The Whatcom Museum occupies three connected historic buildings in downtown Bellingham, including the striking Old City Hall — a red-brick Romanesque Revival landmark that has anchored this block since 1892. Together they house a permanent collection focused on Northwest Coast Indigenous art, natural history, and the social history of the region. A separate building, the Lightcatcher, was added in 2009 and features a 46-metre translucent light wall that filters the ever-changing Northwest sky into the galleries.
The museum's contemporary art programme is seriously good for a regional institution, bringing in significant exhibitions from national and international venues. The children's gallery and natural history wing are popular with families. The courtyard between the buildings is a pleasant place to sit on a clear day, and admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.