1. Living Computer Museum
Seattle-headquartered Microsoft’s co-founder Paul Allen is behind this interactive museum celebrating the Digital Age. Future coders can learn the personal computer’s origin story and experience the processing power of a supercomputer up close. There are also exhibits on AI, robotics and the Internet of Things.
2. Seattle Pinball Museum
This place celebrates the history of a near forgotten pastime, with games dating back to 1934. The entry fee lets you play over 50 machines.
3. Wing Luke Museum
Located in the Chinatown-International District, the Wing Luke Museum focuses on the immigrant experience. Three floors of exhibits tell the story of the neighbourhood and its residents’ artistic, cultural and historic contributions to the city. The museum also leads walking tours that visit Bruce Lee’s old haunts and some of the district’s best noodle and dumpling spots.
4. Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center
With views over Puget Sound, this hub for Northwest Native American culture features permanent and rotating works by internationally recognised artists of Native American and Alaskan Native ancestry.
5. Museum of Pop Culture
Designed by Frank Gehry, this museum’s architecture was inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll experience. Within the brightly coloured, oddly- shaped building, interactive exhibits invite visitors to play instruments and perform concerts before a virtual audience, view artefacts from local legends like Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix and view memorabilia from classic sci-fi movies like Star Wars and Star Trek. The museum is encased with 3,000 panels made out of 21,000 individual stainless steel and painted aluminium shingles. Each responds to different light conditions, reminding audiences that music and culture are constantly evolving.
Q&A with Michael Tulee, executive director of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
Why should we learn about native history?
To truly understand Seattle, it is vital to learn about the tribes and peoples who originally inhabited this land and who continue to live and work in the community today. To reconcile with the history of colonisation, visitors to Seattle must actively engage with the vibrant Native culture which continues to thrive.
What’s the best way to connect with this culture?
The Duwamish Longhouse provides an immersive education in the history of Seattle’s First People and of Chief Si’ahl, the chief after whom the city was named. And Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Discovery Park is another great place to learn about Native activism, including the takeover of Fort Lawton to create a space for Native Americans to connect with their culture and history.
Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours as well as booking and seating requirements before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.
To learn more about Singapore Airlines flights, visit singaporeair.com. For updates and travel advisories, please visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.
This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue of SilverKris magazine
