I thought I had written a review of this a couple years ago but maybe I didn't. 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! read more

The City Museum is a core memory from my childhood and a special place every kid deserves to experience! 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. read more

You probably don't need me to be this 1500th person to say this, but this place is awesome -- in both the modern sense and the classical sense of the word. Awesome in that it's just full of an insane amount of cool stuff -- shops, stations, and especially small tunnels that go all over the place. And awesome in the sense of inspiring awe and terror because it's overwhelming and easy to lose track of your children, especially given the tunnels, many of which are too small for adults and yet amazingly tempting and totally labyrinthine. Somebody told me that the whole place has a legislative exemption from generally applicable tort law and I almost believe it. This was the driving force behind our trip to St Louis, it was totally worth it, and while I was ready to tap out several hours in, our kids got a second wind and practically had to be pried away. I'm sure we'll be back in the summer sometime when it's supposed to be even cooler .... read more

I came here around 1:30pm on a Friday afternoon with my sons. We were visiting the area from out of town. All I can say is that you can and will be there for hours!! There is so many tunnels, ladders, pathways, etc. both above and beyond. It's SO interesting! Even my older teen son liked it (for the most part). There is so much in one spot from the skateless park to the mini art gallery to the aquarium! My kids enjoyed the fish tank where you can put your hand in and the fish eat the dead skin; we ended up doing that twice. There were two big slides that was nice. I noticed several slides were closed, which is a bummer but probably a safety hazard. My sons did so the airbrush tattoos, which for S/M size is $15 plus tax. If you have younger kids, buddy system recommended as it's EASY to get lost. You can start somewhere and end somewhere else. The wristbands do have a spot to write your number in case your child does get lost. I like how you can go in and out! We left to get lunch and get air because it can get hot inside. There are lockers for rent and a map on the 3rd floor. I'm sure there were places we missed and if we were there longer, I would go back! The one thing we didn't do was the rooftop, but I wish we had. That will be something we do when/if we're here visiting again! I recommend! There's so much adventure here. I do like how there are multiple entrances to certain parts. Some entrances are TINY and geared for kids and/or skinner individuals. This was a great time to spend our last full day in the city! :) read more

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Such a quirky and artsy facility for a corporate event which I attended while in town on a business trip recently. Multiple rooms and levels with so much to see and explore. Its a learning museum where one can view different creative art pieces, climb on and around, slide down, discover obstacles to tackle like being a kid again in a playground, and check out huge art pieces which puts a smile on your face. Inside and outside. This place challenges your mind and your body. You can surely get your exercise in while here! Its a fun spot for sure and definitely wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Its more like a playground for adults but great for kids as I would think they would love this type of museum. Its easy to get lost in here and spend hours having fun in this labyrinth of craziness, but so worth the price of admission. read more

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Updating my review from 5 years ago! Continue to love love this place. Never seen anything like it anywhere else. Brought our 3-year-old niece and even though we had to really keep tabs on her since we can't depend on her to stay close, she had so much fun. So much for kids to do here! Be prepared to really crawl around if you are chasing your kids. Don't miss the aquarium as well as the caves. read more

We visited the City Museum today and our two kids had a great time overall. However, we had a really difficult experience at the carousel that I hope management will consider. Our 4-year-old son is autistic and sometimes needs a parent physically beside him to feel safe and regulated in new or overwhelming situations. When I attempted to sit with him on the carousel bench, I was told I could not ride with him, despite seeing toddlers and infants riding with adults. Because of this, my son became extremely upset and sat crying while the ride went on and his sister was able to participate. I understand safety rules are important, but I hope staff can be encouraged to approach situations like this with a little more flexibility and compassion. Not every disability or support need is visible, and many parents should not have to explain private medical or developmental information in order for their child to feel included. I'm sharing this in hopes that accessibility and understanding can be considered more thoughtfully for families visiting in the future. read more

This place is insane in the best way possible. Such a fun, creative place and unliked anything I've seen. I went with my sister, brother in law, and nieces and we could've spent many more hours just wandering around. There are endless places to go, things to climb, and slides to go down. The kids absolutely loved it! The only downside is some spaces are just a bit small for adults, but they're doable if you're willing! I will absolutely be going back, even if my nieces aren't in town! read more

City Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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We are obsessed with the city museum. What started as a Black Friday membership purchase for the family quickly became an obsession. Outdoor areas, Ferris wheel, amazing art, ultimate kids climbing area, aquarium, circus, carousel, outdoor spaces I mean the list goes on and on. Our kids are 2 and 4, lots of people say it's for older kids but I think it is great for our toddlers! We have a blast with them and love it each and every time we go! We have conceived each and everyone of our friends to get seasons passes because of how great it is, you won't be disappointed! read more

A museum, unlike any other! Take your kids to your friends, whoever to get lost in the whimsical world! They have multiple bars through out for adults. Truly one of the most apocalyptic places in the city! There is so much to learn, see and climb here! They even have a toddler town for the little ones. The roof offered great beets of the city and I recommend a ride in the Ferris wheel at sunset! read more

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If you come to St Louis, you have to go here. It's a must. So whimsical and fun, for kids and adults - it's the most fun interactive museum ever! They host events and have a rooftop, late night things and adult only events, all kinds of things. So many corners of your imagination to explore here - my favorite memories as a kid was making the clay sculptures and sliding around the skate park. The caves are fun, and the slide is something you kinda have to do. The outside is a test of guts climbing these metal sculptures and structures. There is also a ball pit that was wildly popular when it's warmer. There is endless ways to get lost in here, secret caves and doors that lead to mazes or aquariums or a hamster wheel?! You have to see it for yourself and just experience. read more

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Brought a school group here and the kids loved it. Not my cup of tea, and if you're easily overstimulated this place might not be for you, but there was so much for kids of all ages to do and experience. My only knock on the place was the dining experience. It took a long time to get our food after ordering it. The quality of the food didn't stand up to the price -- very expensive for middle of the road quality meals. And the menus in the venue didn't match up with the menus listed on their website, so there were a lot of things "they don't offer anymore." Otherwise, a great and unique stop in STL. read more

City Museum - Squirrel - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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So big and a lot to explore. Not too expensive but so very worth it. There are little tunnels everywhere with random secret paths. Its a bit tight to fit into sometimes but still fun. This place is amazing for familys and kids. There is so much to do. The variety is really good with rooftop activities, slides, climbing, food and so much more. Some tunnels are a bit claustrophobic and might not be great for people with claustrophobia. I really enjoyed this place and would definitely go back. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Having an awesome time at the City Museum in St. Louis today! It's a bittersweet trip with our amazing 8th grade students from St. Monica Catholic School in Indianapolis, IN. The hospitable duo, Journey & Kaitlyn, welcomed our rambunctious crew with so much enthusiasm and grace. Thank you, ladies, for making the day extra special read more

This museum is a stl gem . It is like a ginormous playground with adventures for children and adults alike. Every floor has new adventures to discover . There are tunnels, slides and places to climb , aquariums , insectariums etc etc. There is a small circus with a few shows daily . There is an outdoor attraction called monstrosity and a fun rooftop with a hanging bus and a rooftop Ferris wheel . There are paid lots for parking and some metered parking spaces nearby. There are quite a few cafes and places to eat and drink in the museum and two solid gift shops. The museum also has after hours events and special decor on Halloween and Christmas . Oh and I forgot pinball . You can play a ton of pinball all day for a small free . The people who work there are slightly grumpy but ah well not everything can be perfect . read more

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The place is a total maze and we didn't know it was more of a kids attraction than for adults, but even as adults (one with a bad knee) we still had fun crawling through the openings and exploring the building. I will say the pinball hall was a bit of a let down, it's like maybe 20 machines and it was so crowded we didn't get the try all of them read more

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This is any kid's haven! There are SO many things to explore, climb and discover. It's truly a playground for all ages, even the adults, although we found it much harder to maneuver the small spaces than our limber kids! We saw a family who brought their own headlamps and that was smart because there are a lot of dark areas too. We spent about 4 hours there and still didn't even go to one or two floors. We will have to go back! There was a free "circus" show, which was a gentleman who di a little silly magic, comedy and some juggling. It wasn't a full on show, but he did a good job and gave it his all! Being January and very cold the outdoor area was freezing to be outside, but it was still open and available for the kids to go through it. This is a place I've wanted to take our kids for years and finally got the chance. It was worth the wait because actually now that they're older I felt more comfortable letting them run around and do their own thing. It might be challenging with the littles who can easily crawl up, down and through small areas with the parents trying to keep up. My kids had a great time. The price is super reasonable. If we lived here we would have definitely upgraded to an annual pass! read more

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Incredible Experience--With Some Pro Tips! This place was amazing and a great time overall! We went on a Tuesday midday, and while there was a decent crowd, it wasn't packed. We were able to explore everything without long waits or hassle. I went with my 19-year-old daughter, but I'm already looking forward to bringing her little brother once he's in his toddler years. Didn't post too many pictures because I don't want to spoil the fun and it would do this place justice! We spent hours here. We started at the rooftop and worked our way down--every level had its own theme: aquatic sections, caves, tunnels, mazes. It's easy to lose track of time and your kids in here. Some of the spaces are very tight--not something I'd recommend squeezing into as an adult. Thankfully, there are stairs that allow parents to meet up with their kids at the end of the tunnels. Heads up (literally): both my daughter and I hit our heads in the caverns--bring a helmet if you can. A headlamp would also be a smart addition. About the food: skip it. It was overpriced and honestly not good. I don't know if they offer in-and-out privileges, but I'd suggest eating beforehand or asking if you can come back in after grabbing a meal elsewhere. Tips I Wish I Knew Beforehand: * Knee pads: Tons of crawling--your knees will thank you. You can buy there for $11. * Helmet and headlamp: Especially for dark, tight areas like the caverns. I cracked my phone screen trying to use my flashlight. You can buy here but not sure of price. * Gym shoes and workout clothes: If you plan to participate, dress like you're going to a fitness class. * No shorts on slides: They'll slow you down (your legs stick). * Walkie-talkies: Genius for keeping in touch. * There is a toddler section. * There's a bar and seating for parents who are okay letting their kids roam a bit. * Not ideal for grandparents or anyone who has trouble walking or standing for long periods. * Pinball add-on: Small section that gets crowded. Don't prepay--you can add it later if it's worth it. Lastly, some areas can be intense--dark, tight, and a bit disorienting. Remind your kids (and yourself) to stay calm and kind. You'll occasionally get stuck behind someone who's scared, or be in a tight spot where someone needs to backtrack. Patience and understanding go a long way to make it a great experience for everyone. read more

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This place makes you feel like a kid again! I went here in college with a bunch of friends and had a BLAST!! We spent hours here and explored the roof, outside areas, 10 story slide, etc. I took my nieces here about 6-7 years ago when they were in elementary school and still had sooooo much fun. It just was much harder to keep up and go into tiny spaces... so they navigated some of it by themselves with my friend and me watching. Idk why but the roof was closed. I took my kid when he was 2 and had a lot of fun! It was just hard to not lose him when I cant comfortably climb around and keep up with him. Also hard because most spots have multiple exits- so I recommend having 2 adults to supervise small children who don't have the ability to safely track their adults. Overall, I would def take my kiddo back when he's more independent! Also, when he's of age to go down the 10 story slide. read more

Bucket list check! Be sure to wear comfortable, close fitting garments and shoes that stay on. If possible, use only pockets to hold your stuff since some of the slides don't allow loose articles including purses. Dress in layers, my menopausal self was warm. Allow plenty of time to explore. Have a plan to keep little ones in sight. It is hectic, dark in places and the layout massively confusing. AND it is fabulous!!!! I've wanted to visit this museum for years and climbing to the plane outside was everything I dreamed of. The inside blew any expectations I had out of the water! Do not come to St Louis and miss this attraction. Fun at 47 for sure! read more

City Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Planned a day trip here . Tuesday arrived at 10am - left at 2pm My children could have stayed longer.. Ages 9/7/4 loved everything. We had arcade & rooftop access . Something for all ages. It was a little hard to do some of the mazes, etc with my 4 year old so it was nice to have the older kid to assist. Would go back if we ever visit St Louis again. read more

City Museum - Tunnel outside - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

OMG!! I have no idea how to even explain this stop it's just something you've gotta experience. Doesn't matter whether you have children or are a kid at heart . This is like a Willy wonka / pee wees playhouse / Harry Potter wonderland . Really neat museum with mazes , slides & artifacts . Make sure you grab the YELLOW wristband to enter the rooftop experience. read more

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A fun place to move around. The layout is a little confusing. It would be helpful if they offered maps to guests. Plenty of restrooms. There are a couple of gift shops, restaurants, and bar areas. Many of the exhibits require mobility to go up/down stairs and within tight areas. You do pay a fee for parking as well as entrance. read more

I've been to the City Museum many times and live all of it, from the climbing spaces and slides to all of their yearly events. Anytime I go the staff is always really helpful to assist me with any issues or questions that I have. One of the areas that I think should be improved are their Christmas displays, they definitely could have added more around the different floors. read more

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This place is crazy insane. You will definitely lose your children for 10-15 minute at a time and have no idea what floor they are on or where tunnel let out. Add the roof experience to your ticket for sure, but the pinball hall is not worth it. The kids had a great time. read more

The city museum was nice. We went up little caves and we got stuck in one. We went down a slide that went at like 150mph not actually tho. We climbed a ladder all the way to the top. It was very fun 9.3/10 read more

A Place Full of Adventure! The St. Louis Museum is one of the coolest places I've ever been! It's full of history, fun, and adventure around every corner -- from caves and tunnels to slides that go down five floors. There's even an aquarium where you can touch stingrays, climb under tanks, and check out a super cool lizard exhibit. They also have adult-only nights with drinks, themed sections, and live shows -- we even watched someone breathe fire! There's truly nothing else out there like this place. That said, I probably wouldn't take really little kids. It's a lot of climbing, crawling, and exploring, and it can be a bit of a safety hazard (the wristband even says they're not responsible for accidents!). So go at your own risk -- but if you love adventure and unique experiences, this is definitely a must-see! read more

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-- The Most Fun You'll Ever Have Losing Your Kids (Temporarily) City Museum is like Willy Wonka built a playground, handed the blueprints to an architect who'd had too much coffee, and then let a bunch of kids loose. My niece and nephew absolutely LOVED it -- climbing through tunnels, crawling into mysterious openings, and disappearing into slides that may or may not lead to another dimension. As for me? I trusted that eventually they'd find their way back (kids are like homing pigeons when they're hungry), and in the meantime, I discovered the bar on the 4th floor. Let's just say a cocktail makes watching them scale a giant rebar jungle gym a lot less nerve-wracking. Between the caves, the rooftop bus, and the pure chaotic joy of it all, City Museum is part art, part playground, part fever dream -- and 100% worth it. Wear comfortable shoes, keep your phone charged, and remember: if you lose track of your kids, they're probably just having the time of their lives. read more

What is there to say, this is the best place in STL, perhaps the entire Midwest. We have had a yearly membership for the past few years. The new labyrinth exhibit is spectacular. My kids and I have heard the workers building it for about two years and the wait was worth it. The maze is tough, but not scary for the kids and ends with arguably the best and smoothest slide in the museum. Keep up the great work! read more

City Museum - New labyrinth feature - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

The City Museum is a St. Louis classic, we suggest it to everyone coming to visit. It's so unique and something for everyone, of all ages. My nephew is a little more timid and he was able to share the space with all the little kids without issue. The slides outside are insane and so cool. Definitely challenging but worth it. We could spend hours here, there's so much to see and so. Such a blast. read more

Confusing by design. Chaos in every crevice. Curiosities around every corner. Bring a tracker for your kids and spouse. read more

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City Museum is a wonderland of imagination and inspiration. I have been here many times with family, friends, and by myself. City Museum was founded in 1997 by Bob Cassilly, creative director, artist, sculptor, and entrepreneur. The building is formerly a shoe factory and warehouse in the historic Washington Avenue Garment District. A documentary on YouTube titled "Bob Cassilly: The Mind Behind St. Louis' City Museum" (1 hour, 21 minutes) is recommended. It is the winner of the 2025 Regional Emmy Award for Best Historical Documentary. Here are some of the awards for City Museum: USA Today 10 Best 2025 #9: Best Immersive Art Experience 2025 Runner-up: Best Children's Museum St. Louis Magazine A-List Readers' Choice Awards 2024 Winner: Museum (Non-Art) TIME for Kids 2019 One of the World's Coolest Places read more

City Museum - Serpent gate on west side of City Museum. - Museums Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Truly a one of a kind museum! Words can't even explain how amazing and aw inspiring this place is. My husband and I spent 6 hours exploring all hidden gems around the museum and still feel like we didn't see everything. Definitely don't miss the labyrinth on the 3rd floor! And make sure to pay extra for the rooftop, it's so cool! Check my out videos on it : https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8kF28bQ/ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMf32XYxL8Q/?igsh=MWd3NGVhejl4OHQ1eQ== read more

Such a fun night to be at this place and look at all the Christmas decorations. There are lots of things to do for school age kids. This place has some schedule activities throughout the day. Kids can climb and slide. Parkings are most accessible with paid parking in the parking lot. There are also some meter parkings as well, which is farther away. read more

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If I had to envision the fictional structure of an eccentric's mind, it might be an assortment of metal crafted in to something resembling this. A wonderful alternative to visiting the Arch, the central reason many people find themselves in downtown Saint Louis. Sadly, this once great American city is struggling. That word, however, might be a generous characterization. Once home to more than 850,000 people, less than 280,000 reside in the city proper. That said, the City Museum as wild in design as it is, is a point to celebrate. Its design continuity is impressive and the importance and unique offerings displayed play a fundamental role in the ailing American city of Saint Louis. read more

Definitely a great place to bring the kids to burn off some energy, but.....with some ever present risks. The place is huge and there are so many cracks, crevices, twists, turns, and lead offs that it's immensely easy to lose sight or track of your kid. That being said there's endless places to hide both for them and others. Which calls into question how often they clean and/or sanitize the areas. Food options are fairly minuscule and regulated to a second story diner. First three floors are play areas, while floors four through ten are office spaces. The roof isn't bad but if you have a fear of heights I would be very cautious. Not a horrible experience but definitely worth researching and making arrangements to enable better child security and health given the risks read more

I've never experienced anything like the City Museum. I've had parents tell me for years that I needed to visit with my family, but it was always with a stipulation: Be prepared to be stressed out because you WILL lose your children at some point. This museum is large and labyrinthine, with hidey holes and passages just big enough for little children to squirm through, leaving their adults wondering where they went. I wasn't in the mood to lose my children until my oldest became a teenager, so I put off visiting the City Museum for years. We visited when my kids were 13 and 9, and I think those are good ages to visit so that you're not perpetually in a state of panic. The City Museum is like a child's fever-dream. It's a place that isn't just a museum but a playground for all ages, full of surprises at every turn. This is one of those places where words don't do it justice. You need to visit the City Museum to understand! It's full of tunnels to explore, caves to wiggle through, and slides to zoom down, both indoors and outdoors. Climb aboard a school bus that's perched precariously over the edge of the building, wander through an enchanted forest, parkour around the skateless skatepark, experience the thrill of a circus, and even ride a Ferris wheel on the rooftop while admiring a vintage plane. It's nonstop fun, especially for adventurous kids who love to climb and test their limits. (My children.) Because it's so easy to lose kids at the City Museum, the people who work here give everyone a wrist band, and write your phone numbers on your children's wrist band. It also helps to establish a meeting spot in case you get separated. My family decided that outside of the restrooms on the first floor would be a good spot to wait at if one of us got lost. Another tip: Bring a flashlight or wear a headlight, because you will be exploring lots of caves. Most of the caves in the City Museum are dark or completely pitch black, so a flashlight -- or even the light from your phone -- helps a lot. We brought our own food in and ate at one of the many tables located throughout the museum. But this museum has a few different cafes to grab food, as well as adult beverages for the grown-ups. read more

WOW. City Museum was amazing. Probably the most epic museum I've ever been to. I've heard about this place for years from facebook parent groups I finally felt my kiddo was old enough to go and really have fun. If we could have rated 10/10 we would. It's just something you need to experience for yourself. There's places to climb all over the place. I tried but there are some tight spaces. Definitely bring a head lamp. I previously purchased but naturally I forgot them at home. We ended up buying a flashlight. Also bring some knee pads! My pants were slippery so I was slipping and sliding. The red gates fish were a hit. It was creepy but a v cool experience. Everything is metal so you may end up with bruises. We both did from one of the outdoor metal slides. The roof access is worth the extra money. read more

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I've been coming to the city museum since I was a kid and I've always loved it, but it's especially fun now that I have a kid of my own! I didn't even realize there's a section devoted to toddlers, which is amazing as a young mom!! We loved exploring all the different areas of the museum and had a ton of fun in the outdoor area this time. My daughter is 3 but very active and was able to enjoy many things that they had to offer! read more

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This place was amazing. My wife purchased tickets for us and now six and four year-old boys to see a show that was inside the museum. The show was a circus where all the acrobats were a teenagers from 15 on up to 18 they all performed amazingly and provided about two hours of great entertainment. The city museum itself very well done so much to see so much to do. We have to go back you can't see it all in one day probably more like two or three days. My kids loved it. I loved it because once we got home, they went to sleep after the dinner great place. Can't wait to take them back.. read more