National Nordic Museum – Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler
"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? Seattle's National Nordic Museum is a deep-dive into the fascinating world of Nordic culture, spanning insight about Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Swedish heritage as it relates to America. The museum covers Nordic history, and the history of Nordic immigration to the Pacific Northwest. Educational exhibits detail the pillars of Nordic culture, displaying art, objects, and informative placards and programming. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: What's in this one? This thought-provoking collection is primarily built from textiles, archival ephemera, and artwork brought from Nordic countries through generations of emigrating to the United States from 1840 to the present day. This historic collection is complimented by contemporary objects from the local descendants of Nordic immigrants. Exhibits keep us coming back though. What can we expect? Past temporary exhibits have showcased a wide breadth of Nordic artistic heritage, from Swedish photographer Hasse Persson who famously documented Studio 54, to rare Viking artifacts from Norway , to the whimsical paintings of Bjørn Wiinblad. What did you make of the crowd? Perhaps not surprisingly, many museum-goers here are exploring their Nordic roots, but they are still far from the only demographic visiting the museum. The inclusive nature of the museum is inviting to anyone with even a slight interest in Nordic culture, heritage, and art, and what it's contributed to the world. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? The museum feels larger than it is, thanks to cavernous rooms bathed in natural light. It's relatively easy to navigate, and provides occasional seating area, though comfortable shoes are still advised. The facility meets ADA accessibility standards, and provides low vision services. Gift shop: What will we find? The museum has an online and a brick and mortar store, featuring objects like porcelain cups, handcrafts, books, artwork, and even Nordic sweets. Is the café worth a stop? Freya isn't just an afterthought like some museum cafes—it's destination dining. Highlighting the best of Nordic cuisine, the menu offers a litany of savory smørrebrød. Any dish pairs well with one of their craft cocktails. Museum admission isn't required to dine here, either. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Don't miss the museum's ongoing oral history catalogue. It's an engaging way to hear the stories of people who emigrated over the past 180 years." - Jenna Scatena
