Central Campus Tour
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Burke Memorial Washington State Museum
Burke Memorial Washington State Museum is the oldest university museum in the West. It began in 1885 when the Board of Regents permitted the Young Naturalists Society to erect a museum on the downtown campus. The present structure, opened in 1962, was funded by a bequest from the late Caroline McGilvra Burke as a memorial to her husband, Judge Thomas Burke (1849-1925), a pioneer civic leader of Seattle.
The museum presents changing exhibits and programs on the natural and cultural heritage of the Pacific Rim. Long-term exhibits feature Northwest Coast Native art, the only dinosaur skeleton in the Northwest, and gems and minerals.
A cafe is located on the ground floor of the south side of the building and features espresso and pastries.
