Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, Washington, United States

5Pat-and-Sally 5:00 PM Oct 9, 2010

Boats that fly !
When in the Seattle area, anyone who has knowledge, interest, or interest in Unlimited Hydroplanes, should have the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum high on their list of things to see. Recently, while on a nostalgia trip of sorts to the Bellevue/Seattle area (having grown up there in the 1950-60's) I decided to go visit this great museum. Some of my favorite memories are of the beginnings and growth of hydroplane racing in Seattle, and seeing all the older hydros fully restored to their original glory was a sight to behold. Stan Sayres, who also happened to be our next door neighbor, went back to Detroit, and captured the "Gold Cup" and brought it back to Seattle....and the rest is history. Slo-Mo-Shun IV & Slo-Mo-Shun V were his creations, and the two boats were much loved by all in Seattle. Unlimited hydroplane racing has a long and glorius history in Seattle, and is still enjoyed by all generations. The staff at the museum are very helpful, courteous and possess a great knowledge of the boats, and their histories. It it obvious that theirs is a labor of love. So, do yourself a favor, and visit the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum....you will not regret it !

5Jason Hennig 5:00 PM May 31, 2019

Hidden Gem
This place is tucked in an industrial district, and is way off the beaten path. Despite that, it's an absolute must-see if you like hydroplanes, are curious about hydroplanes, or heard about hydroplanes once. They have a great and friendly staff, a genuinely mind-boggling number of artifacts that you can put your hands on, and some truly remarkable restorations that I won't spoil. Entrance fee of $10 might be a little bit much for a small museum for people on a budget, but I'd nevertheless recommend it; it's worth every penny.