- Address:635 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63101
- Website:https://www.citymuseum.org/
- Rating:4.8
City Museum
Reviews
Rated 4.8/5 based on 64 customer reviews.
Miranda Steier
May 18, 2020 02:50
This is an unusual hodgepodge of a museum. It is located in what was a warehouse at one time so the location is huge and a good part of the space is still under development. That being said, this museum is like a labyrinth and has more variety than is seen in a typical museum and is loads of fun. They boast multiple slides including a 5 and 10 story slide.There are caves to explore and crawl through, aquarium spaces, circus acts, a kiddie train, a kids art room, old arcade games, a very cool insect collection, many bits of architecture, and really just too many things to mention. We visited in January so weren't able to explore the outdoor/roof space but would love to go back for that. There are food and drink options, bars and a parking lot across the street that charges $10. Tickets are $16 for ages 3 and over, $22 with rooftop access. Highly recommend.
Ben Helstad
May 4, 2020 21:30
The City Museum here is honestly pure magic & delight.
My family wasn't able to visit for very long as we showed up a little while before closing. However, even in that short time frame, we made so many incredible memories.
The wonder of the City Museum is that if you're an adult, it makes you feel like a kid again. I was crawling, climbing, getting stuck, and exploring the entire building with just as much amazement & wonder as my little 2 year old. There is so much to do and see in this place that it's absolutely astounding.
Full disclosure, we only managed to get through part of the first & second floors. We didn't even get to see the whole thing!
I don't live in St. Louis, but I have family there who we'll be visiting a LOT more often now so that we can visit the City Museum time & time again.
Spencer Roudebush
April 13, 2020 20:15
Coolest place ever! There is so much stuff to do, it would probably take you a few days to everything there! AMAZING! But also, not a very good choice for younger children. You can lost easily.
Carlos Morales
March 15, 2020 18:41
The rooftop is finally back open for the season. They are doing a great job cleaning often and the kids love it here. There are many many slides and crawlspaces, so definitely plan on being on your knees and stretching your back. I am on the larger side and even then it is very sturdy and I never felt unsafe even though I could be very high up. Lots to see and do! Plan on being here all day or coming back often !!!
Kasey Miller
March 13, 2020 11:05
THE BEST!! Hands down one of the best experiences in St. Louis. Be prepared to feel like a child again. (And dress accordingly!) You can spend hours climbing around this giant building and easily end up right where you started. Definitely easier if you are a child or small framed person. Be prepared for an unintended, fabulously fun work out!
Todd Nielsen
February 16, 2020 22:57
This place was awesome! I have never seen anything like this. I feel like you could spend weeks on end exploring every nook and cranny of this place and still not see all of it. It's great for kids and family, but it is easy to lose track of kids amidst all the places to explore, so just keep your eyes peeled for them. I plan to return as this was so unexpectedly fun!
Brandon Snyder
January 4, 2020 00:01
Great place to bring the entire family of any ages. Lots of running around for younger kids, some interesting exhibits for older. The aquarium section is very nice. Big fan of the old arcade games on the third (?) Floor, those are always fun. 10 story slide is great as well if you have the stomach for it.
Christina Chulka
December 30, 2019 21:24
There is really no amount of explaining or describing I can do, that would truly make someone understand just what, and how big the city museum is.
This place is like an interactive version of the circus circus (if you know what that is). It's not "a museum" like someone might first think when you see the name.
There are historic exhibits and such, but that's not really why people go. Instead, it's more of a playground type thing that even adults can partake in.
There's lots of climbing, seemingly endless floors and rooms that contain everything from ropes to swing on, to 10 story slides, to secret passageways that end up in the craziest of places.
There's many different places to get food and drinks, there's even a bar.
Heck, at one point we were walking around exploring the place and we start to hear music, so I follow it. Eventually, we come to a spot where you can watch a live band playing. An adult could have plenty of fun here, but for a kid, it's gotta be an absolute dream.
I know the kids were as amazed as I was. You could go everyday for a couple weeks and still not see everything there is there. I cannot stress how huge this place is. You'll wonder if there's ever an end to it! Anyway, I wish I could describe the place better, but this is truly one of those things that you have to see to understand. Check it out, you won't be sorry!
KittenLover 29
December 29, 2019 16:20
City museum is an amazing place to go with family and is fun for all ages. The layout is basically a massive artistic jungle gym. There are lots of secret tunnels that lead to different areas. There is so much to offer and you can entertain yourself. I went there with my family and we had a great time. There is so much to explore and you would have to stay there for days to explore the whole place.
stephanie Dawson
September 30, 2018 13:46
The museum itself is very cool. The kids.love it. However, for a family of 4,.total admission is a little more than $80 including rooftop access. Then there is the food. We brought our food. Apparently that is not allowed. We didn't know. But it should be allowed. The Magic house allows it as long as it is eaten outside on the picnic tables. The city museum should adopt this policy too. Otherwise, for a family of 4, food will run $50-$60 bringing the grand total of roughly $140 for a few hours of fun. I find that completely ridiculous. Probably won't be back anywhere around mealtimes.
Charity Van Meter
September 29, 2018 23:45
This place was awesome. Great place to feel like a kid again. Definitely recommend bringing knee pads if your an adult. We brought our 2yr old. Probably not a good idea to bring kids under 6 after 930pm. People get a little rowdy and alcohol is sold. The toddler castle was a little disappointing after seeing the website photo but she enjoyed it. All together we had a blast. Definitely want to go back!!!
Kelley Davenport
September 21, 2018 16:48
City Museum is one of the reasons we visited St Louis. It was one of the weirdest, strangest, bizarrely WONDERFUL places I've ever been. My family had an absolute blast. We have older kids (they we're 12, 13 and 16 at the time) but they acted like 8 year olds, so did my wife and I. There was something strange and unique around every corner. Don't be afraid to explore, if there's a crack in the wall go through it. Nothing is out of bounds. Check out the rooftop, it may or may not be for you. My youngest daughter and I paid the extra to do the stuff on the roof. All in all totally worth the visit. I would suggest taking a shirt to change into, I got pretty sweaty which made going down slides impossible.
Jose Perez
September 15, 2018 10:05
This place is hands down one of the best places for kids if you are in St. Louis. The inside is full of caves that lead to pretty much everywhere. They even fit adults. You can spend all day inside the caves, and not even make it anywhere else around the museum. The outdoor play area is just as good as the inside. It is the coolest jungle gym you'll ever play on which again, is adult friendly. There may be some tight spots but with a little maneuvering bigger kids and adults should be able to get through with no issues. I'm not a small guy either I'm about 6ft 2in tall and about 190 pounds. I myself thought I was in danger of getting stuck in some places a few time to the point that my son and nephew had to come back for me. Then there is the rooftop which I honestly thought was a bit overrated but it's still nice. If you do get a chance to visit this place, it would be best to do it at night because then the entire place is lit up, it's not crazy hot, and you can enjoy the views from the rooftop. It's a much better experience I believe. I would highly recommend this place as a must visit location.
Latisha Harding
September 14, 2018 10:05
City Museum is the best! Makes you feel like a kid again climbing through all the tunnels and obstacles throughout. I've gone 3 times now and it's different each time as they are always building. I highly recommend it to all of my friends. My 11 year old son came for the first time this last Thursday (perfect day to go because there was hardly anyone there being kids in school & many at work) he had a blast and we got to explore so much. Also get the knee pads from the gift shop!!! Best $6 spent for those. Your knees will thank you later!
Lisa Johnson
September 5, 2018 20:01
Awesome, just awesome. You need to be at least a little active to fully enjoy this place. But it's amazing, an inside cave system..my kids loved. Super high slides, tons of great art, fish tanks, lots of great things to try. Not to mention we loved the pizza. And there's a lot of good photo ops if that's your thing. We'll be going back, every time we visit the area!!
A Google User
August 25, 2018 08:28
Honest to goodness one of the most fun things I've ever been to. Wear comfortable clothes, and be ready to climb, because you can climb basically everything or slide down it. My wife and I spent 6 hours wandering and exploring and looking and still felt like we didn't see everything. It's an incredible experience. Make sure you check out the 10 story slide down the center of the building, and take some time on the roof to check out all the nooks and crannies.
Charles Rohan
August 25, 2018 08:28
Honest to goodness one of the most fun things I've ever been to. Wear comfortable clothes, and be ready to climb, because you can climb basically everything or slide down it. My wife and I spent 6 hours wandering and exploring and looking and still felt like we didn't see everything. It's an incredible experience. Make sure you check out the 10 story slide down the center of the building, and take some time on the roof to check out all the nooks and crannies.
Daniel Cape
August 18, 2018 21:03
Oh my gosh, this place is incredible! Been there twice and each time you find new nooks and crannies. This place is good for people young and old, big and small as there are many things to do. If your knees aren't great, I'd suggest knee pads. But this place is incredible. You can spend over 4 hrs and still not have seen everywhere. How exciting! I would highly recommend!! Btw, they do have a coat check for purses and such.
A Google User
August 13, 2018 11:12
Ton of fun! I was with a group of three other people my age (21 years old) and we all loved it. We were still able to climb through most of the areas, but did have to skip a few sections. Great views from the roof. I would definitely recommend buying knee pads from the gift shop for all of the crawling (only $6).
The food look and smelled very good, but we didn't try anything. It seemed to be reasonably priced though!
Ricky Huse
August 13, 2018 11:12
Ton of fun! I was with a group of three other people my age (21 years old) and we all loved it. We were still able to climb through most of the areas, but did have to skip a few sections. Great views from the roof. I would definitely recommend buying knee pads from the gift shop for all of the crawling (only $6).
The food look and smelled very good, but we didn't try anything. It seemed to be reasonably priced though!
A Google User
August 10, 2018 22:07
This was one of the craziest and most amazing places we've been. The kids were crawling up one or two floors and finding a slide and sliding back down to the ground floor. Multiple floors with so much action. A 10 story slide, caves, crawling under the floor and on the ceiling, a little kids area, a train, a circus. The decor is incredible, so much to do both inside and outside the building. Food is available and we could have stayed the entire day. Cannot wait to take our family back again. I have recommended it to everyone heading to St Louis.
julie gleason
August 10, 2018 22:07
This was one of the craziest and most amazing places we've been. The kids were crawling up one or two floors and finding a slide and sliding back down to the ground floor. Multiple floors with so much action. A 10 story slide, caves, crawling under the floor and on the ceiling, a little kids area, a train, a circus. The decor is incredible, so much to do both inside and outside the building. Food is available and we could have stayed the entire day. Cannot wait to take our family back again. I have recommended it to everyone heading to St Louis.
Kim Breneisen
August 7, 2018 10:23
So much fun! Wear tennis shoes and work out clothes! You will be climbing, crawling, sliding, pulling on ropes, and maneuvering your way through small spaces. The AC kept it good and cool. Be prepared to stay 5 - 6 hours; there are reasonably priced restaurant's on almost every floor. Admission is $14 plus $5 for the roof, well worth the additional $5; they do not offer military discount.
Brandon Hudlemeyer
July 29, 2018 01:26
This place was not what I expected. I thought we were going to a normal museum with the kids kind of like a small version of the field museum we saw earlier in the week. That is not the type of museum this place is. The minute you walk in there are things for everyone to actually crawl through and explore and when I say crawl i mean crawl. They actually sell knee pads and flashlight in the store when you come in and you will need them if you truly try and explore everything they have to offer. The kids absolutely loved it along with the wife and her mom. There is basically nothing you cant climb on and explore as you desire.
Jos P
July 27, 2018 09:52
Fun, but try to come on the off hours. Or else, there will be a crowd and you won't be able to do everything. Old and very dirty, but you can't exactly clean the entire thing every day! There's a lot to it.
It makes for a fun outing for kids and adults. Everyone can do almost everything in the place. Good for big groups too. The roof is worth the money, and adds to the experience. Parking is a bit difficult, but if you use one of the other lots, it's easier to find a spot.
Jose Perez
July 10, 2018 20:49
This place is hands down one of the best places for kids of you are in St. Louis. The inside of full of caves that lead to pretty much everywhere. They even fit adults. You can spend all day inside the caves and not even make it anywhere else around the museum. The outdoor play area is just as good as the inside. It is the coolest jungle gym you'll ever play on which again is adult friendly. There may be some tight spots but with a little maneuvering bigger kids and adults should be able to get through with no issues. I'm not a small guy either I'm about 6ft 2in tall and about 190 pounds. I myself thought I was in danger of getting stuck in some places a few time to the point that my son and nephew had to come back for me. Then there is the rooftop which I honestly thought was a bit overrated but it's still nice. If you do get a chance to visit this place, it would be best to do it at night because then the entire place is lit up, it's not crazy hot, and you can enjoy the views from the rooftop. It's a much better experience I believe. I would highly recommend this place as a must visit location.
A Google User
July 10, 2018 20:49
This place is hands down one of the best places for kids of you are in St. Louis. The inside of full of caves that lead to pretty much everywhere. They even fit adults. You can spend all day inside the caves and not even make it anywhere else around the museum. The outdoor play area is just as good as the inside. It is the coolest jungle gym you'll ever play on which again is adult friendly. There may be some tight spots but with a little maneuvering bigger kids and adults should be able to get through with no issues. I'm not a small guy either I'm about 6ft 2in tall and about 190 pounds. I myself thought I was in danger of getting stuck in some places a few time to the point that my son and nephew had to come back for me. Then there is the rooftop which I honestly thought was a bit overrated but it's still nice. If you do get a chance to visit this place, it would be best to do it at night because then the entire place is lit up, it's not crazy hot, and you can enjoy the views from the rooftop. It's a much better experience I believe. I would highly recommend this place as a must visit location.
Paul Rowland
July 5, 2018 09:02
This place was suggested by nearly every local we encountered in St Louis. I had initially planned on taking my son to the zoo, but after so many people suggested the city museum, we had to check it out. We spent about 5 hrs there before our outbound flight, and my son loved every minute of it. It was so wonderful that I will have to make it a point to check it out the next time I visit this city. There is beer / wine for parents at the cafes, which is refreshing on a hot day. Lastly, be sure to buy the roof pass. The slide and ferris wheel on the roof are more than worth the extra admission. 10/10 would do it all again.
Katherine Bishop
July 4, 2018 23:59
The City Museum is my all time favorite attraction in St. Louis. It's almost not a museum at all. Rather than a quiet, reserved place where you go to learn by looking but never touching, it is a hands-on, interactive experience. It's a place full of creativity, ingenuity, and fun. There are exhibits of curiosity, architecture, art, history, and science, most all of them you can get as close and personal with as you want. My favorite part of the museum is the vast expansion of playground: there's a forest, a whale, the caves, a plane, slides, and so much more. You can climb around all day and still not discover every nook and cranny. This is a fun trip for both children and adults, although to have the full experience, it is helpful to have the open mind of a child and the untiring, (sometimes, small) body of one. It is a place for exploration and adventure. I discover something new every time I visit. The price is definitely worth it, considering there is enough to do to stay all day. I highly recommend it for everyone, especially creative minds.
Jacob Danielson
June 30, 2018 13:40
Pretty fun place with lots to explore for all ages. Multiple floors with lots of very different exhibits and activities to look around and try. There's also an outdoor section for those daring enough. The price is pretty good but you will need to pay for parking. Good place to lose track of time.
Stuart Zieman
June 28, 2018 14:32
Oh wow, where to begin? This place is amazing! So big! We spent 5 hours at the city museum, and did not see it all. We did not get to go outside because of the rain and storms. My daughter loved the tunnels everywhere. The art / construction of the entire place is second to none. My only warning would be for people with sensory issues, be aware, it is very stimulating, both visually and sound. We will make this a new normal part of out St Louis trips.
Brittnee Snowdell
June 24, 2018 05:36
This place is amazing. It's a giant fun house. Prepare to be very active. I always feel so giddy when we walk up and see MonstroCity. Last time I discovered a slide that went from one floor and down 2 floors but was on the outside of the building. Very fun. The caves are amazing and the 10 story slide is epic. We could literally spend all day roaming the tunnels and various nooks and crannies and still not see it all. If you're in the St. Louis area and have spare time I suggest you stop in for some fun. Don't worry if you don't have kids it's fantastic for children and the child at heart alike. Bring a flash light or head lamp because some of the places are quite dark. I also suggest long pants to protect your legs and knees. We will he returning time and again for years to come.
grant I
June 21, 2018 22:52
.imagination gone wild here. Wish I was 12 years old to give it 5 stars. S cool spot to visit with more going on for kids than can probably be done in a day. A definite must stop for the younger crowd. And fun for older folks to, just pretend your a kid
Tamie Heaton
June 20, 2018 15:08
This was such a unique and fun place to visit. I loved taking pictures of the artistic details as the boys climbed and slid. Even my older boys and husband had fun. The maintenance needed some work with areas closed off and some sticky floors. I wish there was a price point if you only want to play for an hour or two instead of all day. We had to pay full price even though it closed in an hour.
Jeanne Weber
June 19, 2018 08:53
The best, most fun place ever! Great for ages 3 to 93. Super fun for kids but adults too. Even seniors can enjoy people watching when they get tired. I made an incredible snowflake out of cut paper at a craft corner as well. I recommend seniors go up to the roof too. Really fun Ferriswheel up there.
Leonardo Lopez
June 8, 2018 14:38
The City Museum is an exhilarating, vibrant maze of slides,tunnels and paths. It is a pleasant experience for all willing to engage in some physical activity. Families with kids will love it. And more playful adults will too.
It is however not a museum as much as it is a playground. Regardless have fun:)
Bart Roland
June 3, 2018 19:25
This is perhaps one of the most amazing places I've ever visited. If you are a local, I'm so jealous that you have the regular opportunity to visit this gem. If you are in St. Louis visiting, this place is a must see. To put it simply, this is a museum of exploration, and the way you get the most from it is through climbing, sliding, crawling, and creeping through the entire exhibit. Wear clothes that are comfortable and you can move in, and pray that the weather permits you to head outside. Alcohol is served late in ther evening in limited areas around the museum, but is unneeded.
Special consideration: this place is best enjoyed by healthy individuals without movement restrictions. You can rope swing, jump in a ball pit, climb into suspension netting, etc., but only if you are physically capable to fit through the many areas comfortably and safely. You may want to consider bringing knee pads to protect yourself during all the fun.
Elizabeth Maloney
May 30, 2018 15:45
Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind attraction! A massive artistic playground, hidden passages and tunnels everywhere! Plan to spend the whole day because there is so much to see, play, climb, crawl and slide through! Adults, consider getting the knee pads from the gift shop! We purchased the rooftop access as well, and I would highly recommend that for other tourists.
Eran Greenberg
May 28, 2018 12:44
Amazing place. Haven't seen anything like this before. Huge playground for kids and adults. Inside and outside. Very unique. Various slides, climbing and crawling spaces. Nice designs
Shelby Turner
May 28, 2018 10:20
This is the coolest place I have ever been. My almost three year old absolutely loved it. She is quite adventurous, though. I would not recommend for smaller children who are easily nervous or scared. Parents may have a hard time keeping track of younger kids at all times.
HOWEVER- if you are up for an adventure and an in-shape adult this is the place for you. This museum takes physical work to make it through. Yes, you can walk around but where's the fun in that? There are so many secret passageways and a million ways to end up where you weren't expecting. I personally loved the outdoor area at the entrance. We paid for the rooftop but didn't make it with our daughter's age. She was pooped in about 2 hours.
Can't wait to return! I've never been anywhere so cool!
Steve Dickey
May 18, 2018 03:13
The city museum is a really cool place, great for all kids from 3 to 103 years old. I really like fish so seeing native fish was a lot of fun. The converted trash chute to mile high slide was crazy and the caves were really cool provided you could fit (at 6'3 240lbs it was a tight fit) I suggest wearing tennis shoes and loose fitting pants and for the caves bring a head lamp. Great for kids but best for 6-14ish range. If someone in your family is a baseball person and you are not then go here while they watch a game.
Colleen Piel
May 3, 2018 20:35
Best place for kids in St. Louis! There is nowhere else I have been that compares to City Museum. It is so creative and out of the box with tons of climbing, slides, tunnels, and places to explore. It also has circus performances, casual places to eat and drink. When the rooftop is open, there are even more crazy things to do. It's very easy to lose the people you are with, especially kids, so make sure you have a good adult to child ratio. One adult can probably only handle 2 young children without losing it. Be ready to crawl and climb. The gift shop even sells adult knee pads. Make sure older kids know to stay together. We always have a blast here and leave exhausted!
Yai Malave
April 30, 2018 10:51
This place is phenomenal!!! We didn't plan on going there but it turned out to be the best decision of our trip. I'm a large girl and was able to get in and on almost every space/slide. I felt like a kid again and so did my friends. I highly recommend this place. Fun was definitely had.
Christine Kern
April 22, 2018 12:29
Very nice place. Lots of fun activities for kids and adults. If you love heights there is a huge slide. They have an area for little kids to get to have some fun too. There is an area for arts and crafts which is fun. This is a huge place for hours of entertainment. If your looking for a family friendly place come to the City Museum. There is a charge to enter.
Nikki Adams
April 15, 2018 17:13
This place was very neat. Not a museum, per say. It's more of an artsy jungle gym. All of the sculptures were intricately done and very cool. We did think it was more for kids than adults, though. I thought the price was a little steep for what it was, $14 per person plus parking. Overall, a neat little place to see at least once in your life.
Chip Fox
April 9, 2018 16:57
Great place to take the kids for a day of climbing and playing. Be prepared to loose track of them if going on a busy day. Can be very crowded but lists of fun for kids and smaller adults. If you are a taller person you will likely have issues with a lot of the twists and turned that the kids and smaller folks will be able to get through. Bring sharpie and write your cell phone number on kids armbands. Staff is very good about finding your kids if you become separated.
Kristina O'Neil
April 7, 2018 22:43
Incredible museum that is always changing. This is a perfect location to bring active kids who want to experience an adventure. All of my kids, ages 13 to 20 love it here. We've been visiting the City Museum every year for at least 7-8 years. The food and adult beverage options have improved over the past year.
Adam Ogura
April 2, 2018 09:30
So fun and so engaging for kids. Parts were dark and seemed like it could really be dangerous. Fosters a sense of wonder and adventure. We played for nearly 5 hours before we even found the entrance to the caves and 10 story slide. So much stuff to do and wonderful for active kids and adults. Recommend that adults plan on keeping pockets light or empty and get ready to climb and move through tight spaces.
Josh Horneck
March 30, 2018 16:21
The place is so bizarre. It's really cool and eclectic. Tunnels go everywhere. Perfect age would be 10-14, but our 3 and 5 year old had a blast. Some of the places were just tight and took adults longer to get through. We bought bright yellow construction vests at a big blue and yellow Swedish store before going. Would advise you do the same with younger kids. Will definitely return. Don't park on location (even though they will guilt you into doing it). All day parking across street for $3-$5. Coat check is $1/coat. We didn't find any lockers to store valuables. Knees of jeans will get dirty/stained/ripped. Be sure to charge phone to keep in touch. Extremely easy to get lost.
Sean Smith
March 29, 2018 18:52
Amazing, dream-like adventure museum. We took our kids, ages 17, 12 and 4. Climbing, crawling and squeezing through small spaces is a large part of the experience. There's a five story and 10 story slide. If you go on a crowded day, you can expect to be bumped trying to get from one place to another, and it will likely be tough to get a table in the restaurant. But it's worth it. The food is really good and the service is very good. My son really liked toddler town, which is actually for kids up to 6 years old. There was something for everyone.