How Big Is the Seattle Art Museum?

Art|Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is one of the largest and most renowned art museums in the United States. Founded in 1933, the museum houses a permanent collection of over 25,000 works of art from around the world.

It also regularly hosts special exhibitions, lectures, and other events. With over 860,000 square feet of space, SAM is one of the largest art museums in North America.

The museum’s main building is located on First Avenue in downtown Seattle, with an additional gallery located on nearby University Street. The museum’s main building is made up of six floors and two levels of underground galleries.

The first floor houses a cafe and gift shop, while the second floor is dedicated to Asian art. On the third floor are galleries devoted to modern and contemporary art as well as African and Oceanic art. The fourth floor has galleries dedicated to European paintings and sculptures, while the fifth floor houses American art from colonial times to present day.

In addition to its main building, SAM has two additional locations: the Olympic Sculpture Park on Elliott Bay waterfront and an exhibition space at City Centre Mall in Bellevue Square Mall. At 9 acres large, Olympic Sculpture Park features a large collection of outdoor sculptures from artists such as Richard Serra, Mark di Suvero and Alexander Calder. SAM’s Bellevue Square Mall location features a variety of rotating exhibitions that explore both historical and contemporary themes in art.

With its expansive collections as well as its two additional locations for special exhibitions, SAM provides a unique cultural experience for visitors from around the world. In 2019 alone it attracted over one million visitors through its doors – making it one of Seattle’s most popular attractions.

Conclusion:

As one of the largest art museums in North America with 860,000 square feet of space across three locations, Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is an impressive cultural destination for both locals and visitors alike. Offering over 25,000 works of art from around the world along with special exhibitions and lectures throughout the year – it’s no wonder why SAM has become one of Seattle’s top attractions!