After the long COVID-19 lockdown, many of us are feeling a yearning to get out of the house. As restrictions loosen, businesses are reopening, including our area museums. This summer is a great opportunity to learn more about our local history. By understanding the history and culture of our city, we will be better equipped to bring God's healing and reconciliation to our neighborhoods and our region. Over the next few newsletters, we'll share some ideas of places to visit around the region. This installment will focus on Seattle.

Places to Visit in Seattle

Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI)

The exhibit True Northwest: The Seattle Journey features Native American people and stories from Seattle's 150-year history.

Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

As a National Park Service Affiliated Area and the first Smithsonian affiliate in the Pacific Northwest, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience offers an authentic and unique perspective on the American story. From the struggles of early Asian pioneers to accomplished works by national Asian Pacific American artists, their contributions give us a look at what it means to be uniquely American.

If you enjoy walking and exploring the city, check out the current exhibit at Wing Luke: Gerard Tsutakawa: Stories Shaped in Bronze. Tsutakawa is an accomplished Pacific Northwest sculptor whose work is featured throughout the city. You can take a self-guided walking tour of all of his public works in the city.

Seattle Art Museum

Check out the current exhibit The Geography of Innocence by local artist Barbara Earl Thomas, on display until January 2. "Barbara Earl Thomas' new body of work carries within it the sediments of history and grapples with race and the color line. At the heart of her new work is a story of life and death, hope and resilience—a child's survival…  Race is an old story, how we traverse it is baked into our institutions as much as into our psyche and perception.

With her quietly glowing portraits of young Black boys and girls, begun in the summer of 2019, Thomas puts before us the humble question; can we see, and be present to, the humanity, the trust, the hopes and dreams of each of these children." Before you go, you can hear the artist talk here about her exhibit, the inspirations for some of the pieces, and what she hopes to convey.

Seattle Asian Art Museum

The Seattle Asian Art Museum is newly renovated and expanded. You can learn more about the renovation and exhibits here.

Northwest African American Museum

The museum is currently closed due to COVID-19, but you can check out a virtual event on Sunday, August 29, at 3:00 pm featuring Arthur McFarlane, II, the great-grandson of W.E.B. DuBois. Add the NAAM to your list of places to check out in the future when it reopens.