Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

This week, listen in to the “Health and Houselessness in Seattle” conversation, head to the Burke Museum for some cherry blossom activities, witness Angela Hewitt’s famous piano talent, and more.

Start the new year with lectures, performances, exhibitions and more.

In honor of American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, deepen your learning in American Indian studies, make connections on campus, and celebrate the work of the University of Washington Seattle's College of Arts & Sciences faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Autumn Quarter: The Big Read: The New Education by Cathy Davidson The College of Arts & Sciences is launching its “Rethinking the Academy” initiative by inviting students, faculty, and staff to join a campus-wide reading experience, followed by conversations about how we can...

The Seattle Times goes behind the scenes with a Burke Museum staffer to share memories and experience the new "Inside Out" exhibits.

Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Highlights of current and upcoming exhibitions:  October 27 – November 23 | Miha Sarani: Amends, Art Building The Jacob Lawrence Gallery is pleased to host Seattle artist Miha Sarani. This exhibition is a broad survey of Sarani’s work, focusing on portraiture while also...

Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! Highlights of current and upcoming exhibitions:  Until October 29 |The Traveling Jacob Lawrence Gallery: MFA Group Show, SOIL Art Gallery (Pioneer Square) October 27 – November 23 | Miha Sarani: Amends / November 2, 5 – 8 PM: Reception, Art Building November 6...

Through public events and exhibitions, connect with the UW community every week! October 17, 1:30 PM | Guest Artist Interview – Morris Robinson, Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music Building Making his Seattle Opera debut in the role of King Marke in Tristan und Isolde, internationally acclaimed bass and recent GRAMMY winner Morris Robinson visits the...

1 in 5 adult female white-necked jacobin hummingbirds look like males. New research from the University of Washington shows that this is a rare case of "deceptive mimicry" within a species: Females with male-like plumage are trying to pass themselves off as males, and as a result receive a benefit in the form of reduced aggression from males.

Rod Crawford has discovered nearly 200 species that hadn’t been described before, many of which proved to be new to science. Of the nearly 190,000 Washington specimens in the Burke’s spider collection, Crawford contributed about half.

Which group of mammals has the more "primitive" reproductive strategy — marsupials, with their short gestation periods, or humans and other placental mammals, which have long gestation periods? For decades, biologists viewed marsupial reproduction as "more primitive." But University of Washington scientists have discovered that a third group of mammals, the long-extinct multituberculates, had a long gestation period like placental mammals. Since multituberculates split off from the rest of the mammalian lineage before placentals and marsupials had even evolved, these findings question the view that marsupials were “less advanced” than their placental cousins.

The Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle today announced it is one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The award is given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Burke Museum is the only institution in Washington to be selected.

The Burke Museum at the University of Washington in Seattle today announced it is one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The award is given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Burke Museum is the only institution in Washington to be selected.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture is among 30 finalists for the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. 

Dr. Gabriela Chavarria has been named the next executive director of the Burke Museum.