Nordic Heritage Museum, Seattle, WA – Spot Check

I’ll admit it… I’m not usually a fan of small museums. They’re in that gray area – somewhere in between a powerhouse museum and a gallery. I wanna love them but their permanent collection often feels confused and visits leave me unfulfilled. But it’s not their fault. Small museum are frequently overlooked for funding and donations. The upside to visiting one? You won’t be overwhelmed by the size of an exhibit or their collection on view. Admission fees are reasonable and the art feels accessible. 

And sometimes you stumble upon a museum that’s small in size and kinda magical… The Nordic Heritage Museum. It’s located in a sleepy neighborhood in Seattle and housed in a former elementary school that was built in 1907. The museum combines a perfect mix of history, the story of immigrants moving from Nordic countries to America, with regional context, contributions of Nordic pioneers who settled in the Pacific Northwest (hello, Deadliest Catch!).