Free First Thursdays at Portland Art Museum

Portland Art Museum

Make the Most of Your Free Admission

On the first Thursday of each month, the Portland Art Museum is free! Located in the heart of Downtown Portland, the museum brings art, culture and history to our city from around the world. They’ve even followed the timeline of the rise in local creators, such as the top-motion animation studio Laika exhibit last winter.

Did you know the Portland Art Museum is the seventh oldest museum in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest?

The Portland Art Museum is so much more than sterile galleries and uninspired lines of paintings on the wall. They truly bring exhibits to life and allow you to travel back in time. What I love most about the museum are the seasonal exhibits, which include interesting interactive features and overflow with color, texture and timeless intrigue. It’s also a great place to get in touch with our country’s history with an extensive collection of the native peoples of North America.

Make the most of your free admission by taking advantage of special activities. During the first Thursday event, the museum usually hosts a free public tour. The skilled docent leading the tour will encourage you to view and appreciate art in a new way through a specific focus such as meditation, color, slow looking and more. I recommend checking the event calendar on first Thursday to make sure you get to the museum in time for the free tour. 

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned art goer, make the most of your trip by visiting for free.

Admission at the Portland Art Museum is always free to visitors age 17 and younger. But everyone gets in free on the evening of the month’s first Thursday. This special event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. I recommend getting there early.

If you’re looking for other free days at the PAM or other Portland museums, check out Bank of America’s Museums on Us.

The Portland Art Museum is located at 1219 S.W. Park Ave., between Jefferson and Madison streets.