Culture

Photo: Cathy Morris/Burke Museum
Photo: Cathy Morris/Burke Museum
net weights in the archaeology collection

Archaeology

The Archaeology Collections reflect how people live through the objects they leave behind.

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close up of a cowlitz basket

Bill Holm Center

The Bill Holm Center is the premier center for the study of Native arts of the Pacific Northwest.

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baskets on a shelf

Contemporary Culture

The Contemporary Cultural Collections reflect living and dynamic cultures. 

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News & Stories

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A photo from 1966 of the NFB archaeological site in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Video

Archaeology Mini-Exhibit: Uncovering Pacific Pasts

Come learn about the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea from the collections of Dave Cole, one of the very first archaeologists to survey the region.

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Nettle pesto Video

How to Make Nettle Pesto

Learn how to make Nettle Pesto with Tribal Liaison Polly Olsen from ingredients found right in our own backyards!

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Ryan Fedderson in front of the Synecdoche Mural Video

Deciphering the "Synecdoche" mural with RYAN! Fedderson

Artist RYAN! Fedderson's 60-foot-tall mural, “Synecdoche," represents intersections between history, culture, and contemporary pop culture in the Pacific Northwest.

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Featured Projects

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people weave ribbon and yarn to a community interactive Exhibit

Culture is Living

Cultural objects at the Burke Museum aren’t tucked away on shelves. They are alive, embodying the knowledge, language, and stories of people and cultures.

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excerpt from a map showing historic waterways in the Seattle region Project

The Waterlines Project

Explore the dramatic changes to Seattle's landscapes and shorelines through The Waterlines Project.

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top-down view of the gallery with visitors looking at objects on display Exhibit

Northwest Native Art

What is your artistic heritage? Six Pacific Northwest Native artists from across the region answered this question.

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Land Acknowledgement

The Burke Museum stands on the lands of the Coast Salish Peoples, whose ancestors resided here since time immemorial. Many Indigenous peoples thrive in this place—alive and strong.