Bellingham and Whatcom County shine with arts and heritage activities. A combination of nationally touring and locally produced museum exhibits, art galleries, science and history exhibits and outdoor sculpture collections provide an active and diverse year.
Our culture crawl mobile pass is easy to use, available on your mobile device, and can offer great ideas on where to go while providing amazing deals, promotions, and prizes. Sign up for free and start your quest today!
Fairhaven Village in Bellingham has many artist's shops, so your stroll can feel like a tour as folks give you their history and show you their creations. It is also home to numerous art galleries including Artwood and Peter James Photography Gallery.
There are many art tours happening in Whatcom County throughout the year including Whatcom Artist Studio Tour and Downtown Bellingham Art Walks. Lummi Island is home to many artists, if you are lucky enough to hit one of their studio tour dates. Check out our event calendar for art events.
When you’re ready to stretch your legs, a self-guided ongoing Historic Walking Tour of Downtown Bellingham is available in desktop, mobile and printed version.
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’s state-of-the-art venues
More Downtown Art Locations
History comes alive throughout the county at numerous venues including:
Cordata Neighborhood - 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.
Pickett House - The Pickett House serves as an excellent example of Bellingham’s earliest style. To further preserve the structure, the Pickett house was designated as a museum in 1941, and in 1956, it became home to the Daughters of Pioneers. The Pickett house still serves both of these activities today.
Bellingham’s Big Rock Sculpture Garden, a 2.5-acre city park, also features more than 35 permanent works by distinguished international and local artists.