Labor Day weekend is the ideal opportunity to experience the City Museum’s one-of-a-kind attractions and see why it is recognized as the premier children’s museum in the United States.
What more can be said about the City Museum that hasn’t already been sung and celebrated? It has garnered countless glowing reviews, with thousands of 4-5 star ratings pouring in from passionate bloggers and visitors alike. It has been crowned the premier children’s museum in the entire USA, a testament to its unparalleled allure. As I bring this tale to a close, I leave you with a revealing blog—an insider’s glimpse into the hottest, most talked-about destination that has tourists buzzing with excitement. Prepare to be captivated by the phenomenon everyone is raving about.
Courtesy of City Museum
Photo courtesy of City Museum
2025
No. 9: Best Immersive Art Experience
City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, is home to a 10-story spiral slide, one of the world’s largest jungle gyms, and a rooftop garden that offers amazing city views. Some 20 artists created the large-scale features of this interactive museum well before the term ‘immersive art’ became a thing.
2025
Runner-up: Best Children’s Museum
Housed in the 600,000-square-foot former warehouse of the International Shoe Company, the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, has a bit of everything — the world’s largest jungle gym, a 10-story spiral slide, and a rooftop garden with stellar views of the city.
And with all the love that this wonderful museum is receiving, it is obvious why so many people return again and again. Not just children, but grown ups as well, enjoy the quirky vibe and the dramatic scenery.
City Museum is open with extended hours over the Labor Day Weekend in 2025, including Monday, September 1. The museum’s hours for that weekend were Friday-Saturday, 10 am to 9 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 9 pm; and Monday, 10 am to 6 pm. Now, is the time to get the family together and enjoy the holiday weekend crawling, exploring, running wild and showing off our gem.
Blog site Only in State/Missouri, recently did a story on the museum. Here is an article from Kerri Cox:
‘Step Into a World of Whimsy at the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri’
Learn why you should visit St. Louis’ City Museum, an indoor/outdoor interactive space in Missouri that offers much more fun than its name implies.
Have you ever worn knee pads to a museum? Probably not, but you just might want some when you visit the City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri. This whimsical museum showcases traditional collections alongside live circus performances, colorful art installations, and fantastical indoor and outdoor play spaces. It promises an over-the-top experience for both kids and adults.
Before you even enter the doors of the City Museum, you know you’re in for something unique. Maybe you spot the Ferris wheel making its rounds on the roof—or perhaps you see the airplane fuselage that seems precariously perched above the entrance. Your eyes dart from one bizarre element to another!
Daily Meme Facebook
The City Museum started in 1997 when founders Bob and Gail Cassilly purchased a former shoe factory with a vision of creating something “weirdly wonderful” for kids and adults. Both were classically trained artists with an interest in sculpture and architectural preservation. They turned a bunch of artists and engineers loose to create an indoor/outdoor interactive space that functions as both a museum and a playground. It’s a feast for the eyes—and a lot of fun.
My family has visited the City Museum many times over the years, and yet, we’ve never seen or done it all. When my sons were toddlers, we were a little overwhelmed by the open chaos, always a bit nervous the kids could make a break for it and head down a slide to another floor (after all, there are over 30 slides!). Just imagine if the Chutes and Ladders game were three dimensional, with arching tunnels instead of ladders to climb.
Over the years, as our boys grew into young adults, we gave them the freedom to explore, knowing they could disappear into a cavernous tunnel in the ceiling and we would somehow manage to reunite eventually. We also found plenty of things to enjoy together, from the outside MonstroCity playground, where I wished I had knee pads, to the Pinball Hall, with its collection of vintage pinball games.
As my family found, the City Museum is one of the rare attractions that is truly fun for both kids and adults. You can slide along the smooth bowls and rippling ridges of the skateless skate park, climb through an extensive man-made cave system, or take a whirl down the ten-story spiral slides that were originally part of the shoe factory.
If that sounds a bit too active for you, don’t worry. There are also calmer activities, like exploring salvaged St. Louis architectural remnants, admiring axolotls in aquariums, or checking out the strange collection of items that were lost and found in outhouses. Head up to the rooftop to take in views of downtown St. Louis.
With all that you are seeing and doing at the City Museum, you’ll surely work up an appetite. Adults may want to relax with a wine slushy in Boone’s Cabin Inn, and families can grab a snack or meal at one of several cafes, each with a personality all its own. My personal favorite is Beatnik Bob’s, where you’ll find a giant pair of underwear on display (don’t ask me why). Save room for dining after you leave the museum, as you can’t leave St. Louis without sampling the city’s signature thin-crust pizza and ooey gooey butter bars!
After visiting the City Museum, you may be tempted to explore more of the unique side of St. Louis. Hit the charming Delmar Loop neighborhood to find a vibe that perfectly complements the museum, or take time to find the city’s best hidden gems.
Before heading to the City Museum, check out the FAQs for great tips for planning your own visit. I’ll leave you with one final tip of my own: If you forget to take knee pads, you can purchase them in the museum shop, which is worth a visit for its eclectic stock even if you are venturing out without knee pads. But, I must say I recommend them if you are over the age of 20.
Here you go. She provided a detailed explanation of the museum, more than I ever could, since I haven’t had the chance to visit it yet. However, I’m looking forward to exploring it in the near future. Before any trip, it’s helpful to gather some information—click here to visit their website for more details.
City Museum, children’s museum USA, top family attractions, tourist hotspots, museum reviews, popular kid-friendly destinations, USA travel tips, trending tourist spots, best museums for kids
#CityMuseum #ChildrensMuseum #FamilyTravel #TopUSMuseums #TravelWithKids #TouristHotspot #MuseumReviews #FamilyFun #TravelTips #TrendingDestinations
