Museum

The region's premier natural history and cultural institution, the Burke also has a great sense of humor and creates innovative, practical interactive events that seduce kids and adults into the academic worlds of geology, anthropology, archeology and zoology.

Permanent, nationally-recognized collections feature fossil specimens of minerals, birds, mammals and reptiles, plus the region's only dinosaur skeleton. The Burke also features the arts and artifacts of many living and ancient North and South American, Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

Many exhibits feature arts and crafts from the vast Northwest Coast and Alaskan Arctic collections, made up of totem poles, canoes, masks, baskets, sculpture, clothing, musical instruments and many other items. Northwest archeological collections include stones, shells, ceramics and animal bones from regional sites.

Housed in a stately, brick University of Washington building, the Burke also features a cozy, mellow café where UW students, profs and museum-goers hang out for coffee and snacks.

By Paysha Stockton
Special to NWsource