Many of you know and love Jacob McMurray, Chief Collections + Exhibitions Officer, but did you know that this key member of MOPOP’s leadership team has been shaping MOPOP’s collection strategy and curatorial vision since before the museum was built?  

McMurray has been with MOPOP since its inception, joining in 1994 during the museum’s early development. Over three decades, he has held various roles, from Curatorial Assistant to his current leadership position. His curatorial work spans more than 20 exhibitions exploring the depth of popular culture, including Minecraft: The Exhibition (2019), Indie Game Revolution (2014), Hear My Train A Comin’: Hendrix Hits London (2012), Can’t Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film (2011), and Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses (2011).

As part of MOPOP’s Birthday Celebration we hope you enjoy these milestone reflections.  

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1. Jimi Hendrix
The origins of MOPOP trace back to a singular inspiration: Jimi Hendrix. In the early 1990s, Paul Allen’s deep admiration for Hendrix led to the vision of a museum dedicated solely to the legendary guitarist. At the time, no institution had attempted to present Hendrix’s legacy in a museum context, making our early collecting efforts groundbreaking. I remember the palpable excitement as we acquired handwritten lyrics, iconic instruments, and clothing, bringing history to life in a way never seen before. What started as a tribute to one artist soon set the foundation for something much greater—a cultural institution that would evolve beyond music to embrace the full spectrum of popular culture.

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2. Experience Music Project
In 1997, we broke ground at Seattle Center, launching what would become the Experience Music Project (EMP). By June 2000, our Hendrix-focused concept had evolved into a full-scale museum celebrating all forms of music. Our debut exhibitions set a bold tone: tributes to Hendrix and Pacific Northwest music, explorations of hip-hop, punk, and alternative genres, the evolution of the electric guitar, and a showcase on architect Frank Gehry, whose striking, fluid design shaped our building. With Soundlab’s instrument-based intuitive interactives and the James Brown-centered motion-platform ride Funk Blast, we positioned ourselves as a leader in immersive, technology-driven experiences. Another standout was IF VI WAS IX, a swirling tower of over 700 instruments, some self-playing, crafted by MacArthur grant-winning artist Trimpin. Opening day was a whirlwind, marking the start of something truly groundbreaking in the museum world.

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3. A World Class Permanent Collection

The heart of any museum is its collection, and our journey in building one has been nothing short of extraordinary. When I joined in 1994, we had just 1,000 artifacts; by our opening in 2000, we had amassed over 80,000. Our collection became the world’s largest repository of Hendrix objects, tens of thousands of artifacts related to Pacific Northwest music, and grew to include hip-hop, blues, punk, folk, reggae, and more. A pivotal moment came in 2023 with the bequest from the Allen Estate, which added thousands of items related to science fiction, fantasy, and horror, reinforcing our broader pop culture mission. That same year, we launched our Online Collection Vault, making our treasures accessible to a global audience. Looking back, I’m struck by how our collection has not only grown in size but in significance, capturing the essence of pop culture across the decades.

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4. Soundlab
From the outset, we wanted to create an exhibition that would allow visitors to experience music creation firsthand, regardless of their musical skill level. The challenge was making musical instruments approachable rather than intimidating. The answer was Soundlab—a space where anyone could play "Louie Louie" on guitar, try their hand at the bass, keyboard, vocals, or drums, or step into a jam room and simply rock out. Seeing visitors light up as they realized they could make music was a powerful reminder that creativity is within all of us. Soundlab wasn't just an exhibition; it was an invitation to explore music in an entirely new way, setting the tone for our commitment to interactive engagement.

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5. Sound Off!
Launched as a 21-and-under “battle of the bands,” Sound Off! quickly became a cornerstone of our commitment to supporting young musicians. Over time, we transitioned away from competition to a showcase model, fostering a more inclusive environment for emerging talent. Each year, a dozen artists are selected by our Youth Advisory Board, staff, and community partners to perform on our iconic Sky Church stage. Industry professionals mentor the participants, offering invaluable guidance. Seeing these young artists grow, some going on to national recognition, has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my time at the museum. Sound Off! is more than a program; it’s a movement, a bridge between Seattle's musical past and its promising future.

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6. New Museum Territory
From the start, we explored cultural territories untouched by other museums. In 2002, Island Revolution: Jamaican Rhythm from Ska to Reggae debuted, marking both a celebration of Jamaica’s musical legacy and an international expansion of our traveling exhibition program. Since then, we’ve taken our exhibitions across the country and the world, proving that pop culture is a universal language. We were also early pioneers in hip-hop artifact collection, leading to Hip-Hop Nation (2000) and Yes Yes Y'all: The Birth of Hip-Hop (2003), cementing our role as trailblazers, and acknowledging the genre as a driving force in music and culture. Our innovation continued in 2014 with Indie Game Revolution, the first museum exhibition dedicated to deeply personal and intensely creative field of independent video games. This dynamic space evolves regularly, reflecting gaming’s rapid transformation. Innovation has been at MOPOP’s core from Day One.

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7. Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame
In 2004, we expanded beyond music with the launch of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. While this may have seemed like a departure, it was a natural extension of Paul Allen’s passions. The exhibition space brought together some of the most iconic sci-fi artifacts: Captain Kirk’s command chair, the Alien Queen, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the Death Star. Walking through those halls, you could feel the awe of visitors seeing artifacts from their favorite fandoms up close and personal. This expansion set the stage for our broader embrace of pop culture beyond music.

8. Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses
2011 marked another defining moment as we unveiled Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses. This was more than just an exhibition; it was a love letter to Seattle’s musical heritage. With over 200 objects and 80 oral histories, the exhibition became a pilgrimage site for fans worldwide. In 2017, we had the chance to take it to Brazil, where we witnessed firsthand how Nirvana's music transcended borders. Seeing fans from different cultures embrace the exhibition reaffirmed our belief in the universal power of music.

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9. Enter Museum of Pop Culture
In late 2016, we fully embraced our evolution, rebranding as the Museum of Pop Culture. This was not just a name change—it was a statement of purpose. From Hendrix to sci-fi, from hip-hop to gaming, our journey had shown us that pop culture in all its forms deserved to be celebrated. The name MOPOP encapsulated our past, present, and future, reflecting a museum that had grown beyond its origins to become a true champion of popular culture.

10. A More Inclusive Future
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2025, we are more committed than ever to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Through initiatives like our Guest Curator Program and deepened community partnerships, we are striving to ensure that pop culture is for everyone. We have redefined our mission, expanding our focus on film, gaming, fashion, and music while ensuring that our exhibitions reflect a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives. A quarter-century in, we are still growing, still learning, and still pushing boundaries. And we’re just getting started. Just wait and see.

You can make an impact on this milestone birthday by joining MOPOP as a member, renewing your membership or by making a gift.

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