This is a hidden gem when it comes to historic houses. This house has been incredibly restored with care and attention to detail giving visitors a true step back in time to see what 19th-century Victorian life was like for a affluent family in St. Louis. The house itself is that last remaining piece of the original neighborhood which originally stood outside of city limits. The docent was knowledgeable, welcoming, and gave what felt like an insider's look into the Campbell family highlighting original family belongings. My favorite pieces include a gas lamp that illuminates beautifully (seriously stunning) and massive portait of James A. Campbell with his dogs. Oh -- and the ornate toilet. I recommend a visit at Christmas time. The house is beautifully decorated for the holidays and you might just get to see and HEAR a special Christmas tree stand/music box! read more

Campbell House Museum - The parlor at Christmas time! - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

We took advantage of the free tours being offered at the Campbell house museum this weekend and it was a great time. The fact that so much of the original furniture, art, and accessories remain in top condition if wild after all these years. Our tour guide was fantastic and we really enjoyed ourselves. A must-do if you are at all interested in STL history read more

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Went on the architectural tour with a fantastic docent. So much history and ways of exploring this treasure . Got sidetracked from original purpose for the tour by many people in the tour asking interesting questions. There are many tour themes offered. read more

Campbell House Museum - Campbell house - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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This was such a lovely and unexpected stop for my husband and I. We were looking for some time to pass and decided to check it out. This home is rich in history and has been restored beautifully. Our tour guide Ralph was very friendly and knowledgeable. He knew quite a lot about the home, the residents, the furniture and decor. He was happy to answer any questions we had. We would definitely recommend to anyone visiting and would happily visit again. read more

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We enjoyed every minute of our tour. Our docent was a wealth of information and answered our many questions with ease and grace. As history enthusiasts, we can't say enough good things about this truly remarkable place . read more

We visited yesterday and were able to get a guided tour of this beautiful historical house . The grounds are lovely and are entirely maintained volunteers. This stately home belonged to the very wealthy Campbell family in the mid and late 1800s to early 1900s, and has been maintained by the efforts of various preservation groups . The tour is thoughtful and full of interesting anecdotes and information. I highly recommend it for out of towners and for locals ! It is only $10 per person and the gift shop is excellent. They also do a beautiful historic Christmas display which I can't wait to see. read more

Stellar house remaining from the mid-1800s - that is the only remnant of the gorgeous homes from the era from a time when this was where the "well-heeled" of St. Louis lived. One gets a guided tour that takes about an hour; you pay at the end. The people who run the tours are volunteers and passionate about what they do. For much of the 2nd half of the 19th century - this was THE place to be in town if you had money and were "in society". Because of some quirks to this family, as all the other fancy houses fell into disrepair and were demolished as the wealthy of St. Louis moved west, this one ended up getting preserved. 90%+ of the furniture is original! We saw nearly every room while learning about the family and the era. read more

Campbell House Museum - Side view - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Beautiful house with an informative tour. It was amazing that the house, which was built in the 1800s still was full of original furniture and artifacts. read more

We were here today and we rang the door bell and they told us to wait 5-10mins but 45mins later still no one came to open the door. read more

Campbell House Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

So this house is basically like the house that time forgot. I couldn't believe there is 90% of the original furniture in there. So yes! This is a must stop for any history buff. Tour took about an hour, roamed through every room-learned so much about the past family. So interesting. Well spent $8. From the outside, the house doesn't seem like much, but geez-you walk in and like WOW! Seriously, seems like your really stepped back in time. One of the best tours I've been on. Seemed like a private tour, since it was just hubby and me. The guide was great, he knew everything of the families. Very informative. Was unlike any tour I've been on since it's been so well preserved. read more

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What a wonderful tour!! Today we decided to tour the Campbell (not the soup) House on Locust Street. They offer docent tours that last about an hour and you can go at any time. However, if you get together a large group, I suggest letting them know ahead of time. The tours are $8.00 but a Yelp check-in gets you $1.00 off. We got there at 10:30a.m., rang the bell and were admitted. Dennis was going to be our docent for the tour and was he wonderful. Five stars just to him. The house on the outside looks small, but it is huge on the inside. The have 90% of the original furniture and they found swatches of material and paint so the carpet and walls are what it looked liked in the old days. They also had old photographs taken by one of the sons to look at. You will see the Parlor, Morning Room, Dining Room (outstanding), kitchen, bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside is the beautiful side yard and the carriage house. Dennis told us that Christmas is a popular time to come to see the decorations. Our tour lasted two hours. I'm not sure I would have wanted to do it in one. We went with family members and everyone was impressed. I think I'm going to go back at Christmas time. read more

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Truly a place to step back in time, to old town St. Louis. Picture yourself in the Gilded Age (1870-1900), as St. Louis is growing to be one of the largest cities in the United States. What is now a concrete jungle (close to downtown) sat dozens of houses. Many of those houses were just like the Campbell House. In fact, the Campbell House is the only house left standing as it is surrounded by large buildings in the present day. Nearly all of the technologies that we take for granted today didn't exist in that time period. You'll learn plenty about the Campbell family, especially about Robert Campbell - who was a prominent figure during the 19th Century. His family (as well as his mother-in-law) lived at the house. There are stories about the family, along with the tragedies that took place. As others have pointed out, the house is neatly and amazingly detailed as to how it looked during the Gilded Age. Records that were kept were detailed, including photographs taken of rooms from 1885. Several of the Campbell's possessions were kept. Many people donated items that related to the Victorian period to the museum. Even as recent as early 2018, donors gave the museum items that had Campbell's name on it! For anyone who tours this house, they will walk out impressed and intrigued. The tour guide, Ginger, knew so much. You'll learn a lot about the Campbell's personal friendships with Ulysses S. Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman, even go in the dining room where they ate. The one obscurity thing that I was very taken on was that the Campbell's had a set of candelabra. Not just any kind of candelabra, but a style that is only found in three places in the world: 1) Campbell House, 2) Buckingham Palace and 3) somewhere in Europe. The house is very spread out and the front interior view doesn't do it justice. The carriage house, located in the back, is part of the tour. Be sure to visit the gift shop as well. If you're in St. Louis, give this place a tour. Plan on spending two hours here. read more

The best house tour I have been on. Wonderful staff and very knowledgeable! I loved every minute of it!! Fantastic piece of history in downtown St. Louis. A must see!! A great gift shop on lower level. Can't believe I've never been here before. Christmas tour coming soon. read more

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So glad we went to this charming Victorian home! Victoria was a fantastic and accommodating guide. She was knowledgeable and made a lot of information accessible, and was generous with her time. Highlights: seeing so many examples of interesting Victorian culture, and getting a broader understanding of St. Louis's history and of the former Lucas Place neighborhood. The gift shop was lovely - we recommend the sorbet! A must-see! read more

Campbell House Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Wonderful tour from Victoria! I'd definitely recommend if in the area and looking for something unique to do. It's a beautiful home that has a fascinating story and been wonderfully maintained. A gem of St. Louis history. read more

Campbell House Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The Campbell House Museum is one of the oldest surviving structures in downtown St. Louis, and was the first house to be built in Lucas Place, the first private street in the city of St. Louis. Built in 1851 at 15th and Lucas Place (now Locust) by James Hall, this house was at the edge of the city, with almost nothing built to the west of the house at the time of its completion. The early Victorian Era house was constructed in a mixture of the Federal and Greek Revival styles, and it has the signature roof line found on most houses in St. Louis from before the Civil War. In 1853, the house was sold to Cornelia Hempsted Wilson, who only lived in the house for a year before moving elsewhere. The house was then purchased by Robert Campbell, who moved into the house in November 1854 with his family. Campbell had been a fur trapper out West under Jedediah Smith in the late 1820s, and began to build his fortune in the fur trade. However, by 1836, he had realized that the fur trade was dwindling, and he set up a dry goods business with his business partner William Sublette, who had a large farm in the area now known as the Hill. By 1840, Campbell and Sublette went their separate ways, although they remained friends until Sublette died in 1845. In 1841, Campbell was married to Virginia Kyle after having had correspondence with her since 1835, when she was 13 and he was 31. After their marriage, the couple moved into a suite in the Planters Hotel on 4th Street. In 1849, fire and the cholera epidemic brought misfortune to the Campbell family, as they lost several of their children, and Robert's business was burned down in the fire, along with most of the central business district in St. Louis at the time. The house was bought by Robert Campbell in 1854 at a price of $13,000 (Roughly $300,000 today after inflation), but almost immediately began furnishing the house, and making alterations. In 1855, Virginia went to Philadelphia to purchase furniture for the entire house, and ended up spending $50,000 (Roughly $1.1 million today) on all of the furnishings in the house. The original receipts from her purchases are still kept in the house today. Only a few alterations were made to the house, but among them were the kitchen, dining room, and side porch. The original kitchen was made into a butler pantry, as the dining room was expanded to fit up to 20 guests, and a new kitchen was built on the back of the house. The side porch on the first floor was enclosed and made into a sun room sometime in the 1870s, about 20 years after the other alterations. The Campbell family liked to throw extravagant parties, which were often attended by famous people from around the country. Among those to have attended these parties were General William Tecumseh Sherman and General Ulysses S. Grant, a family friend who came over on many occasions both as a general and during his presidency. The house was equipped with enough seats, dishes, and silverware to entertain 20 guests. After the death of Robert in 1879 and Virginia in 1882, the three sons became the heirs to the estate. James, the youngest son went to Yale, and following his graduation there, he went to Harvard Law School to get a law degree. However, before he was able to establish his law practice, James moved to Paris where he died of the flu in 1890 at the age of 29. Hugh and Hazlett lived off the fortune amassed by their father, and never had to work a day in their lives. Hazlett was bound to the house for most of his life due to schizophrenia, and Hugh became his primary caretaker. To make Hazlett feel comfortable, the house was kept in its original state, as it was believed at the time that keeping mentally ill people in an unchanging environment was the best way to help them overcome their illnesses. In 1885, Hugh took photographs of most of the rooms in the house to serve as time capsules, something that would be a valuable asset to restoring the house later. By the 1890s, Lucas Place had been surrounded by the urbanization and industrialization of the city, and the area was no longer a desirable place to live. Between 1900 and 1930, all of the neighboring houses were demolished as the deed restrictions expired, and buildings began to replace houses. In 1931, Hugh died and Hazlett died in 1938, leaving no heirs to the family estate. The preservationist John A. Bryan was instrumental in getting the house saved at a time when it was considered to be just another old house by many. Stix, Baer and Fuller bought the house in 1940, and all of the furniture was sold off. However, a trust fund was created to preserve the house around that time, and the money in the fund was then used to buy back about 90% of the furniture that was sold. In 1943, the Campbell House Museum was opened, and has remained open ever since. read more

Not the most interesting museum ever, but worth the $7 admission if you have 45 minutes to kill and you want to learn some St. Louis history. It's actually pretty cool that this is the last remaining house in what was once a very affluent residential neighborhood, Lucas Park. The museum is the former residence of the Campbell family and the amount of actual relics they have from the family is amazing. The interior of the house has been redone to match what it looked like at the turn of the century. They were able to match the paint colors, designs, and carpet samples exactly. Pretty impressive. Even though the museum is "open" 10-4 Wednesday thru Saturday, the front door is locked and you have to ring the bell to get inside. Then, you get your own private tour. Unless other people happen to show up at the same time as you. I guess they don't get many visitors. The museum is nonprofit and they get little, if any, state funding so are heavily reliant on donations. They also host special events like Twilight Tours and a Civil War walking tour. Check them out if you get a chance. read more

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The Campbell House Museum is an incredible experience. Went here with the family for the 1st time on Saturday. For the months of January and February you need to call and schedule an appointment for the tour. There is a parking lot right next to the home, there is also street parking. The admission price for adults is $8 but yelp offers $1off for check-ins. Our tour guide was Dennis whom was amazing!!! He was incredibly knowledgeable and fun. This is a definite must see attraction!!! read more

I went to the Campbell House Museum a couple of days ago to see what it was all about. I had heard about from a couple of friends and they all spoke about how it was interesting and everything like that, so I went and checked it out. After going to the Campbell House I figured that if you want an idea what old St. Louis might have been like, then looking at this house and how people lived is pretty much the way to go. Of course, the way of life for these people was the life of the rich, so I wouldn't say it gives an insight to the life of everybody, just the rich. Walking around inside of the house was very neat. I always enjoy looking at old classic things and the way in which people lived and things of the olden days. That would be the history buff, nerd, whatever you want to call it coming out of me. The Campbell House Museum is very interesting and seeing the old furniture very fascinating. read more

Campbell House Museum - taken from website - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This was such a cool visit. One of the best Victorian-Orientated museums I've been in the nation. You walk in and everything has been preserved since the 19th Century. Amazing history and one of the best preserved STL houses. Please go here if you can! read more

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If you want to see an example of a high society house from the mid 1800's - this is it! We were amazed at the amount of original furnishings contained in the house and the history it holds ~ plus the dinner guests list of presidents and other important figures of the time. Our tour guide, Tom Keay, was fantastic! read more

I happened to wander in here on my vacation to St. Louis when I found out that it was a little piece of Victorian history, and I am SO GLAD that I did! My tour guide, Ginger, walked me through the whole house and gave me tons of really cool information about the family and the history of the house itself. It was really amazing and so well restored that I felt like I was standing in the 1800s. I really loved getting to see everything as it was meant to be, and learn about the Campbells. Everyone should visit, especially for only $10 per ticket! read more

Neat place to explore in St Louis. I love seeing historic homes. This one definitely doesn't disappoint. Private one on one tour was very nice. Cost is $10 per person. Your is 30-45 minutes. You also can explore a reasonably priced gift shop and sit in the yard/garden area to relax afterwards. Not super huge. Not large grounds. But it's a nice stop for something quick. read more

The museum tour gives a wonderful perspective of the wealthy St. Louis residents of the 19th century. It boasts a collection of 90% of the Campbell's original furnishings. The tour is packed with Victorian customs, traditions, and designs. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the house and time period. I'd recommend this to any tourist or local interested in the rich history St. Louis has to offer! read more

Robert Campbell was the richest man in Missouri when he bought this house in the 1850's. At the time, St. Louis was a very up and coming city and very much the gateway to the West. Only three of his 13 children survived past 7, and the last one stayed in this house until he died in 1938. Apparently the sons were all afraid to touch Mom's stuff, so it was pretty much a ready-made museum when he died. Still, the paint, wallpaper, etc, all needed to be restored back to their original mid-19th-centure condition, and they were able to do this perfectly because the aforementioned Mom (Virginia) kept samples in a place where they looked exactly as they did originally. The resulting restoration is truly amazing and something every St. Louisan should make it a point to see. The family has some great stories (one woman - TWENTY full term pregnancies). You just have to come and hear these. One of the docents has a great blog, by the way, called Distilled History. Here's a link: http://www.distilledhistory.com/ He noted in one of his blogs you can visit this house many times and have a very different experience depending on the guide. Some are more focused on architecture, some on the family, some on St. Louis history, so you'll get a few new storied every time. I would have given five stars, but we showed up ten minutes or so into the tour, missed the first room and never got back to hear about it (it was amazing). I think I would have preferred waiting for the next tour. I'll be back to hear about that front room and some more stories. I'm thinking Christmastime would be ideal. read more

I visited the Campbell House Museum for the first time this week, and I truly loved my visit. I had never heard about the Campbell house, and as a lover of history this was a great find! The house was built in the 1880s during the Victorian era, and its walls are nearly dripping with opulence. From the outside, it looks like a lonely row house. Inside, there are walls covered in polished wood, others with many levels of crown molding that surprisingly didn't look dusty. Not only is this house gorgeous, it is very well kept as well. I paid $6 for the tour and parked across the street at a meter. The tour was about an hour, and I'm happy to say it was fun. Sometimes tours can become tediously boring, leading you to feel trapped. Not so here. The furniture is really pretty, and there are some really nice pieces of art as well. In all, this was a really nice way to escape present day life and time travel back to the 1800s for an hour, and the Campbell House will definitely be on my list when friends and family visit. read more

I have to admit, I was skeptical! History doesn't interest me that much, even though I know it "should." Pros: Found parking right next to the building; found it easily because I had seen the photos of the exterior here (thanks, Yelp!). I recommend looking at a photo beforehand, because the signage is small and it's easy to miss otherwise. The door was locked, so I rang the bell like others have mentioned. I had my teenager and toddler with me, and we were the only ones on the tour! This was great because they really worked with us to keep the little one happy. Our tour guide was an older fellow who was super nice and very knowledgeable. He was pointing out some things my littlest one would like, and even offered to let her sit in an antique mini rocking chair (she was too shy). As others have said, it is bigger on the inside (nod to Doctor Who fans). The tour was slow enough to take in a lot of detail, but quick enough that we never got bored. Even though history isn't my favorite subject, it was interesting to see where president Grant sat, what the servant quarters looked like, and to learn that the mistress of the home was vehemently anti-slavery. There are some neat pieces of history here. They have old photos of how the neighborhood used to look (rich and residential), and it's sad that this home is now surrounded by businesses and abandoned buildings. Also, it's blisteringly hot today and I was worried it would be stuffy, but it's nice and cool and air-conditioned. The gift shop is part of the tour, and I did get sucked into buying a pricy stuffed animal, but happy to spend the money on a good cause. I hope the plays stays standing and functional for a long time. Cons: Not many. There are lots of stairs in the tour, so it isn't stroller friendly and may be hard for those with physical limitations. The neighborhood is a low-income area with a bit of sketch; don't leave valuables in your car. All in all, I'm really glad we went, and I would visit again when we can stay longer. Every St. Louisian should visit at some point, even if history isn't your thing! read more

This museum is 95% authentic and is a must see when you are in St Louis MO. The docents are knowledgeable and kind. My sister in law and I took the guided tour on Sunday. It was raining on and off all day. I love the way you have to ring the bell to be let in. You start in the foyer, move to the parlor, move to the indoor room that was outdoor at one time and then into the kitchen. Our tour was interrupted three times by the bell. There has to be a better way for Campbell House Museum to handle this. We added 20 minutes or so to the tour with interruptions as well as questions that had already been asked if the partie(s) had started at the beginning. I truly enjoyed the tour and am so glad that Campbell House is available for the public to enjoy. read more

Tour guide Andy was amazing in his knowledge of the house, the family, and the historical times involved. We were the only ones on the tour so could ask any question. The house is beautiful! Free parking. And try the original recipe Roman Punch sorbet. Yummy on a warm day. read more

I revisited the Campbell House a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was not for a tour. I went to the gift shop to buy a few Christmas presents. This was my first time in the gift shop and I was impressed because of the products sold there. Every item in the store seemed to have been hand-selected. I went in for some lithophane nightlights but also purchased a book and some greeting cards. The gentleman who assisted me put the items and some red tissue paper in a nice bag with a Campbell House sticker. The Museum shop is a must-see if you're going to the Campbell House, and if you live in St. Louis, the Campbell House is a must-see. read more

I love historic houses and getting to know the stories of the people who lived there. The Campbell House Museum is a great place to visit to get exactly that experience! My husband and I visited during the winter season, so we had to make a reservation. It was easy to schedule by phone and we ended up being the only ones taking a tour at that specific time / day. There's a parking lot right next to the Campbell House (shared with the YMCA, I think), so no need to worry about street parking. Our docent was very knowledgeable about the Campbell family as well as the house within the context of the neighborhood and city history. He even had answers to pretty much all of our questions about random objects in the rooms that we were curious about (the wiring for the servants' bells, music player box, tiny spoons in the dining room, stuffed birds on the fireplace mantel, etc. etc.). The tour goes through the sitting room with an amazing ornately carved piano, the dining room, kitchen, servants' quarters, bedrooms, and even the carriage house. A small gift shop is located in the basement area. Throughout the house, there's so much to see in each room. I loved learning about the history of the family, the possessions they accumulated, and their lifestyle. It's quite fascinating! I would definitely recommend taking a tour of the Campbell House if you get a chance! read more

The only thing that REALLY IRRITATES me about this place is it has completely ruined me for all other historic houses. I can't say enough - it's a WONDERFUL experience, start to finish. The docents are all friendly, knowledgeable, and take just the right amount of time. I've been on the tour numerous times and each time I see/learn something new. The house is just beautiful. The fact that they were able to recover so much of the original home is amazing. Like I previously stated, just prepare for it because once you've seen this house, it's all downhill from here. I've visited numerous historic houses - in Boston, Salem, New York, DC, Annapolis, Chicago, Maine...they were all disappointments after this one. Most either have little to no information about the original owners/history of the house, or the docents rambled on excessively about nothing, or there was very little to no original furniture/house ("The colors that are used right now are too dark for this period...the original would have been much lighter" "The furniture isn't accurate for this time - we just needed to fill the space"), OR 2/3 of the house is closed off (the mansion I visited yesterday only allowed us to see about 4 rooms. Three story home and I couldn't even see the kitchen. I paid $32 to stare at a giant staircase and a pretty ceiling). read more

Two words: holy cannoli. This place is incredible, offered a wonderful tour experience from a great, engaging and knowledgable docent. Definitely a must-see for those vacationing in STL or those who have been in and around the city for a long time. The level of quality in the restoration of the home, the manner in which it's interpreted make it a standout among all the house museums I've ever been in - it's a gem well worth an hour or two of your time! read more

I've been wanting to visit this place for over a year now. Today, we finally had the chance!! My spouse wasn't as excited as I but I dragged him along. I love history. My son (who is 9 years old) also loves history. My spouse, not too much. However, he was impressed with this place. We all were!! We parked in the parking lot next door which is also next to the YMCA. No cost for parking. We rang the doorbell. Anna was with us quickly. She did an amazing job!! My son loves to ask questions. She was patient with him the whole time answering them all. I have a horrible immune system and get sick easily. So of course, today on the second floor no where near the restroom, I started getting lightheaded and sick. Anna was wonderful and so polite after my embarrassing episode. After sitting down and drinking some water, I started feeling better. We continued on with the tour. This place has so much history. Even if you are not a history buff, you'll still find this place interesting. I plan to go back around the holidays. Hopefully I won't get sick again. read more

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This place was amazing! Time capsule that was beautifully maintained. Our guide was awesome too. A great way to spend a few hours in an historic grand home! read more

Very interesting museum. The tour guide was very informative and they have a quaint little gift shop in the basement and a carriage house out back. You get a glimpse into the past of a family that once lived there and the tragedies as well as the good fortune that shone upon them. This is a must see when visiting St. Louis. read more

My sister and I visited this place on Saturday August 16th. It was wonderful. A great tour, you get to see many rooms and our tour guide was awesome. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and had a great sense of humor. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting St Louis read more

This is such a cool place. I've seen it before but Groupon is what led me to actually visit. The house is so well preserved and is interesting to see. The docent was also very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. Definitely a must see in St. Louis. read more

Campbell House is the best kept historical secret in St. Louis. A downtown gem, this 1851 town home is a walk back in time to 19th century Victorian splendor. The best eight bucks you can spend downtown. Stop by for a fascinating guided tour with one the knowledgeable docents...you want be disappointed! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed the private tour and felt like we were stepping back in time! In the off-season, you have to schedule your tour by appointment, which requires some planning, but the staff promptly returned my call to set up the appointment. Our docent, Tom, was not only knowledgeable (as he is a retired history teacher), but he genuinely seems to love his job and tailored the tour based on our interests/backgrounds (e.g., talking about the causes of death since we are in healthcare). The admission is very reasonable, and we even had a Groupon, which made it even better! Our only recommendation would be to have modern day equivalents for the various costs of goods mentioned in the tour (e.g., Virginia paid $850 for her dress in the mid 1800's - what does that even mean today?). I took slight objection to the fact that Virginia was described as a spendthrift, when I'm sure Robert Campbell spent plenty of money on things like obtaining alcohol during the prohibition. read more