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 woman gently cleans the boiserie panel with a cotton ball Blog

Elbow grease and artificial saliva: Boiserie panels being restored

The beloved boiserie panels are being restored with resin, acrylic paint, and a lot of care.

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A button-blanket with green, white and red colors includes the Burke Museum logo and an eagle breaking out of chains Blog

One-of-a-kind button blanket for Burke Museum

Members of the Native American Cultural Group at the Washington State Reformatory Unit in Monroe recently created a very special button blanket for the Museum.

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a man holds a completed glass buffalo horn spoon Blog

Catching up with Shawn Brigman: From canoes to buffalo horn spoons

The many mediums of Spokane Tribal artist Shawn Brigman—from Salishan Shovelnose Canoes to glass buffalo horn spoons.

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Featured Projects

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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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close up of a carved comb Project

Coast Salish Art

An introduction to the art of the First Peoples of western Washington and southwestern British Columbia who speak the Coast Salish languages.

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aerial view of a piece of land sticking out into puget sound Resource

The archaeology of Seattle's West Point

A 1992 construction site led to a significant discovery of cultural remains of local Native Americans that lived at and used the site for thousands of years.

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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.