Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

Museum of Pop Culture

A building by Frank Gehry shaped like a 'melting guitar,' showcasing Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, and science fiction, fantasy and horror film culture. Visitors can play instruments in the Sound Lab.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) was founded by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, and opened in 2000. Its architecture is by Pritzker Prize winner Frank Gehry, made of twisted metal panels in red, blue, gold and silver. It is said to be inspired by smashed electric guitars. A monorail train runs straight through the middle of the building. The exhibitions focus on Seattle's music and pop culture: Nirvana and the grunge movement, and Jimi Hendrix, the guitar legend who came from Seattle. There are science fiction and fantasy displays (props from Star Trek and Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings), a horror film exhibit and a video game exhibit. The lobby features 'IF VI WAS IX,' a guitar-tornado sculpture about 10 meters tall made of more than 500 instruments. The Sound Lab lets visitors play guitar and drums in soundproof rooms or perform on a simulated stage. Tickets cost about $30 to $35, and are cheaper online. Allow about 2 hours. It is in central Seattle, next to the Space Needle and Chihuly Garden and Glass, so all three can be visited on the same day. Notes: Some special exhibitions require separate tickets. The Sound Lab gets crowded on weekends.

Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP)

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