Ready to swap screen time for a whirlwind of vintage phone booths, quirky art, and a whole lot of historic Spokane swagger? This city’s museums are anything but stuffy—think secret time machines, science playgrounds, and surprises tucked behind every corner. Grab your curiosity and let’s take a not-so-boring tour through Spokane’s must-see museums!
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum | Best for Local History Buffs
The Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is a love letter to the region, tucked inside a 1912 township hall built in charming Spanish Colonial mission style. Stepping through its creaky wooden doors feels like opening a forgotten photo album packed with local stories. Antique irrigation pumps and polished apple orchard gadgets offer a peek into life before modern machinery. A polished aviation display shares the hangar’s glory days, while the telecommunications gallery features enough vintage phones and switchboards to distract even the most tech-obsessed teen for five minutes.
Each season brings new national-caliber exhibits, from Revolutionary War treasures to a colorful nod at Expo ’74, so every visit delivers fresh surprises. Wander through period rooms at your own pace and watch the region’s transformation unfold in front of you.
Families will delight in the playful interactive stations, and educators can book guided tours designed to keep even third graders captivated. With ample parking, convenient bus access, and a cozy museum shop filled with local keepsakes, this hidden gem makes a perfect stop for history fans and casual explorers alike. Browse the digital archives or plot your visit here.
Cheney Historical Museum | Local History Nerd Heaven
Nestled on a quiet street in Cheney, this tiny museum behaves like a one-room time capsule lovingly curated by dedicated volunteers. You won’t find flashy lighting or interactive kiosks here—just an intimate collection of century-old maps, grainy yearbooks, and charming sepia photographs aching to spark your curiosity.
Artifacts from the Cheney, Marshall, Four Lakes, Tyler, and Amber districts line the shelves. Handwritten lodge records stand beside vintage snapshots and dusty funeral home ledgers. A digital unknown faces gallery invites amateur detectives to match names to the faded smiles staring back at them.
The museum opens its doors every Thursday morning, with extra visits available by appointment. There are no snacks, no gift shop, and certainly no polished tourist traps. Entry is free, though any donation earns a heartfelt nod from the volunteers. For anyone hungry for pure, unfiltered local lore, this small-town sanctuary is a hidden gem you won’t want to miss. Get your nostalgia fix here.
Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture | Where History Gets (Actually) Interesting
Perched in the leafy streets of Browne’s Addition, the Museum of Arts & Culture weaves Spokane’s story into every brick of its Spanish Baroque inspired building. Descend below street level and you’ll discover galleries that shelter Plateau Indian masterpieces, offering the kind of collection you might never outgrow. Down the hall, the Campbell House stands as a perfectly preserved time capsule, its period rooms overflowing with the city’s most dramatic chapters.
Exhibits rotate regularly, inviting everything from samurai armor to the fiery tales of local pioneers. A bright hands-on activity center keeps restless little explorers and, let’s face it, bored adults engaged for hours. Family friendly programs run all year long, turning each visit into a fresh adventure.
Parking won’t test your patience, admission fees feel fair, and membership unlocks early previews and special events. Although the café is still under renovation, you’re welcome to pack a snack and linger under a skylight. If you’re after cultural bragging rights or simply craving a dose of creativity, this museum delivers. start planning your visit here.
Mobius Discovery Center | Hands-On Family Wonderland
If your idea of a museum is solemnly staring at dusty artifacts and shushing kids every three seconds, prepare yourself: Mobius Discovery Center is about as buttoned-down as a toddler at a birthday party. This is ground zero for hands-on, brains-on science play—expect to get sprayed by a rogue bubble, out-engineered by a six-year-old in the Bridges & Structures zone, and caught crawling through the Enchanted Forest before you realize you’re technically too tall for the tunnel. Housed in the historic Washington Water Power building, Mobius pulls off the neat trick of feeling both completely modern and a little bit timeless, with spaces full of everything from live reptiles to an entire market where kids can “shop” with more gusto than you do during a Target run.
There’s a Bubbles! exhibit that will pop your previously held beliefs about what counts as science fun, plus STEAM Labs, sensory-friendly hours, and a market roleplay area in case you enjoy shouting “clean-up on aisle three” at unsuspecting children. Perfect for the young and the easily amused (myself included). Grab your parking at River Park Square, brace for kinetic energy, and just try not to have a good time. Book your next exploration here.
Jundt Art Museum | Spokane’s Hidden Masterpiece Trove
If you’ve ever wanted to stroll through a Rembrandt, a Picasso, and what feels like the world’s most dramatic glass chandelier—all within one lunch break—this museum has you covered. Hidden on a college campus (no ID required), it skips velvet ropes and admission fees in favor of approachable galleries.
Rotating exhibitions range from centuries-old Japanese woodblock prints to Andy Warhol’s bold pop art. And that Chihuly installation? It’s a glass tree so intricate you might start searching for secret messages. The atmosphere is a quiet sanctuary, occasionally delightfully odd, and never overcrowded.
Families will find plenty to love. Interactive workshops and family-themed days beat any typical weekend outing, turning curious kids into mini art aficionados. When you’re done exploring, head outside to free parking lots or hop on a nearby bus without a second thought.
No ticket fees and no budget hits—just a dose of culture that elevates your afternoon and your social feed in one go. plan your visit here.
Inland Northwest Rail Museum | All Aboard for Train Geeks
If you’ve ever dreamed of riding the rails without dealing with schedule changes or noisy neighbors, this museum is your ticket. Spanning 30 acres, it’s a paradise for anyone whose inner child still thinks trains rule the world.
Nearly thirty restored locomotives and rail cars line the grounds, alongside interactive displays and an epic model railway. Don a conductor’s hat (optional but encouraged) and hop aboard the miniature train that chugs in a loop around the property.
Seasonal events keep the fun rolling. Brewery nights, haunted Halloween excursions, and free Father’s Day admission for dads who can’t resist a Lionel set all add extra steam. Little engineers can burn off energy in dedicated play zones, and birthday packages make celebrations unforgettable.
Dining choices on site are limited, so pack your favorite snacks or a full picnic. Then prepare for a day filled with whistles, wheels, and winding tracks that spark the imagination. Get your tickets, don your best overalls, and savor the locomotive nostalgia.
Campbell House | Time Machine for Nostalgic History Nerds
Walking through this grand 1898 mansion feels like stepping into early Spokane’s high society—no costume required, though you might half-expect a top hat. Original furnishings, lavish wallpaper, and a kitchen that makes you thankful for modern ovens all paint a vivid picture of elite life at the turn of the century.
Guided tours run on select Wednesdays and occasional Saturdays. Knowledgeable hosts bring each room to life with quirky anecdotes and regional lore, delivering history with personality rather than dry facts.
Next door, the Carriage House offers hands-on displays and family-friendly workshops. It’s the perfect spot for curious minds to try antique crafts or explore interactive exhibits.
A note for visitors with mobility needs: the main house retains its original staircases and isn’t wheelchair accessible. The Carriage House steps in with easier access so everyone can join the fun. Marvel at ornate wallpaper and imagine how winters were spent by fireplace alone. See what life in Spokane’s Gilded Age looked like.
Bing Crosby House Museum | Old School Star Power
Visiting this cozy Craftsman home is like stepping into Hollywood’s golden age without leaving Spokane. Once occupied by a famous crooner’s family, the house displays gold records, glittering trophies, and Bing’s very own Oscar—right beside the dining table where the family once gathered.
There are no fancy digital screens here—just inviting wood-paneled rooms, creaky floors, and an audio experience that plays vintage radio and film clips. It’s old-school stardom up close and personal.
Admission is free and parking is a breeze, making this a simple addition to any itinerary. Time your visit for the annual holiday open house to see the original decorations in full festive swing.
Kids will be mesmerized by shiny memorabilia, and trivia buffs will stockpile fun facts. Whether you’re a music fan or a history buff, this intimate glimpse into local legend hits all the right notes. Pay your respects to Spokane’s most velvet voice.
North Spokane Farm Museum | Hands-On History Fix
Step into this farm museum—nicknamed The Red Shed—and you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back to an era of barn floors and horsepower. Restored machinery dating to 1850 stands alongside a fully outfitted 1950s kitchen where you can try your hand at churning butter.
One standout feature is the Ironstone China collection, with hundreds of perfectly preserved plates and cups on display. Every June, live demonstrations bring vintage tractors and equipment roaring to life, giving visitors a front-row seat to bygone farm work.
This is a true teach-and-touch museum. Kids get permission to handle tools and gadgets, while adults indulge in nostalgia and swap farming stories. Personalized tours are available, but be sure to call ahead for a guaranteed slot—the team loves rolling out the hay bales for organized groups.
Whether you’re curious about Spokane’s agricultural roots or simply enjoy hands-on history, this free-range experience digs deep without any lectures—just genuine, greasy-fun discovery. See if you’re ready to trade in your sneakers for farm boots.
