Frye Museum
The Frye has been Seattle’s only free art museum since it opened in 1952, the legacy of prominent early-twentieth-century Seattle business leaders and art collectors Charles and Emma Frye. The founders gifted their collection of primarily late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century European art in perpetuity to the people of Seattle, mandating that admission always remain free. Today, the Frye reflects Seattle’s evolving identity through exhibitions, programs, and community engagement, showcasing local and global artists who are exploring the issues of our time as well as contemporary scholarship on historical subject matter.
HISTORY OF THE ART MUSEUM
Frye Museum is home to the personal collection of Charles and Emma Frye and hosts rotating exhibitions by artists from around the world. Founded in 1952, it is mandated under its charter to be admission free and has become an integral cultural institution in the First Hill neighborhood.
Museum House is an opportunity to build upon this legacy and help the museum continue to hold its own. Frye Museum is adjacent to the St. James Cathedral in the First Hill neighborhood, already one of the most desirable places to live in Seattle.
