There’s almost too much to do at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture: Here’s how to choose

Throughout its history, Seattle has played a major role in music and pop culture, and there is one museum that brings pieces of that history together with exhibits covering artists, photography, hip-hop, guitars, and more.

The Museum of Pop Culture, better known as MoPOP, sits next to the Space Needle at Seattle Center. The 140,000-square-foot museum is filled with exhibits, artifacts, and interactive experiences that cover decades of popular culture.

Its collection includes more than 85,000 artifacts, although only a portion are displayed inside the museum at any given time.

Alternating exhibitions include hip-hop, guitars, photography, and other parts of pop culture, giving both Seattle-area residents and visitors enough to see and do to fill several hours

Here’s what to know before visiting MoPOP.

What is there to do at MoPOP?

MoPOP started as the Experience Music Project in 2000, and music is still a huge part of the museum.

Its collection includes instruments, handwritten lyrics, photographs, clothing, posters, and other artifacts connected to musicians and music history.

The Pacific Northwest is also recognized and represented in the museum, as MoPOP holds artifacts connected to Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and other artists with ties to the region.

But there is much more than music inside.

Science fiction, fantasy, horror, movies, and video games are also represented through costumes, props, models, artwork, and other pieces of pop culture.

Can you create music at MoPOP?

One of the more hands-on stops is Sound Lab.

Instead of looking at instruments behind glass, visitors can pick one up and try it themselves.

The space has guitars, drums, keyboards, vocals, and other ways to experiment with making music, even for people who have never played an instrument.

Jam Studios let groups take that a step further and play together. It’s an easy place to spend more time than expected, particularly for families with older kids and teenagers.

What can movie and science fiction fans see?

Some of MoPOP’s most recognizable artifacts come from movies and television.

The museum has built collections around science fiction, fantasy, and horror, with costumes, props, models, and other objects used to tell the stories behind the genres.

That can mean moving from spaceships and futuristic worlds to mythical creatures, elaborate costumes, and horror movie memorabilia within the same visit.

The horror areas can be darker and more intense than the rest of the museum, something families with younger children may want to keep in mind.

Are there video games at MoPOP?

MoPOP also gives video games a place alongside music and movies.

Gaming exhibits have focused on independent developers, game design, and how games are created.

There are games to play, too.

That makes this another part of the museum where a quick walk-through can easily turn into a longer stop.

How do you choose what to see at MoPOP?

Trying to give every part of the museum the same amount of time is probably not necessary.

A music fan could spend much of a visit looking through music artifacts and experimenting in Sound Lab. Someone more interested in movies could spend that time with science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Checking MoPOP’s current exhibitions before going can also help.

Temporary exhibits alternate throughout the year, and artifacts from the museum’s collection are not always on display.

MoPOP recommends setting aside at least a few hours for a visit.

Is MoPOP good for kids?

There is plenty for kids to explore, although MoPOP is likely to have the most appeal for older children and teenagers who already have interests in music, movies, gaming, fantasy, or science fiction.

Sound Lab and video games add hands-on experiences between galleries filled with artifacts.

Parents of younger children may want to check the current exhibits before going, particularly if they plan to explore the horror collection.

How much does it cost to visit MoPOP?

Tickets to MoPOP generally cost around $35 to $45, although prices vary by date. The museum uses plan-ahead pricing, which means admission can change based on expected attendance and other factors.

Washington residents receive a discount on general admission, and reduced admission is available through several other programs.

Travelers can check the museum’s ticket calendar to see the price for the day they plan to visit.

Where is MoPOP in Seattle?

MoPOP is located at 325 5th Ave. N. at Seattle Center.

It sits next to the Space Needle and near Pacific Science Center, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Children’s Museum, and the International Fountain.

The Seattle Center Monorail also stops next to the museum, providing a quick connection to Westlake Center in downtown Seattle.

For anyone trying to fit MoPOP into a larger Seattle Center day, deciding what to see before walking through the doors can make a big museum feel a lot more manageable.