Explore the Whatcom Museum
From curator-led walks through our newest exhibitions to history tours of historic Old City Hall, our guided tours bring art, history, and Bellingham’s story to life.
Our expert guides make it easy to go deeper — whether you’re discovering contemporary art or Bellingham’s rich history. Most tours run about an hour, and no reservation is required unless noted. Explore the options below.
Enjoy a one-hour tour with Whatcom Museum Chief Curator Amy Chaloupka. She’ll take you through some of our newest art exhibitions and share stories, reflections, and histories of the works on view. Tours begin in the Lightcatcher lobby (250 Flora St.).
See tour dates →Enjoy a prix fixe three-course Italian dinner at Bar Cicotti inside the Whatcom Museum's Lightcatcher building. Chef Jonathan Cicotti crafts recipes inspired by his Italian family’s traditions from Cento in Northern Italy. After dinner, meet Chief Curator and Director of Exhibitions Amy Chaloupka in the Lightcatcher lobby for a guided tour of current exhibitions: Luminous Glow, Murmuration, Hard Edge/Soft Ground (Sept 9), and Forested (beginning Oct 14) . Dinner and tour spots are limited to 14 guests. Dinner is served from 5:30–6:50 pm, followed by the tour from 7–8 pm. Your ticket includes your meal, one glass of wine, tax, and gratuity. (Additional drinks may be purchased separately at the restaurant.)
See dates & reserve your seat →One-hour docent-led tours begin on the first floor of Old City Hall (121 Prospect St.), which was built in 1892 and served as Bellingham’s original city hall until the 1930s before becoming home to the Whatcom Museum in 1941. Learn fun facts, quirky trivia, and hear intriguing stories about the colorful characters who once worked and passed through this iconic space.
See tour dates →On most Free First Fridays, the Museum offers tours of current exhibitions along with short Sweet Art Tours for children ages 1–5 and their caregivers. Check the Free First Friday schedule to see what’s planned!
See the Free First Friday schedule →