The Museum Where Kurt Cobain’s Guitars Lives Next to Props From The Wizard of Oz

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

This space has been bringing music, sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming to life since 2000. We think it’s Seattle’s coolest museum, and it’s perfect for people who love pop culture AND not into conventional museums.

A Building That Looks And Feels Like Pop

Famous architect Frank Gehry cited the fluidity and chaos of pop culture in the design. Now, MoPOP’s walls shine with metal sheets with a shimmering purple haze amidst gold and silver accents.

From above, it kinda looks just like an electric guitar. At night, thousands of lights make the building glow, while 21 miles of wiring keep everything running.

The metal sheets change color as the sun moves across the sky, making the building look different throughout the day.

Guitar Heaven

Inside are the real guitars owned by iconic musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.

You’ll see Eric Clapton’s “Brownie” that he used for “Layla” and Cobain’s first Harmony electric (not the one he smashed on stage). The best part? A cool touchscreen lets you pretend play.

The museum’s guitar collection also includes other historic instruments, such as those owned by bands like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

Make Some Noise

Head to the Sound Lab, where 12 special rooms wait for you. Here you can learn through interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences.

Each room has $30,000 worth of real instruments, including fancy Gibson guitars and Roland keyboards. Famous musicians like Dave Grohl show up on video to teach you how to play.

Don’t worry about making mistakes because the thick walls keep the sound in, and everyone wears good headphones.

Games Come to Life

Love video games? This part of the museum shows off 40 indie games you can play (often part of MoPOP’s rotating exhibits) for real.

The games change often, and you can see the original artifacts and memorabilia when ‘Minecraft’ was first dreamed up. Many who drop by play classics like ‘Journey’ and ‘Braid’ on super-sharp 4K screens.

The Giant Screen

Remember how Jimi Hendrix talked about a ‘Sky Church’? MoPOP built one as a tribute (the biggest indoor TV screen you’ve ever seen).

It’s designed 33-foot x 60-foot for an immersive visual experience, and shows more colors than you can imagine. The room fits 800 people and has amazing sound (10 big bass speakers).

Fun fact: the sound system was designed by the same person who worked with Tom Petty and Rush.

Space Ships and Light Sabers

Sci-fi fans, get ready. This part has $12 million worth of movie props and costumes that depict the evolution of science fiction cinema.

You can see Captain Kirk’s chair, the scary alien suit from ‘Alien,’ and Luke Skywalker’s light blue saber. The museum preserves everything in special cases at just the right temperature.

You can even make your own sci-fi story using the same kind of computer program that makes video games.

Spooky Movie Magic

Horror movie buffs will love seeing Jack Nicholson’s axe (most famous horror movie prop) from ‘The Shining’ and the original alien costume (designed by the legendary H.R. Giger) that cost $12,000.

The room even watches your heart rate as you walk through. Music from iconic thrillers like Psycho, The Exorcist, and Halloween plays in the background while special fog and lights make everything extra spooky.

Step Into Fantasy

Walk into the world of magic and see real costumes from fantasy movies, such as the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz and Lord of the Rings weaponry. There’s also props from classic TV shows, highlighting key characters from both The Princess Bride, while a dragon watches you explore.

The room even has wood from a real 500-year-old English pub. You can see J.R.R. Tolkien’s actual notes for The Hobbit and George R.R. Martin’s first ideas for Game of Thrones.

Plan Your Visit

Come early at 10 AM on weekdays to avoid crowds. The top floor is quietest when it’s busy, and you won’t wait long for the Sound Lab before noon.

You can take pictures with your phone or camera, but leave the tripod at home unless you get special permission. The gift shop sells cool stuff made by 25 Seattle artists.

Note: Don’t use Flash when taking a photograph, it’s frowned upon out here.

Fun Events

Every February, MoPOP shows 20 special sci-fi and fantasy short films picked from 500 entries worldwide. The event includes filmmaker Q&As and a panel discussion.

They also help young musicians under 21 perform on the big stage through an event called Sound Off. Famous people like Guillermo del Toro and Brandi Carlile come to share their stories.

Plus, adults can enjoy special night events with themed drinks and private exhibit tours.