TL;DR: On a rainy day in Volunteer Park, start inside the Volunteer Park Conservatory, cross the lawn to the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and climb the water tower if the rain eases. From 605 15th Ave E, the park entrance at East Prospect Street is about a 10 minute walk north, and the Conservatory is about 13 minutes.
- Go Tuesday through Sunday: the Conservatory opens 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closes every Monday.
- Plan around the free days: first Thursdays are free at both the Conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
- Bring a card or single dollar bills, since the Conservatory kiosks take nothing else.
- Climb the water tower early in winter, because it closes at dusk and December dusk comes around 4:20 p.m.
- Skip the drive: the Route 10 bus runs up 15th Ave E to the park’s north end, or you can walk it in about 10 minutes.
How to Spend a Rainy Day in Volunteer Park
Volunteer Park is one of the few Seattle parks where rain does not end the outing. It holds two heated, covered stops, a historic glass conservatory and an art museum, plus a brick water tower with a covered stairway. All three sit within a short walk of one another at the north end of 15th Ave E.
A simple loop works well. Enter at East Prospect Street, see the museum first, walk north to the Conservatory, and finish at the water tower if the clouds break. It fits in a morning.
Walk times from 605 15th Ave E
- Park entrance at East Prospect Street. About a 10 minute walk, roughly half a mile.
- Volunteer Park Water Tower. About a 9 minute walk.
- Seattle Asian Art Museum. About a 10 minute walk.
- Volunteer Park Conservatory. About a 13 minute walk, a little over half a mile.
If the rain is heavy, the Route 10 bus stops at 15th Ave E and East Roy Street, about a minute from the front door, and runs north on 15th Ave E to East Galer Street at the park’s north edge. For a wider look at green space on this side of the hill, see our guide to parks near Capitol Hill.
Inside the Volunteer Park Conservatory
The Conservatory is a Victorian style glass house at 1400 East Galer Street that opened in 1912. The City bought the design and frame as a kit from the Hitchings Company of New York and shipped it across the country by rail. Today it holds tropical and desert collections you can see in under an hour.
Five houses, five climates
The Conservatory is a row of connected houses, each kept at its own temperature. On a 45 degree afternoon, that warmth is half the appeal.
- Palm House. The tallest room, with plants up to 25 feet, the orchid collection, palms and gingers. Kept around 72 degrees.
- Bromeliad House. Tropical bromeliads from the Americas, kept at 72 to 80 degrees.
- Fern House. Ferns and tropical plants landscaped into a natural setting, also 72 to 80 degrees.
- Seasonal House. Displays change six times a year, including a winter holiday display.
- Cactus House. Succulents and desert plants from around the world, kept at 72 to 95 degrees.
Hours, admission and free days
The Conservatory is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed every Monday. Seattle Parks and Recreation sells day passes at on site kiosks that take cards or single dollar bills only. The last passes are sold at 3:45 p.m.
- Adults (18 and up). $6.
- Youth (6 to 17), college students, seniors 65 and up, military and adaptive. $4.
- Children 5 and under. Free.
- First Thursdays. Free for everyone, with no tickets needed. The next two are November 5 and December 3, 2026.
The first Saturday of each month is Family Saturday. Weekends and holidays are busiest, and Tuesday through Thursday are quieter. The building is paved and accessible throughout; pets stay outside.
| Stop | Open | Cost | Walk from 605 15th Ave E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Park Conservatory | Tue to Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $6 adults, $4 youth and seniors, free first Thursdays | About 13 minutes |
| Seattle Asian Art Museum | Wed to Sun, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Free first Thursdays and third Saturdays; 14 and under always free | About 10 minutes |
| Volunteer Park Water Tower | Daily, 10 a.m. to dusk | Free | About 9 minutes |
The Seattle Asian Art Museum Across the Lawn
The Seattle Asian Art Museum sits at 1400 East Prospect Street, near the park’s southern edge. It is run by the Seattle Art Museum and reopened after a renovation and expansion that took place between 2018 and 2020.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Monday and Tuesday. General admission is free for everyone on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, and children 14 and under are always free. Ticket prices change, so check the Seattle Art Museum website before you go.
Rain in Volunteer Park is a reason to go inside, not a reason to stay home. Two warm buildings sit a few minutes apart at the top of 15th Ave E.
On a first Thursday, you can visit the museum and the Conservatory for free on the same day. Go early, since the Conservatory closes at 4 p.m. and the museum at 5 p.m.
The Water Tower When the Rain Lets Up
The brick Volunteer Park Water Tower was built by the city’s Water Department in the early 1900s around a steel standpipe that held water for the Cedar River supply system. A spiral staircase of more than 100 steps climbs to an observation deck near the top. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Seattle Parks lists the tower’s hours as 10 a.m. to dusk. In late December, Seattle’s sunset comes at about 4:20 p.m., so on a short winter day the tower is a late morning or midday stop. The stairwell is covered, which makes it a fair choice during a light drizzle, though the views are better when the clouds lift.
Next door: Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery borders the park’s north end, about a 19 minute walk from 15th Ave E, and makes a quiet add on when the rain stops.
A Short History to Read Between Showers
The park’s story starts long before the glass house. In 1876 the City bought 40 acres for $2,000 from J. M. Colman. An 1885 ordinance named the site a cemetery, but two years later it was renamed Lake View Park and the graves were ordered moved.
Between 1904 and 1909, the Olmsted Brothers drew formal plans for drives, lily ponds, a wading pool, a music pavilion and the conservatory building, all finished by 1912. The Landmarks Preservation Board named Volunteer Park a Seattle Landmark on November 2, 2011.
When the Conservatory’s frame wore out in the 1970s, a citizens’ group raised half the repair cost and became the nonprofit Friends of the Conservatory, which still runs its programs and gift shop.
Getting there and back
The park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free parking is available throughout the park on a first come basis, but from 15th Ave E most people walk. After a wet morning, the cafes on 15th Ave E are a few minutes from home; our Capitol Hill coffee shop guide lists them, and the neighborhood page covers the rest of the north end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Volunteer Park Conservatory hours?
The Conservatory is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed every Monday. The last day passes are sold at 3:45 p.m. so visitors have time to walk through before closing. Weekends and holidays are the busiest times, while Tuesday through Thursday tend to be quieter.
How much does admission to the Conservatory cost?
A single day pass costs $6 for adults 18 and older and $4 for youth 6 to 17, college students, seniors 65 and older, military and adaptive visitors. Children 5 and under are free. Passes are sold at on site kiosks that accept cards or single dollar bills only.
Is the Conservatory ever free?
Yes. Admission is free for everyone on the first Thursday of each month, with no reservations or tickets needed. The upcoming free first Thursdays are November 5 and December 3, 2026. The Seattle Asian Art Museum is also free on first Thursdays, so both can be visited on the same day.
What are the Seattle Asian Art Museum hours?
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is free for everyone on first Thursdays and third Saturdays, and children 14 and under are always free. Check the Seattle Art Museum website for current ticket prices and holiday hours.
Can you go up the Volunteer Park Water Tower?
Yes. Seattle Parks lists the water tower’s hours as 10 a.m. to dusk, and there is no charge. A spiral staircase of more than 100 steps leads to an observation deck. In winter, dusk arrives early, around 4:20 p.m. in late December, so plan to climb before mid afternoon.
How far is Volunteer Park from 15th Ave E?
From 605 15th Ave E, the park entrance at East Prospect Street is about a 10 minute walk north, and the Conservatory at the park’s north end is about 13 minutes. The Route 10 bus also runs north on 15th Ave E to East Galer Street, at the park’s north edge.
A Rainy Day Plan That Starts on 15th Ave E
Rain does not have to cancel a Seattle weekend when Volunteer Park is a 10 minute walk away. Start in the warm glass houses of the Conservatory, see the galleries at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and climb the water tower if the sky clears before dusk. Free first Thursdays make it an easy habit in the darker months.
The Fifteen puts that walk at your door, with secure bike storage, an in unit washer and dryer for wet gear, and a rooftop garden terrace for the clear days in between; see the full list of amenities. If the north end of Capitol Hill sounds like home, book a tour and walk the route yourself.
See what is available at The Fifteen
Studio to two-bedroom loft homes at 605 15th Avenue East in North Capitol Hill, with MFTE income-qualified options. Check live availability and book a tour online, or call the leasing team at 206-489-2747.
