With nationally touring and locally produced museum exhibits, art galleries, and outdoor sculpture collections, Bellingham and Whatcom County features a varied year-round calendar for arts related activities. Browse this page to see all the ways you can enjoy different types of artistry on your next visit.
Discover Whatcom County's best cultural and art attractions with this art-focused Quest Pass. The Culture Crawl Quest Pass is free, easy to use, and available on your mobile device! Download the pass to explore great ideas on where to go and what to see--and receive amazing deals, promotions, and prizes along the way.
Sign up for the free pass and start your quest today!
Fairhaven Village in Bellingham has numerous art shops featuring works by local artists and makers. Drop in to chat with the artists; they'll be happy to talk about their work and show you their creations.
The historic village is also home to art galleries including Artwood Gallery, which focuses on fine woodworking, and Peter James Photography Gallery, which features nature photography from Washington State.
There are many art tours happening in Whatcom County throughout the year, including the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour and Downtown Bellingham's First Fridays Art Walks.
Lummi Island, just a short ferry ride from Bellingham, is also home to many artists and makers who offer studio tour dates.
Check out our event calendar for upcoming art events.
One of the Top 10 outdoor sculpture collections in the nation resides at Western Washington University in Bellingham. With over 29 pieces located throughout the campus by renown artists such as Bruce Nauman, Tom Otterness, Isamu Noguchi, Alice Aycock, Beverly Pepper and Robert Maki.
Whatcom Museum offers three state-of-the-art venues:
Visitors of all ages will feel a zip of excitement while exploring the museum's world-class collection of artifacts and objects that highlight the history and development of electricity, radio, and early technology. On weekends, catch the MegaZapper Electrical Show, featuring one of the largest Tesla coils in the US.
At the intersection of art and science you'll find Mindport Exhibits, an interactive museum that encourages curiosity, stillness, movement, conversation, and play. Visitors can engage with and even manipulate the museum's many interactive exhibits, most of which are hand-built by Mindport's staff.
Allied Arts has been supporting art in Bellingham and Whatcom County for decades. Support them by visiting their art gallery in Downtown Bellingham. The gallery on Cornwall Avenue hosts rotating installations and exhibits by local artists. While you're there, learn about the organization's mission and events.
Stretch your legs with a self-guided walking tour of Downtown Bellingham, offered in a desktop, mobile, and printed version. Or make it an event with a guided Bellinghistory walking tour from local tour guides the Good Time Girls. They offer off-beat, educational tours that reveal Bellingham's lesser-known history.
Learn about the history of Lynden and Whatcom County at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. The museum showcases various memorabilia and slices of life to help capture what it felt like back in the late 19th century, when Lynden was first established.
View horse-drawn buggies, explore a blacksmith shop and farm implement store, and visit the souvenir shop.
Explore Jansen Art's Centers art galleries and rotating exhibits, or sign up to take an art class. The museum, located in the heart of Lynden, also hosts various performances and concerts.
The Center's gallery shop is a great place to find the perfect locally-made souvenir to remember your time in Whatcom County. You'll find artwork, pottery, jewelry, and more, all handmade by local artisans.
On the north side of Bellingham, the Cordata neighborhood surrounds Whatcom Community College. Tucked into an expansive low-rise building is the impressive Gallery Syre featuring works by the artist David Syre.
Explore paintings, sculptures, and installations rooted in Syre's fascination with travel, nature, and the subconscious.
