The City Museum St Louis Missouri is the most family-friendly St. Louis Museum. With so many fun family things to do in St. Louis for kids, you might overlook the best St. Louis kid museum. Let me change your first thought to the most amazing play-art-adventure wonderland ever – The City Museum. It’s totally not a museum.
With so many free St. Louis family activities, the City Museum is the one not-free attraction that needs to be on your must-see visit St. Louis list. Instead of “museum”, let’s call it what is really is. Play place. Amusement park. Fantasyland… No matter what you call it, this one-of-a-kind building is my kids’ favorite of St. Louis tourist spots.
This isn’t just one of many City Museum reviews. It’s a full mom-tested guide to help busy families visit St. Louis, know how to survive this crazy indoor playground, and find the best family fun in St. Louis.
If all the surreal artists got together and put their Salvador Dali dreams into a real world structure, you’d have City Museum. It’s a fantasyland. It looks like a group of artists collaborated, put their wildest ideas together, and each took a portion of the 600,000 square foot building to decorate. This is exactly what has happened over the last thirty years. A group of sculptors, welders, and painters have slowly turned every corner of the 10-story former shoe factory into works of art. It even now extends onto the roof and outside. The minute you see the outside, you know you’re somewhere special.
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What is City Museum?
Wondering what City Museum in St. Louis? It’s the most amazing kid-play place… ever!
Am I the only one whose kids complain no matter where you say you’re going? Especially when the word “museum” is involved? Show the kids the online pictures of City Museum. Or these pictures from our trip like right here! If these don’t make them shut up, just wait until they see the kids climbing all over the outside or airplanes on the roof or castle turrets. Maybe, just maybe, that will be enough. Make sure you tell them not to have any fun.
If you want to make them hush the complaints ahead of time, go to the museum website and show them what’s available on each level of the museum. Not only will this let them know what to expect, maybe you can work out a plan for not-getting-lost by having a scheduled meeting place ahead of time. As a disclaimer though, part of the excitement is not knowing what is around the next corner. Once your kids apply the word “museum” to this place, maybe all other museums will be met with a bit more optimism? One can hope.
Favorite Parts of City Museum, St. Louis
Some places are so indescribable that you just have to see it to believe it. City Museum is this place. And, honestly, not knowing what to expect makes it a bit more magical. Unless your kid is a major planner-controller (I have one!), I would keep the surprises. Makes it more fun. Expect the unexpected, and you won’t be disappointed. When there are no maps, they can’t plan.
- MonstroCity – Outside playground. This is a great place to work on your fear of heights. Unless you’re staying inside with a solid ground underneath, there will be climbing involved and stairs and scooting and squeezing.
- Slides – There are slides everywhere on every floor and of every size. The ten-story spiral slide follows the path of the original product chute; wait in line with your kids and meet them at the bottom. Several go outside the building.
- Caves – It’s magical and dark and slightly creepy. But so fun.
- Toddler Town – Third floor. Your bigs will not be impressed, but when your little is overwhelmed, come hang here for fewer people and less risk.
- With so much to see, we missed the circus, pinball area, stateless park, and several others. You won’t cover everything in one trip.
Warnings about City Museum
Stop here if you are a hovering parent who needs to have eyes on your overprotected kid at all times. Quit now and exit out. But, I’m telling ya, you’ll be missing out on an excellent place.
You will lose your children at some multiple points during your visit. Unless you plan on following your one child around, don’t take on this place unless you’re okay with a bit of craziness. Not only is organization difficult because of the building’s size, it is designed crazily. There actually is no map available. Your kid may go off in one direction and end up in a slide that takes him down to another floor. You had no warning because there are no directions; you just have to sit and wait.
Today is not the day to be an adult. Let your inner child come out! And let those magical, fun-loving kids of yours live their best day.
Top City Museum Tips for Parents
Do you still want to go to City Museum in downtown St. Louis? Excellent. You should go. Don’t be a chicken and let those kids be kids! I suggest mom and kid preparation though; have some conversations and prepare yourself physically and mentally.
- Give a bit of freedom and trust. You gotta.
- Set a meeting place. Check in on the hour at the whale or potty.
- Show them how the workers are dressed that way they can find help easier.
- Buddy system at its best. Assign a sibling. If it’s only one kid, you’ve been promoted to sibling to play with the kid.
- Remind them that other mommies can help if they get lost. However, they can’t call you if your phone ringer isn’t turned on. Crank up the volume and answer any unknown callers.
- Take another parent or family. I took the four kids on my own; we survived. If you’re slightly concerned, grab some moral support.
- Rent a locker for $8 at the front for water bottles and snacks. Thirsty kids are willing to meet up with Mom. Give them a time, and promise them a much-needed drink.
What Do I Wear for the City Museum?
Appropriate clothes for City Museum in St. Louis includes parents and kidds. Parents should dress for adventure mom. When you have to crawl through a tube to find your kid, you will thank me. Kids need to dress for craziness. Now is not the time for jeans and a cute shirt. You kids can’t explore in stupid clothes that have to be protected. Put on long comfy and bendy pants like leggings or exercise pants. They will go down slides smoother and faster if their legs are fully covered.
- Closed toe shoes are required. Sandals will fall off and possibly be lost. They have to keep their shoes on.
- This is a good day to whip out the matching shirts. Places like this are why we create yearly tie dye shirts!
- Invest in glow-in-the-dark watches. They can’t meet you if they don’t know what time it is.
- Headlamps. While this might seem excessive, I did see some wearing them, and they are not forbidden. Just make sure your kids know when and where this is appropriate; teach them red lights to not blind people. While you’re at it, maybe work on Morse code so you can find them in the dark?
- Leave the backpacks and purses in the car or in the locker. This would be a great day to rock a fanny pack to hold your phone, bandages, hand sanitizer, and car keys.
- Grab their knee pads from their roller skates. If you want some, they are available in the museum store. When you’re been crawling around forever, you’ll wish you had some.
- This is also the day to write your emergency information on your kids’ wrists with Sharpie.
- Check out this pro tips page on the City Museum website.
~~~> Trying to fully embrace your adventure mom self? Check out my post entitled “Become an Adventure Mom: Get the Essentials” to see some of our family favorite supplies.
Is St. Louis’ City Museum Just for Kids?
Nope. Even if you’re a sixty year old grandmother, go along with the group trip to City Museum. You don’t have to do the slide, but you might be tempted when you see the other kids having a blast. Not to mention, it’s just an amazing playland with surprises around every corner. If, however, you are unsteady on your feet, there is a likelihood you will have kids running past you – maybe a walker would keep you from falling over. There is an elevator inside so no need to worry about climbing stairs. Follow the group and enjoy their craziness!
- Enjoy the art and architecture. It really is a sight to behold.
- Grab a seat – there are many. Grab a cave overhang or colorful bench and have a rest.
- Head to the fourth floor to see some hanging art and architectural pieces like a “real” art museum.
- Go sit outside on the porch and have a drink from the snack bar. Or the roof for an “adult beverage”.
- Watch everyone else run above your heads outside in MonstroCity.
- See the live animals in the aquariums.
- Hang out on the third floor and enjoy the pinball machines.
- Be the designated spot for meeting if someone gets lost. As a mom who went alone with four kids, having an extra adult would have been super helpful.
Can I Take A Wheelchair into City Museum?
If you have difficulty getting around or use a wheelchair, don’t let this discourage you. It says specifically online to let them know. Call ahead and see what accommodations there are. Their website mentions secret doors that staff can open to make exploring easier. Many areas a very spread out with plenty of space to maneuver. Depending on the disability, they might even be able to enjoy parts of the museum like the skatepark with ramps or toddler area with lower slides.
However, it depends on the person. For an adult, I’d say go for it; they can enjoy watching the kids. If your kid is handicapped or is one to feel left out, it might be best to stay away. There will be so much they are unable to experience as this is a big climbing place. Not to mention, there’s a lot of unsteady ground in the tunnels and structures; I wouldn’t want to get hurt.
Is City Museum Worth the Cost?
With so many free places to visit in St. Louis, why would you want to spend money? Think of it this way: You can afford to spend the money because the rest of the town has been free! This is an investment you don’t want to miss out on. The cost of the museum is $18 per person online, $20 in person. People pay $100 a day for one person to go to Disney; City Museum is worth this for your whole family.
It is an extra $8 to pay to go onto the roof for a designated time. It does look amazing with towering heights and even a school bus parked over the roof, but for us, there was already plenty to do and see. Unless you are set on seeing the city from the roof, I don’t think this is necessary because you are going to have to haul your kids out of this place no matter. Everyone else online says it’s worth it as it even has a Ferris wheel, so maybe we missed out. Guess we just have to go again.
If you’re going to be there for more than a few hours, consider planning to get food at the snack bar or restaurant. There are plenty of options for a special treat inside City Museum.
~~~>Still trying to justify paying for tickets for a seemingly giant-playground? Just remember that the rest of the city is free! Check out “St. Louis: How to Explore This City for Free!“. I made the list; it averages out to City Museum as next to nothing in the grand scheme of travel expenses. (Wink Wink)
Where Do You Park at City Museum in St. Louis?
Plan to park in the parking lot across the street from City Museum for $10 on your credit card. This is a gated parking lot associated with the museum. You may also be able to find metered street parking nearby.
If you’ve already been exploring St. Louis, check to see how much further the walk is over here. If you plan to spend the afternoon at the City Museum after wandering around downtown St. Louis, this is only a few blocks over from some of the other sights listed on my “How to Explore St. Louis for Free” post.
Thanks for stopping by my little corner! Here’s to your next adventure.
I’m Bobbie. As transplants from Texas, my family of six is on a mission to discover all of Georgia’s amazing places, experience amazing road trips across the United States, and create a homeschool life along the way.
Want to adventure like me? Reach out! I’d love to chat. Stop by my Instagram or Pinterest page to discover more of our adventures.
Want to work with me? I’d love to work with your destination and tourism board to help other family travelers see all you have to offer.
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