Google Map
Description
Admission to the Burke Museum is FREE and the museum is open until 8 pm on the first Thursday of every month.
Natural history and culture is everything around us: the land, water, plants, animals and people. Daily news stories warn us of irreversible shifts in nature and culture: the last speaker of a language passes away; a fragile ecosystem suffers irreparable damage. Understanding the implications of this rapid and complex change is daunting.
Burke research and programs contextualize what is happening in our world and inspire action. Our work is collaborative; we partner with institutions, communities and people around the world to understand our past and create positive change in the future.
Who
All ages welcome!
Cost
FreeHow
We're expecting large crowds and strongly recommend that you reserve your free, timed ticket in advance.
More Info
Helpful tips for Free First Thursday
You can reserve your free tickets online
Reduce your wait time by reserving your free timed tickets on our website.
Late afternoons and evenings tends to be quieter times to visit.
First Free Thursdays keep us busy, and we love it! We’re open 10 AM – 8 PM, but the mornings and early afternoons are generally the busiest times. We recommend visiting in the late afternoon or evening since it is generally less crowded.
Parking is limited. Consider using public transportation!
Parking on UW campus can be challenging especially during the day when classes are in session. If possible, we recommend using public transportation to visit the Burke Museum.
Looking for parking next to the Burke? No need to stop at the UW parking gatehouse.
The closest visitor parking is the N1 lot located next to the Burke Museum. Visitors can drive straight to the lot from Memorial Way NE (there's no need to stop at the parking gatehouse) and pay by machine with a credit card or use the pay by phone app. Need to find other parking options? Stop by the UW parking gatehouse.
UW parking is $6 after 4 pm
Another perk of coming to Free First Thursday in the late afternoon/evening is that UW parking is a flat fee of $6 after 4 pm.
Parking / Bus Parking
On First Free Thursdays a limited number of bus parking spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We have three bus parking spots available in the N1 parking lot next to the Burke. Additional bus parking may be available within the University of Washington, please reach out to UW Transportation Services.
