A guide to St. Louis museums

There's plenty to see at area museums and historic homes.

Whether you're interested in the arts, science, history, or just need a spot for the kids to play and learn a thing or two, there’s an area museum to explore. Be sure to check out hours and special event information before you go.

Art

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: Located in the Grand Center Arts District, this 27,000-square-foot, Brad Cloepfil-designed space is the perfect backdrop for contemporary works, including interactive exhibitions and projections. Free art talks, visits from guest experts, and teen studio art programs are among the many ways to engage further with the works on display. 3750 Washington.

International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum: Each year, the IPHF honors photographers and industry professionals with a place in the Hall of Fame and features them in an accompanying exhibition. But the museum also puts on other shows year round for visitors. Past highlights include Beyond the Lens: A Woman’s View and Baseball: America’s Game, Art and Objects. 3415 Olive.

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum: Part of the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, the Kemper Art Museum focuses its efforts on collecting significant art of the time. Those efforts have helped create a strong collection of paintings, sculptures, prints, and photographs from the 19th century to the present. 1 Brookings.

Museum of Contemporary Religious Art: MOCRA at St. Louis University bills itself as the first museum to bring an interfaith focus to contemporary art. The rotating exhibitions have featured photography, paintings, sculpture, and more, all connected to religious themes and the personal spiritual journeys of artists. 3700 W. Pine.

Pulitzer Arts Foundation: At the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, contemporary art and historic pieces are placed in conversation with one another inside a striking Tadao Ando-designed building. A non-collecting museum, the Pulitzer displays works from across time and around the world to engage visitors and spark conversations. 3716 Washington.

Saint Louis Art Museum: “Dedicated to Art and Free to All” is the message carved into the facade of the St. Louis Art Museum, and it continues to live up to that creed after more than a century. The palace on Art Hill is home to works large and small from all over the world, and the collection is supplemented by special installations and exhibitions throughout the year. 1 Fine Arts.

Saint Louis University Museum of Art: This 20-year-old museum located on the SLU campus counts works by modern masters such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol among those in its permanent collection. In addition to the many modern offerings, the museum specializes in Jesuit art and artifacts and has an impressive collection of ivory and jade pieces from China and Japan. 3663 Lindell.

Family

City Museum: Sure, climbing through one of the coolest jungle gyms around and zooming down multi-story slides sounds like kid stuff, but trust us when we say adults will find plenty to love at this urban wonderland designed by artist Bob Cassilly. City Museum is a local treasure and a great place for all ages to learn, play, and, above all, explore. 750 N. 16th.

The Magic House: Little ones love The Magic House for its hands-on exhibits, many ways to play, and, well, the magic. Parents love that this kid-friendly fun house does as much educating as it does entertaining. 516 S. Kirkwood.

Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis: This hidden gem in the Bevo Mill neighborhood is full dollhouses, vignettes, and other tiny attractions. Throughout the two floors of exhibition space, visitors can explore micro-mansions, gardens, and historic spaces. There's also an extensive library dedicated to the miniature hobbyist. 4746 Gravois.

Myseum: Tucked into Lamp and Lantern Village in Town and Country, this children’s museum offers hands-on learning experiences covering concepts such as force and motion, energy, and animation, as well as opportunities for exciting pretend play. Kids can try out being the zoo vet, jump into a dinosaur dig site, or build with giant blocks to their heart’s content. 283 Lamp and Lantern Village

Historic Homes

Campbell House Museum: Originally the home of successful fur trader Robert Campbell and his family, the Campbell House has been restored to its late-1880s glory. The historic building, which has been open to visitors since 1943, is full of decorative art pieces and family history, including clothing, furniture, and paintings from the era. 1508 Locust.

Chatillon–DeMenil House: This Greek Revival mansion, once home to St. Louis founding families and trailblazers, is now a beautifully preserved space that gives visitors the chance to get a look at gorgeous furnishings while learning about Old French St. Louis, the fur trade, the World’s Fair, and other exciting turning points in the history of both the house and the city around it. 3352 Demenil.

Field House Museum: The first historic home museum in St. Louis, The Field House Museum originally opened in December 1936 to preserve the history of both Eugene Field, “The Children’s Poet,” and his father, Roswell Martin Field, Dred Scott’s attorney when he sued for his family’s freedom in 1853. 634 S. Broadway

Samuel Cupples House: Sitting on the campus of St. Louis University is this late-1880s home originally belonging to Samuel Cupples. Today it houses art galleries featuring fine and decorative arts, including the Eleanor Turshin Glass Collection. The McNamee Gallery also features exhibitions from SLU students and faculty and visiting artists. 3673 W. Pine.

Scott Joplin House State Historic Site: Exhibits on ragtime great Scott Joplins’s life and times sit throughout his former Delmar Boulevard flat, which he rented from 1901-1903. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of the King of Ragtime from an authentic player piano as they tour the home. 2658 Delmar.

History

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is a work of art in itself, housing one of the largest mosaic collections in the world. But a museum located on the Cathedral Basilica’s lower level offers displays on the design and installation of the mosaics and various objects used in church rites. It’s also home to the Basilica’s original Kilgen organ console and the throne used by Pope John Paul II during his visit to St. Louis. 4431 Lindell.

The Griot Museum of Black History: What began as the The Black World History Wax Museum in 1997 has grown into a comprehensive museum that features artifacts, art, memorabilia, and interactive learning experiences in addition to the wide collection of wax figures, all dedicated to telling the stories of Black history and culture. 2505 St. Louis.

Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum: Housed in a restored building from 1896, this Jefferson Barracks Park museum explores the history of the telephone. The self-guided exhibits include telephones, telephone equipment, memorabilia, and hands-on explanations of how things work. 12 Hancock.

Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse: This essential stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is right on the banks of the Missouri River and features a one-of-a-kind replica keelboat and two pirogues in its large boathouse. 1050 S. Riverside.

Museum at the Gateway Arch: Travel through time from Colonial St. Louis to the construction of the iconic Gateway Arch in the galleries of this museum at the foot of the historic structure. Tons of audiovisual components tell the story of the region, and for those with a fear of heights, a replica keystone with live webcams from the top of the Arch recreates the view from above. 11 N. 4th.

Missouri History Museum: All ages can find something to explore and enjoy at the Missouri History Museum, where exhibits range from St. Louis’ exciting music history to looks back at the 1904 World’s Fair and a hands-on History Clubhouse full of opportunities for pretend play. 5700 Lindell.

National Blues Museum: In addition to all the artifacts and tech-driven experiences celebrating this uniquely American genre, the National Blues Museum on Washington Avenue also houses a state-of-the-art theater and regularly hosts events such as the Evening Concert Series and Bluesy Brunch. 615 Washington. 

National Building Arts Center: This Sauget, Illinois, center is a bit off the beaten path, but it's an unmatched resource for those interested in architecture and historic preservation. While visiting the nation’s largest collection of architectural pieces, take a tour, view artifacts from the region's lost buildings, or explore the center's vast library.

National Transportation Museum: Planes, trains, and automobiles are the name of the game at the National Transportation Museum, where visitors have been able to view classic and historic modes of transportation since 1944. It’s now recognized as the largest collection of transportation vehicles in the world. 2933 Barrett Station.

Soldiers Memorial Military Museum: Soldiers Memorial honors the service and history of veterans and their families throughout the region with both long-term and short-term exhibits. Outside the galleries, the building itself and the Court of Honor are also the subject of weekly outdoor architecture and history tours. 1315 Chestnut.

Science

St. Louis Aquarium: Union Station is home to this 120,000-gallon aquarium featuring sharks, jellies, river fish, and more across a series of habitat-based exhibitions. And it’s more than just tanks full of fish. Visitors can watch playful river otters, feed some hungry turtles, or get hands-on with sharks and stingrays in the touch pools. 201 S. 18th.

St. Louis Science Center: This sprawling complex, which includes the McDonnell Planetarium and an Omnimax theater, is the place to go for all-ages fun covering the worlds of science and tech. Take a trip back in time with life-size dinosaurs, get a glimpse at the future in Mission: Mars, or settle into a seat at the Omnimax for documentary screenings unlike any other. (Pro tip: The theater also sometimes shows less educational fare, such as Harry Potter and James Bond films.) 5050 Oakland.

Sports

St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum: Boasting one of the largest collections of team-specific memorabilia and artifacts in the world, this Ballpark Village museum is paradise for Cardinals fans. View stadium replicas, jerseys, and artifacts from great moments in Cards history right in the shadow of Busch Stadium. 700 Clark.

World Chess Hall of Fame: The World and U.S. Chess Halls of Fame may be the main events at this Central West End chess mecca, but the exhibitions of chess-themed dining and decor, international sets, and history of the game are not to be missed. 4652 Maryland.

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