's Wake from 2004. Jaume Plensa's Echo was added in 2011, and Louise Bourgeois's Eye Benches are works you can actually sit on. Mark Dion's Neukom Vivarium is open on weekends from May to October under volunteer supervision, with hours that may change. There are also works by Tony Smith, Teresita Fernández and Mark di Suvero.
The park is free and open every day of the year, from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The PACCAR Pavilion is open daily from 9am to 4pm. In summer, the Birdie Bar operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Free smartphone tours are available through the museum's website, and groups of ten or more can book guided visits.
Do not touch or climb on the sculptures, walk bikes and skateboards through the park, and keep dogs on a lead no longer than six feet. Commercial photography needs permission, but personal photos are welcome. The park suits walkers, families with children who like space to run, joggers and anyone who wants open space and sea views close to downtown, and it is one of the best free things to do in the city.
Allow an hour to walk the main path and look at the art, and longer if you continue along the waterfront or stop in the pavilion to rest and warm up. The beach is a good place to stop and look out over the water. Paid parking is available in the park's garage at Broad Street and Western Avenue, open from 6am to 11pm. The restaurants and bars of Belltown are close by, and the Seattle Art Museum's downtown building makes a natural second stop.
Olympic Sculpture Park FAQs
Is the Olympic Sculpture Park free?
Yes. It is free and open every day of the year.
What are the opening hours?
From 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. The PACCAR Pavilion is open daily from 9am to 4pm.
Which artworks can you see?
Highlights include Alexander Calder's Eagle, Richard Serra's Wake, Jaume Plensa's Echo and Louise Bourgeois's Eye Benches.
When did the park open?
It opened on 20 January 2007.
Can you bring a dog?
Yes, on a lead no longer than six feet, though only service animals can enter the pavilion.
Is there parking?
Yes. There is a paid garage at Broad Street and Western Avenue, open from 6am to 11pm.
Are there tours?
Free smartphone tours are available, and groups of ten or more can book guided visits in advance.
How long should you allow?
About an hour to walk the main path, longer if you continue along the waterfront.