Leonardo da Vinci remains history's universal genius. His achievements in art, engineering, mathematics, anatomy, geology, physics, music, military technology, aeronautics, and many other fields, not only stood without peer in his own time, but were strikingly prescient for the distant future. He was a Renaissance visionary who saw the modern world before it was realized.
Join MOHAI Executive Director Leonard Garfield for a close look at some of the most transformative innovations that have emerged from the Northwest. Explore the intersections of technology, nature, and civic life as reflected in the region's most significant inventions.
October is American Archives Month and National Family History Month, offering an occasion to discover and document our roots. Build your family tree or research your neighborhood's history with help from archivists, genealogists, and historians. This event welcomes all levels of interest and experience!
In 1985, Seattle's vibrant all-ages club scene was abruptly quieted by passage of the Teen Dance Ordinance. Young aspiring musicians could still play in venues like community centers, but it wasn't the same as the club scene. Youth activism grew, culminating in a series of public meetings where youth and famous allies, like Krist Novoselic, formerly of Nirvana, spoke out in favor of all-ages clubs. The campaign led to the replacement of the Teen Dance Ordinance with the All-Ages Dance Ordinance in 2002.
Leonardo's vision of a world in which nature and human experience are closely aligned provides both inspiration and a challenge to modern society. Join leading scholars and innovators as they debate the value of Leonardo's vision for a humanistic society and explore how it impacts our world today.
It's been a year and then some. Historical organizations have grappled with how to document and preserve history while living through it. What is collected today shapes the way stories will be told for the future but there are unique challenges facing those who attempt to make sense of the recent past. Join heritage organizations to learn about the lessons learned from this singular moment in history.
Join MOHAI Mercantile for a Holiday Pop-Up Market! Find gifts for everyone in your life while supporting local artists and vendors, as well as our educational mission. Shop from a wide variety of vendors, enjoy a snack from the Gourmondo at MOHAI café, and celebrate the holiday season in style!
Sequins, beading, shocking necklines and hems—party clothes from every era are meant for celebration...and maybe a little mischief. Join Curator of Collections, Clara Berg, for an intimate one-hour session to view a range of garments from the MOHAI collection that inspire a sense of celebration and fun.
World-famous architect Minoru Yamasaki (1912–1986) is known in Seattle for designing three iconic buildings: the Pacific Science Center, the IBM Building, and the Rainier Tower. But there is much more to his complex and consequential relationship with the city of his birth. Professor Paul Kidder will explore Yamasaki's University of Washington training, his influence on local architectural styles, his battle with preservationists, and the relationship between his Seattle buildings and his New York World Trade Center design.
Award winning film "Honor Thy Mother" tells the untold story of Bainbridge Island's Indipino community. Descended from Aboriginal mothers and Filipino fathers, the Indipinos reflect on their lives growing up mixed race with no sense of belonging in either culture.
The Negro Motorist Green Book was hailed as the "bible of Black travel". First published from 1936 to 1967 during Jim Crow segregation, it identified state by state the establishments deemed friendly, safe, and willing to serve Black people. Join us at MOHAI as we apply a contemporary lens to segregation, Black migration, and the rise of leisure travel.
Join MOHAI educators and Library staff to learn more about collections-based and K-12 resources that support learning with primary sources in the classroom.