Piece for piece. Pound for pound…read more SLAM is free, yet the quality and quantity of the art works were amazing. From Monet to Van Gogh to african pieces. There are plenty of eras at this museum. Honestly, there are a lot of great works. There are free parking spots nearby as well as a garage, but you need to pay for that. Overall, beautiful space inside and outside of museum.

First off, it's hard to beat the setting which is right in Forest Park and the building itself is…read morebeautiful and historic. Walking to it already feels like it's part of the experience. Inside, the collection is genuinely impressive. There's a huge range from ancient artifacts to modern and contemporary art so it never feels repetitive. You can go from Egyptian pieces to seeing European pieces from Monet and Picasso in the same visit. One of the best parts is that general admission is free which makes it super accessible and easy to spend as much (or as little) time as you want without feeling pressured. The layout is spacious and easy to explore, although some sections feel stronger than others depending on your taste. It's also the kind of place where you can wander and really take your time. Great for both a quick visit or a longer afternoon. It's one of the best attractions in St Louis with a surprisingly deep collection. Definitely worth visiting especially if you're already in Forest Park.

" Very Informative Museum "…read more We went to the Crisp Museum at the University of South East Missouri . We watched a movie about the University and Museum, in a small theater first, before we walked around the museum. The Museum has a wide range of historical artifacts for you to see. The Museum is focused on the history of the the Cape Girardeau area along the Mississippi River.

The Crisp Museum is a hidden gem. They change their art gallery every 30/45 days. The history…read moregalley is very well done. From Indian artifact, River Boat information to anthropology. Very Friend people.

The CAM is the best hidden gem! The ever changing art installations are always unique. I am not a…read morebig contemporary art person but this is such a great way to spend time in doors! The staff is incredibly helpful and welcoming! For the foodies, there is an AO&Co located in the corner! Great place that not enough people talk about.

You can keep your pricey therapy; I just need a good art museum! I went to the Contemporary Art…read moreMuseum and felt like a whole new woman. The current exhibit is called Like Water! The features illustrate how water is necessary for life but sometimes destructive. Upstairs, there's this layered and soothing installation about the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Don't worry guys, I am now a river scholar. Admission to this museum is FREE. Art museums are good for the soul. I just bumble often backtracking to compare. Worth the visit! You should check it out.

This is a wonderful place for hands on learning for all ages. Something for everyone. Full of…read morefossils, rocks and bones. Dinosaur bones! Actual life size dinosaurs beautifully painted that look so real! Knowledgeable staff, Handicap assessable and very clean. Must visit if in St. Gen

A great small town with many restaurant choices. The museum is an interesting and eclectic…read morecompilation of historical information not necessarily directly connected to the town. A nice addition to the to the other activities in this historic town.

Had an interactive kids section that my boys enjoyed playing in. Thursdays is free admission for…read moreall sections and we really enjoyed that. They had scavenger hunts for the main gallery for kids to do. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the outdoor sculptures as well.

We visited at the Museum while at an overnight stay in Mt Vernon. After dinner we headed to the…read moreCenter for their Thursday evening out door concert on the patio. (A regular event during the summer). Free of any cost. Plenty of parking and easy to find. The music on this particular evening was just OK but we were able to get into the museum to browse. It was perfect, since the crowd was outside there was no one in the galleries inside. Not a particulary large collection but some interesting art in the main gallery. Being from Louisville, the Derby City it was fun to see an exhibit of Derby Hats by Dianne Isbell displayed in the main foyer. The museum typically has a $5 admission fee but free entry on Thursdays. It was spacious, clean and well organized. I was inpressed for a museum of its size to have the collection it did. My love of art was really satiated with the outdoor sclupture garden. There must have been 30 outdoor scluptures (one of my favorite mediums of art) in the outdoors gardens surrounding the museum. About half of the scluptures are in an open field without a walkway so you must be careful walking in the grass. But some of the scluptures are situated around the lake in the back and the museum itself. So plenty to see, explore, entertain and delight in this small town venue.

For a quick visit and to stretch your legs during a long drive, this place is great. Kids' activity…read moreroom has several hands-on ways to do art. Lego mosaics, a huge Lite-Brite type board (for those of you who remember those), and a life size horse sculpture you can reassemble. Oh, and it's free. Outdoor sculpture garden covers about an acre and has many large sculptures kids can run among. My two boys, 7 and 10, would have liked to stay longer. Permanent exhibit is small but has some notable artists, like Mary Casatt. Not sure if I was supposed to pay for going in that room? Oops. Temp exhibit for next couple months is photos of rock stars, plus autographed guitars from the collection of a local radio guy. Costs $5 and my wife opted for me not to see it. Some of the guitars are hanging in the main lobby, like Clapton's and BB King's. Not that you would drive to Mt. Vernon *just* to see it, but if you are passing thru on I-64, give it a look for an hour or so.

Well worth a visit. Frequently changing displays and great special events. Not too near the hotels,…read morebut only about a mile away. A pleasant little walk.

A Hidden Jewel in St. Louis - Don't Miss the Magic Chef Mansion!…read more What a historic gem! The Magic Chef Mansion is one of St. Louis' most stunning and best-kept secrets. If you haven't taken a tour, you are truly missing out. This architectural treasure offers a glimpse into another era--where craftsmanship, elegance, and timeless beauty meet. What makes it even more special is the incredible care and devotion of Shelly, the current owner and resident. It's amazing how she has lovingly restored the entire interior, tracking down original furniture, lighting fixtures, and period-appropriate details to bring this mansion back to its former glory. What an act of love--and one that every visitor can feel the moment they walk through the doors. Every room is a story, and the guided tour is filled with fascinating history, local lore, and exquisite details. Whether you're a St. Louis native or a visitor, this is an experience that belongs at the top of your list. The Magic Chef Mansion isn't just a tour--it's a living, breathing piece of art and history. Don't miss the chance to be a part of it.

This is a wonder!!!! Beautifully maintained and decorated mansion. Owner guided tour for our…read moregroup. Charge for tours but well worth seeing this amazing turn of the 20th century mansion.

Came here for a tour and had a good time! I grew up in STL and never knew about this! Very nice…read moreworkers/ they offered us a 45 min tour that ended up over 1.5 hours...the tour guide could talk ALOT. I liked the tour but it went a little too long. I would come back and bring others here to visit!

This museum has a wide variety of telephones and equipment from 1800s to the present. The tour…read moreguide is very informative and knows a lot about the telephones on display. Well worth seeing

I thought I had written a review of this a couple years ago but maybe I didn't…read more I think of this place almost EVERY DAY. Definitely whenever someone mentions St Louis or anything that I associate with St Louis. It's my favorite place in the world. I think another reviewer recommended wearing closed toe-shoes, comfortable clothing that you can move in - preferably long pants - as long as they have good pockets, because you don't want to be carrying a purse or bag. This is important. If you have a fear of heights - the City Museum might make you forget that you have a fear of heights. Because it made me forget that I do. I was climbing everywhere. It's amazing. I know how to weld, and all the welds look great and are finished smoothly so you don't get scratched or snagged. Impressive! We went there once when our daughter was 6, and again when she was 21, and I can definitely say that I had a better time when she was older (even though, obviously, I was significantly older as well). Because it does seem a little not-safe if you have a little kid with you. But even then I had absolutely loved it. I live 8 hours away but would literally clear my schedule for the next couple days, anytime, if someone wanted me to go there with them. Just let me grab my sneakers and joggers and I'm ready!

The City Museum is a core memory from my childhood and a special place every kid deserves to…read moreexperience! Every square inch of this massive building (inside and out) is a playground for kids to explore, crawl, run, slide, jump, climb, you name it. I grew up coming here, and trips to the city museum stand out as some of my most fun days as a kid. I remember crawling through what seemed like miles of tunnels and having the time of my life. I can't wait to come back as an adult when my toddler is a little bit older. I'm not sure I'll fit in the tunnels anymore, but I'm certain if there is one place that is guaranteed to bring out the kid in you again, it's the city museum.

One of the little-known roadside attractions in southern Illinois is the Popeye Statue! If you…read morehaven't been to Chester, you'll find out right away that the creator of the Popeye character, E.C. Segar, was born and raised there. The river town has several tributes to the man. In addition, there are at least 8 other statues of Popeye characters around Chester. Be sure to check out the Visitors Center (if open) and get information on the history of Segar, as well as the locations for all of the other statues. The statue is located just as you are coming off the Mississippi River (Northeast direction), so its kind of oddly placed in front of the woods. But you and the family/friends will get a kick out of it, and of course, a photo op.

Kinda blew right past the welcome center hosting this tribute due to lots of goings on going on…read morewhat with the bridge construction and reconfiguring the approaches and all that... Popeye is all bronzed up for the world to adore as he welcomes folks to Chester Illinois, hometown of EC Segar. plenty of parking but the lot will need some attention when the road is completed. the visitor's center looks full up with sailor stuff so stop in when you can and have a look.. there's maps available that show the location of 18 other statues of characters from print and film if you want to spend a day doing nothing of merit but enjoyable regardless. this, the first statue, dates from 1977. after a twenty-nine year hiatus 18 additional marble statues were eventually installed around town - one per year - to enhance the visitor experience. yea Popeye!