It’s never easy keeping kids busy—and their brains active—during school breaks. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or babysitter in search of things to do with children this summer, there’s no shortage of enriching opportunities that can get youngsters fired up about the world around them—and even excite them in the transition back to school. Say goodbye to the summer slump with these engaging, insightful destinations that bring regional history to life.
There’s no better way to learn about the city of St. Louis than by visiting the Missouri History Museum, currently home to an immersive exhibit on the 1904 World’s Fair—easily the watermark for the city’s cultural imprint on the international stage. Designed for modern audiences, this exhibit features a collection of artifacts and images that recapture the excitement of the fair. It also expresses fresh perspectives from the workers, organizers, and visitors who experienced the fair first-hand, culminating in an experience that shares a story of the fair as a construction site, an arena, an amusement park, and a representation of America’s burgeoning empire.
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum
Located in St. Charles, the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum is situated along the Missouri River in a replica boathouse designed to fit a one-of-a-kind replica keelboat and two pirogues that retrace the travels of the original Lewis and Clark Expedition. Every child growing up in Missouri learns about Lewis and Clark, but this experience transports visitors back to the early 19th century, thanks to the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, a nationally recognized group of reenactors.
Another popular Lewis and Clark destination is the State Historic Site in Hartford, Illinois. Here, visitors can put themselves in the famous explorers’ boots by touring a 14,000 square foot interpretive center, which features a 15-minute film, reconstructed settlers’ cabin, and reconstructed Camp River Dubois—the historic winter encampment site where the explorers famously stayed before their departure. Also on display is a full-scale replica of the keelboat used by the Corps of Discovery to ascend the Missouri River.
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Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center
There’s so much regional history around, and just beyond, every corner of the metro area. The Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning Center showcases local antiquities and memorabilia, such as the Ste. Genevieve river transfer boat, artwork from diorama artist Lewis Pruneau, and artifacts from the World War II Weingarten POW Camp. But this museum goes beyond the past 300 years—also on display are fossils and life-sized dinosaur models, located in the popular Hall of Giants, that bring to life some of the most impressive creatures to ever roam the Earth.
Part of Gateway Arch National Park, the Old Courthouse reopened in May 2025 after extensive renovations. Now, visitors can enjoy enhanced accessibility and four new exhibits covering everything from the impact the court system has played in shaping society to a hands-on architecture gallery to a civil rights exhibit about African American life in St. Louis to the legacy of Dred and Harriet Scott.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
A short, 15-minute drive east from St. Louis proper brings you to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, the largest pre-Columbian urban center north of Mexico. Now a series of earth mounds, this park in Collinsville, Illinois, was once a booming metropolis of 20,000 people—larger than London in AD 1250. The grounds and trails are open to the public daily from dawn until dusk while an onsite museum traces the history of the Mississippian people who lived here.
At this local institution, kids can explore the history of this American music genre starting in the 1900s all the way through today.
National Museum of Transportation
This impressive museum touts the largest collection of transportation vehicles in the world, including the 1833-built Boston & Providence Railroad Passenger Coach.
Venture back in time–for free–to learn about Missouri as it once looked more than 10,000 years ago.
Discover 200-plus years of the history of Westward expansion—and St. Louis’ prominent role in it—in this expansive museum located at the Gateway Arch. It’s practically a field-trip rite of passage for St. Louis kids.
