Museum of Pop Culture

On the Grid : EMP Museum (Experience Music Project)

"So much is offered in one space, it's hard to know where to begin. In our opinion, the main features are: 1) Seattle-centric music exhibits that offer glimpses into the life of Jimi Hendrix, the birth of Nirvana, and a massive infographic web that shows how all are connected. 2) The Sound Lab, where attendees can play with instruments and receive mini lessons. 3) Rotating exhibits on anything from graphic and comic art, science fiction and horror movie props. 4) Photo opps 'a plenty." - MINT

Travel to As Many of These Offbeat Places As You Can in 2018

"In Seattle, where art seems to spring from the ground like weeds from sidewalk cracks, it takes a truly audacious project to generate as much attention as Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s contribution to the local art scene. The 140,000-square-foot building of shimmering sheet metal designed by architect Frank Gehry resembles a smashed electric guitar and is called “the Blob” by locals. It contains the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, is a place where music, science fiction, and many other things meet. Opened in 2000 as the Experience Music Project, with a special emphasis on legendary rock guitarist and Seattle native Jimi Hendrix, it struggled at first. In an attempt to bolster attendance, Allen added the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame to the south wing of the building in 2004. Originally treated as separate museums, they later merged to become EMP|SFM, attracting a curious mix of music lovers and sci-fi aficionados. In 2011, the Science Fiction Museum was de-installed while a new sci-fi hall of fame was introduced and the entire venue changed its name to EMP Museum. Finally, in 2016, EMP Museum rebranded itself as MoPOP with a new vision for “curating, exploring, and supporting the creative works that shape and inspire our lives.” Today, MoPOP features exhibits spanning such diverse areas as science fiction, fantasy, horror, fashion, sports, video games, and music." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

Leonardo Nam's 16 Quirky Roadside Attractions

"In Seattle, where art seems to spring from the ground like weeds from sidewalk cracks, it takes a truly audacious project to generate as much attention as Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s contribution to the local art scene. The 140,000-square-foot building of shimmering sheet metal designed by architect Frank Gehry resembles a smashed electric guitar and is called “the Blob” by locals. It contains the Museum of Pop Culture, or MoPOP, is a place where music, science fiction, and many other things meet. Opened in 2000 as the Experience Music Project, with a special emphasis on legendary rock guitarist and Seattle native Jimi Hendrix, it struggled at first. In an attempt to bolster attendance, Allen added the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame to the south wing of the building in 2004. Originally treated as separate museums, they later merged to become EMP|SFM, attracting a curious mix of music lovers and sci-fi aficionados. In 2011, the Science Fiction Museum was de-installed while a new sci-fi hall of fame was introduced and the entire venue changed its name to EMP Museum. Finally, in 2016, EMP Museum rebranded itself as MoPOP with a new vision for “curating, exploring, and supporting the creative works that shape and inspire our lives.” Today, MoPOP features exhibits spanning such diverse areas as science fiction, fantasy, horror, fashion, sports, video games, and music." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

"MoPop This sheet-metal fever dream by architect Frank Gehry is like a rock-and-roll Guggenheim, home to interactive exhibits that span music, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, video games, and other scrambled bits of modern life. A hands-on studio lets kids and grown-ups mess with real instruments and studio hardware. Originally intended to honor Jimi Hendrix, the building's design echoes one of the legend's smashed guitars (most obviously when viewed from atop the Space Needle). Critic Herbert Muschamp once accused it of "looking like something that crawled out of the sea, rolled over and died," but visitors often enjoy the jumble of color and distorted reflections—perfect for quirky selfies!"

"MoPop This sheet-metal fever dream by architect Frank Gehry is like a rock-and-roll Guggenheim, home to interactive exhibits that span music, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, video games, and other scrambled bits of modern life. A hands-on studio lets kids and grown-ups mess with real instruments and studio hardware. Originally intended to honor Jimi Hendrix, the building's design echoes one of the legend's smashed guitars (most obviously when viewed from atop the Space Needle). Critic Herbert Muschamp once accused it of "looking like something that crawled out of the sea, rolled over and died," but visitors often enjoy the jumble of color and distorted reflections—perfect for quirky selfies!"