Arrive curious.
Leave inspired.
Imagine a world where all of us can live healthy and productive lives. Explore our exhibitions, learn about the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its partners, and be inspired to take action on causes you care about.
Hours and location
Open Wednesday – Saturday | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Public tour @ 2 p.m. | Toilet tour @ 3:30 p.m., Wednesday – Saturday
440 Fifth Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109
Always free
Introducing: Partners of Human Potential
Discover the power of partnership. Experience the stories of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s amazing partners and their game-changing work.
Upcoming events
Stories That Spark Change
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | 4 – 7 pm PDT
Discovery Center
This special event will feature a compelling conversation between Edgardo and Isabel Muñoz-Colón, Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation’s WA State Initiatives. Together, they will delve into the transformative power of storytelling, the importance of representation in media, and the rich cultural heritage that informs Edgardo’s work.
Drag Lotería
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 5 – 7 pm PDT
Discovery Center
Drag Lotería is a type of bingo game that is popular in Mexican culture. Instead of calling out numbers, drag queens perform on stage and participants mark off the corresponding character or image on their Lotería cards. This event will include delicious food, exciting prizes, and lots of fun.
Creating Connections
Thursday, October 10, 2024 | 5 – 7 pm PDT
Discovery Center
Join the Discovery Center, International Rescue Committee, United Way of King County’s Emerging Leaders, Success Cohorts, FIUTS (Foundation for International Understanding Through Students), and Seattle University’s Alfie Scholars to celebrate and connect individuals and organizations and inspire leaders to drive change within their communities and beyond.
Hope Away from Home
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 5 – 7 pm PDT
Discovery Center
USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency invites you to spend an inspirational evening with Emtithal (Emi) Mahmoud—Sudanese-American slam poet, humanitarian and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. Emi brings a message of hope, solidarity, and compassion for refugees everywhere.
Featured Exhibition
A Better Way to Go
Toilets and the Future of Sanitation
Explore innovations, powerful stories, toilets of the future, art installations, and visions of resilient and sustainable sanitation systems.
Exhibition highlights
Our work gallery
At the Discovery Center, you’ll see examples of how we work with partners around the world to fight disease, gender inequality, make agricultural innovations, and more.
Get involved gallery
How would you change your community for the better? We share all sorts of ways you can make a difference.
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