City Museum

As a 48 year old male with a 10 year old daughter, I had a blast here. Couldn’t walk the next day but loved it. I went everywhere she went. The smallest tunnel that comes out in the whale’s belly, we did it. All the caves, the wire tunnels. It was amazing an I am thankful to have the same kid spirit as the guy that created this place. One of my best memories as a dad this far. We had a blast!

The City Museum offers endless fun for the whole family. During our winter visit, the outdoor sections were closed, but we were still thoroughly entertained for six hours. I recommend arriving early to ensure parking and shorter wait times for popular slides. Our kids loved exploring and running around. Just when we thought we’d seen everything, we’d discover a new area through a hidden passage or tunnel. Personally, I was amazed that, in addition to being a giant playground, it is also a work of art. Everywhere you look, there are beautiful creations through mosaics, sculptures, paint, and more. The details are amazing. There’s a piano the kids can play, a toddler area, a mini aquarium, places to eat and drink, an area with bugs and taxidermied animals, a circus, and more! Definitely make sure you have a plan on where to meet and when because it’s easy to get separated with older kids who like to run off. We didn’t buy knee pads or headlamps and were fine; I don’t think they’re necessary. We got the family flatbread pizza deal, which was worth it since we were there for so long. However, the pizzas were smaller than expected. We want to go back during the summer months to check out the outside.

It's about 20% museum and 80% unbelievable playground. The City Museum is one of the most unique man-made places we've ever visited. 10 story slide, huge cavern with tons of pathways, unique tree structures to climb through, and 4 floors of indoor fun. They have shows as well but we rarely stop to see them. We've been 4x (around this time each year). Outdoors is weather dependent but that would not stop us from going if it was closed. Our 12, 10, & 9 year old usually spend 8 hours each visit with lunch in between. Can't give it enough stars. Appreciative of how they add new touches each year as well!

What a gem! This place is a blast both for kids and adults, and a truly unique bit of charm for St. Louis. Bring knee pads for the caves and be prepared to crawl and climb on this multi-level art installation jungle-gym. Things to know: There is food on site, but it's expensive and not great ($15 for brisket street tacos sounds better than it is). There is also beer and cocktails at various locations throughout. The roof access is seasonal and not open in winter months. But Santa hangs out in December and Ms. Clause reads stories to the kids - all included with admission. The inside gets warm, even in the cold months. Layer your clothing. In the summer with humidity, it's an oven. There is a merch store that has magnets, shirts, stickers, etc. The outside areas are hours and hours of fun and climbing around, and provide a chance to cool off from the warm interior. Parking is pricey. I think we spent $30 for 4.5 hours or thereabouts.

This place was incredible! It's basically a 10-story maze/playground. It's definitely a little chaotic, especially if you don't know what to expect, but it's lots of fun! There's alot to do both inside and outside. I wouldn't recommend it for preschool children if you don't have older kids, too. Our 3 and 4 year old loved it, but they had older siblings with them. Many of the tunnels are difficult for most adults to go through, so be prepared!

The City Museum is EASILY, one of the coolest places we have EVER taken our kids!!! Hands down! I'm not sure who had more fun, the kids or us! Come ready to play and wear clothes that you wouldn't mind snags and rips in. Lots of crawling, small openings, and passages. Benches to sit if you don't want to play, too. They do offer knee pads in the gift shop. It took me 10 minutes to go back and buy some. I don't think the photos do it justice - this place is amazing and you should definitely go!! I would describe it more as four stories (including the roof which is totally worth it!) for interactive place ground that looks like all the nature scapes you don't want them hiding in. Mixed with artistic welded scapes that make for a wild adventure! If you've read this much, you're interested, and you should just go! Tip: Matching shirts made it easy to find our family quickly. Would advise, at times, you might get separated.

This place is amazing. We came here for our ten year old son, and ended up finding our own personal child again. I haven't run around so much in years. Every where you look there is something to climb into, climb on, crawl through. It really is endless. You truly need an entire day just to do this one attraction

Great experience with my daughter and her friends. Some many great places to explore! Many themed areas that really inspire and awaken your artist mind and appreciation. A big surprise was the excellent food. Very good Chicago dog and mac and cheese. I needed the nurishment after all the climbing around. To my fellow adults, just embrace it and explore, climb, and more!

Awesome place. So much to see and do. There are so many recycled items integrated into the designs and beautiful, interesting things to see everywhere you look.

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.

Holy smokes, this place is hard to describe. This place is a huge repurposed old factory packed to the absolute brim - including the roof - with found objects, art and architecture galleries, formal exhibits (we enjoyed the interactive Guinness World Records one), aquariums, quirky memorabilia, and a whole lot of things to climb, slide down, and explore, plus a mini circus show and a hands-on art show. It is extremely easy to spend the entire day here - and they make it especially easy with a number of different restaurants, bars, and shops. One thing that is a little intimidating, depending on the ages and abilities of any accompanying children, is that the check-in literally includes the staff handing you a wristband to complete for your child with your name and phone number. It is very much expected that you will get separated at some point. So it was very nice that we were able to make our first visit with experienced friends who are museum members so the kids could move around as a pack. We also set up a meeting point where an adult from our group was always stationed. They also gave us the invaluable tip that I will share: headlamps and knee pads are super helpful. Some of the tunnels and hidey holes are pretty dark and some of the crawling is hard on the knees so that takes care of those issues. Parking lots are available, though they did fill up pretty quickly. Honestly, seeing is believing with this one. I'm not sure the pictures I viewed in advance even scratched the surface!

What a fun museum! It was nicely decorated for the holidays. A bit hard to navigate in but I guess that's part of it. I wasn't sure if I had seen it all (definitely not the outside yet as it was closed). Overall, it was interesting to look at. I didn't get to go on the slides though! Would definitely check it out again especially the attraction outside (probably when it's not too cold).

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

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.

Don't get me wrong, this place is super cool!However we were really disappointed to find out the roof didn't open until after 11. No where on their website does it say this, and after an hour of running around and climbing through tunnels, we didn't want to wait longer for the roof to open (which we paid extra to access). I asked someone what time it opened, and they said whenever they had someone there to man it... not giving a specific time. So when we asked for a refund on the roof portion, the attendant giving us an attitude saying they always open at 11 (as if we should know that) was unnecessary. We visited from out of state, we had no way of knowing what time the roof opens, and it doesn't seem like there is actually a set time to begin with. It really is a cool establishment, just being comfy clothes and shoes to be active in!

This was one of the attractions I really wanted to see in St. Louis. Unfortunately when I went, it was 16 degrees and very windy so the rooftop was not opened. It is basically an interactive art exhibit and a playground for all ages. They have places to climb everywhere, slides, fish and lizards, history on the museum, and it is a bit hard to find your way around. I missed several areas of the museum. I would suggest to brace yourself for those slides because I didn't and they are FAST and unfortunately, bruised my tailbone twice and still healing. It was fun despite the injury, and I would recommend for all ages. They do have something for everyone; even if you don't enjoy climbing and sliding.

Interesting and eclectic museum! You'll find things here that you don't see in other museums, like a circus and three level slide! Decorated nicely for the holidays.

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.

It's always a good time at The City Museum! The staff were super helpful and holiday decorations were really pretty and festive! I forgotten how much fun and informative the museum was....

Well decorated for Christmas. Had a fun time getting lost in the maze of the place and sliding down 5 stories! Appreciated helpful workers stationed around slides, elevators. Fun adventure every time you visit no matter your age!

Words can't fully capture the magic of the City Museum... I swear you just have to experience it for yourself! I've been coming here since I was a young kid, and no matter how many times I visit, I always find something new. Whether it's the caves, slides, or hidden surprises, every corner holds a new adventure. The City Museum is a true work of art, and Bob Cassilly's vision behind it fascinates me to this day. Wear long pants and comfortable clothes! You'll be crawling through tunnels and climbing all over. The rooftop is magical, especially at night, but I wouldn't say it's necessary to do every visit. Once you've experienced it, you don't need to do it again for awhile. Additionally, I highly recommend visiting during Christmas when the entire place is decked out in festive decor. The City Museum is such a unique gem, and I feel so lucky to have it here in St. Louis!

WHERE do I begin about this place? Nothing could have adequately prepared me for what I was going to encounter, and I'm afraid that no matter what I say, you'll be in the same boat. This is an all ages playground, ropes course, circus, zoo, spelunking adventure facility and it BEGS to be explored. When my wife and I visited, we saw a group of kids around 10 years old with headlamps...and wondered what that was about. Later, we learned that there are dark manmade caves to explore. Those headlamps were brilliant. Our cell phone flashlight worked fine, too. There are so many different climbing and sliding apparatuses-most of them large enough for the average grown up, but some of them were smaller spaces for the partially grown humans. If something looks too small to fit, give it a pass. Nobody wants to get stuck. There's a mini circus inside where you can watch performances while you eat popcorn. There's a pinball arcade, a skateless skate park, an insect museum, a train ride for the tiniest of people...I could go on. Just go, wear comfortable shoes and clothes and see where it takes you.

I went in blind, and so should you. I asked Grace (one of their super friendly employees) at the front desk what the best part was and she told me... that's for you to decide, listen to your heart. And I'll just say that she's right. This was the highlight of my year and it's only January 4th. I haven't played like a kid like that... well since I was a kid. 15/10 's. Going to make this an annual stop. Edit: Take advantage of the knee pads & headlamps for the tunnels! Learn from our mistakes! lol

I hadn't been here in many years - it's so fun! Be ready to wear comfy shoes and clothes to CLIMB! We enjoy the slides and the magic show too. Everyone working was friendly, although you don't have a lot of interaction with staff. The snack bar offers some good light options. Street parking is cheaper unless you plan to be there all day.

The City Museum is one of the coolest places not only in St. Louis, but anywhere. It is magical for kids and adults. I was able to go on a tour before the museum opened and it was amazing to see it empty. They had it decorated for Halloween and it was so cool. I loved all the decor. I cannot recommend stopping by the City Museum on your next visit to St. Louis enough!!

City Museum is a STL must-have. It is a mind boggling, funner than heck marvel for kiddos and adults alike. We make a point to pop in here every trip to The Lou. My last review was five years ago and I am happy report that it never, ever gets old. It has been a so great to watch our kids grow into the City Museum. We went from timid littles, sequestered mostly to the 'toddler' section-- to brave, fearless tiny humans conquering everything their heart desires. Tips: - Try the frozen mimosa :) - Dress your kiddo (and you) in pants/capris. You're on your knees a lot and another layer is definitely worth it. Plus on hot days, shorts can be less than pleasant going down hot slides. - No food is allowed but you can reenter, I recommend you do that. - Bring a fanny pack-- pack light if possible-- as backpacks are cumbersome in a lot of areas. (Lockers are available for a fee.) - It's fun on sunny or rainy days-- but really make sure you explore the outdoor section if able! - The roof is cool, but not really worth the extra IMO. (The entrance is kind of tricky to find, it is near the vault. - Get your kiddo a headlamp. (Easy for them to see but easier for you to spot in dark, tiny spaces.) - Make a point to check out the circus attractions! The performers are amazing and it is a good break. 20/10 recommend. It's worth every penny and while there are mainstay attractions, every trip it boasts something new! Make a trip to the City Museum today!

This is such a cool establishment. I love when they decorate for the holidays because it's so unique.

Such an interesting and yet confusing museum. I think this is where all the Ripley's and old museum artifacts come to outlive its final display days. Lol. City Museum is not a traditional museum. Yes, some parts are, but the other areas are part food court/restaurants, aquarium ish, and play areas (ropes/platforms) for kids and teens. I do not recommend coming on prime time during the day on the weekends as toddlers, kids, and teenagers will swamp this place like no other. It was like Disney during everyone's vacation. The station where you can stick your hand into the fish tank and have the little fishes nibble at your dead skin cells was way cool. The slides were meh. It apparently only goes from one floor to another, not from the very top floor all the way down. If you've tried one then you've tried it all. Since the rooftop and outdoor areas were closed due to the weather, I am not sure how those slides differ. There were plenty of tunnels, crawl spaces, and hanging rope courses for the younger kids. Each floor had something unique to offer. The caves area was super dark and cooling. There was just too many human bodies running around so this was a relieve from it all. But there are still kids crawling about the tunnels and sticking limbs everywhere. The fish tanks throughout the floors were interesting to look at also. Pro tip: There are bathrooms at other levels. Don't wait downstairs with everyone else. Also, there are free street parking if you're not wanting to pay the parking lot fee of $15 in addition to admission fees.

I just don't even think there will ever be any words to describe this place. We were disappointed this time around that the top floor slides (10 floors!) were not open, and we were only allowed to go up to the 5th floor, but what a place! There are so many things to do and tunnels to get lost in. The whole museum is one great, big jungle gym. Our kids enjoyed the Red Garra fish that feed off of dead skin. We liked the pinball area too, although some of the machines were a little disappointing. This is probably the worst review I've ever written because there really are just not words to describe this place, and the only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five is because of the slides. We were told that the slides had been closed for months. But seriously, just go visit and see for yourself!

The only way to describe this place is pure chaos. Located in downtown STL do yourself a favor and hang out here for a day. Pay the extra and head to the roof top for the extra experience. This is a wonderful family experience / kids museum. If you are a nervous Nelly about your kids not being in your view at all times, be prepared to squeeze into tight spaces, head into ceilings, dark spaces, and suspended air planes. You can buy knee pads in the gift shop . I would recommend bringing a pen and writing your cell phone number onto your kids wrist bands in case you get separated. It can be pricey, so be prepared to spend some money. Parents do have alcoholic options if you need a break.

I don't even know where to start with explaining this place. It's an interesting mix of art meets playground. This building has 4 floors and a rooftop of activities, all with different themes. Slides, tunnels, bridges, both inside and outside areas and a rooftop with hanging bus, a 5 story slide, giant bug sculptures. They have a "food court" at mid-level with refreshments including fountain drinks, water, icees, fried food. You could most definitely spend all day here! We were here for 3 hours and we didn't get to it all. I'm not sure if there is any cleaning/sanitizing done, really not sure how they would possibly clean everything it's just so much. Lots of handwashing and bring your own sanitizer, most of the sanitizer stations were out. Cool and extremely unique place. Definitely an enter at your own risk kind of place.

Great place for kiddos. Take knee pads for them since there is a lot of crawling. It was pretty hot inside during peak summer so dress in lighter clothes!

This place is like Meow Wolf except with a wildlife theme. It's a place to explore every nook or dark corner or ladder or staircase. I explored inside the belly of a whale, walked ladders made of tree limbs and stairs made of metal, wood, brick, coins, you name it. I loved the lively 80s music being played everywhere. Had the adults singing along and in a good mood! This concept reminds me of parks in Europe where all ages (adults too) are encouraged to play on the creations along with their children. It was not the day to wear a dress and sandals (like me) cause you will be showing your knickers to people on level below you. Some people were seasoned and wore knee pads to crawl around more easily. The circus was fun and settled the kids down to take straight to the car for a nap after. They did have several options for food; cafe type as well as popcorn and dole whip. Super fun place!

I've never been somewhere like this before in my entire life and it's so hard to describe, you have to go and explore to really understand what this place is. I got unlucky and the weather did not permit to go outside or on the roof but even without those two areas, there is still so much to explore. It's a giant playground full of wonder, hidden passages, eccentric set pieces, slides, ladders, nets, and more. You can touch everything, you can climb everything, it's made to be fully immersive and creative. I recommend renting a locker so you can freely move around without worrying about your phone or jacket. I also think wearing knee pads would help a lot since you'll be bumping into a lot of stuff and be crawling around a lot. My favourite part was the aquarium section where they had a tank of those fish that eat your dead skin cells. I could've stayed there all day. They were so cute and it felt so funny to have them nibble on my hand. This is must attraction in St-Louis.

Wow, what a fun place for both children and adults. I have so much fun here and it's quite the workout :) Staff are always extremely nice at the entrance. Gift shop near the front is also pretty cool. Food options could be better but overall, not bad. This is a place you could come to annually and have a pretty good time. Lots to do and explore. Bring comfortable clothes and shoes! Cause you will be extremely sore if not lol.

We are so glad we got to experience City Museum. This is a place for exploration and fun, for adults and kids alike. It's probably a helicopter parents worst nightmare. It's easy to loose kids with all the turns and tight places. There are some areas where it's meant for kids and grown ups simply won't fit, so choose a place on every floor to meet up if you have a runner without a phone. It's $15 for parking outside. The premier parking is $20 and is on the 2nd floor of the museum. Not really worth the extra money unless it's raining or something. You turn into the museum to go in. You can add on rooftop access for $8/person, and it was def worth it! There is a really fast Ferris wheel, more climbing structures, a bus to climb and a gigantic slide among other things. It seemed like every floor had different food/drink options. The biggest area was the pizza, chicken wrap, meatball sandwich area, there were hot dogs, tacos and good stuff through out. I appreciate the various bars and drink area. It's about $4 for a water, $7 for a beer, $9 wine slushees.

There's nothing like it! Whether you enjoy exploring the tunnels and slides or not, we can all agree on this. City Museum is described as a passion program (to catalog historical architecture) that became a unique adventure center for adults and kids. Despite hearing stories from friends and checking out their website I didn't understand what City Museum offered. Even when we parked out front and saw families enjoying the outdoor walk paths, I still didn't get how the majority of the paths were small and twisted. It wasn't until I stepped down stairs and found myself maneuvering quickly on my knees to get through the path that I got it. My path met a mom in a small panic trying to keep up with her small child. I turned around and went out the way I came in. My boys are older (12 & 17) so I was lucky to bow out and let them enjoy hours together. My husband and I stuck to walking through the bigger spaces to be in awe of the materials making up the City Museum and reading about the pieces of architecture brought into the space. In our last hour or so we hung out at their third floor cafe to enjoy pork nachos and sodas. The second floor had a few fish tanks and other aquarium like species but it's a bit lackluster and somewhat sad, especially after being at the St Louis aquarium. The tanks are small and dirty. Be careful of your cell phone or other items that can fall out of pockets. Lockers are available inside. Dress comfortable from head to toe and don't wear anything hot. Expect to get sweaty and dirty. Take money for refreshments. Parking out front is $15. General admission single ticket offers a lot but additional attractions can be purchased. When it rains, the outdoor space becomes unsafe and will be shut down. Memberships are available for those that will come back more often. Enjoy yourself!

What an amazing museum. Seriously, this place is so trippy, from the moment you step in; TBH, I was in sensory overload. And, of course, my kids were off to the races, exploring every nook and cranny, and sliding down every slide. It felt like there was a new adventure around every turn. That said, there are a few drawbacks that should be kept in mind. First, City Museum is pretty expensive -- and this goes beyond admission. If you're an adult, you'll likely need to buy knee pads ($15 IIRC). And the concessions are a ripoff. Not only is everything overpriced, but the quality is laughably bad. At Guard Dogs, all of our food came out lukewarm. My wife asked, "Is this safe to eat?" Even after sending back my kids' corn dogs, they were returned to us at the same gross temperature, and without so much as an apology. STL has quite a food scene, so I'm shocked this hasn't been addressed. Second, my wife and I thought the circus "freak show" was a little risqué for our kids. I get it -- these acts require flexibility. And the performers are def skilled. But a little more coverage would be appropriate, for an all-ages show. So, overall, the main stuff here is great. But, a couple minor dings, too.

Such a delightful experience in St Louis! An unexpected maze of twists and turns, pockets of dark cavernous tunnels and surprise slides that had us ungracefully landing on our butt. SO. MUCH. FUN! Most of the areas were a tight fit but that didn't stop us! My kiddo and I are 5 foot tall and still managed to bump our heads twice within the first ten minutes.

We came here based on the reviews and everything we read online. However, we are both in our 30's and didn't have any children with us. This place is really neat, but it's more of a giant playground than a museum. This place is probably super fun for kids, but not so much for adults. I will say, they serve alcohol, so that makes it better. The biggest turn off here was you pay $20 to get in, but if you want to get to the roof, probably coolest part, you have to go back to the start and pay an additional $8 for a different wristband. This was not evident until we got to the elevator to go up to the top and we're turned away. Also, if you take your kids, watch them closely because they could easily get lost or injured based on the places they're allowed to climb and crawl. If I were a 9 year old kid, I would probably write a much more positive review.

Our favorite place for our kids but be ready to be worn out! You can take your own food and there are water refilling stations. Nursing rooms

SOOO many people told us we needed to visit the City Museum when we visited St. Louis for a concert and I'm glad I did. I might place it a notch above the Gateway Arch on a "Must Do" List. You could easily spend hours there, but... you will eventually get bored. A couple things: -dress appropriately. Wear your gym shoes and clothes that you're comfortable getting on your hands-and-knees in or you'll have less fun -eat ahead of time or plan to eat after. The prices and food quality are actually bad. We went to the Gateway Arch just before this and wanted to eat at the City Museum because we saw so many options. 1/4 were closed on the day we visited. We got lunch at one and drinks at another. The food was a 2 on a 5 scale (wilted lettuce and dehydrated vegetables and panini that was "fine" at best) and really expensive for what it is. It's a blast to waste a 2-3 hours here--try to go on a nice day so you have access to the outside portion which is significant--but it is pricey.

WE HAD A BLAST! I have 8 kids: 5-18. We paired off and took off. This place was fun for everyone- we went a few weeks ago and they all keep telling friends about it, and look forward to going back. We found ourselves continually asking is it OK for us to do this? And the answer was a fun and exploratory YES! Tips: 1- it would be difficult to navigate this place with babies or toddlers. With eight kids, I have taken babies and toddlers all over the world, but this place was way more fun with bigger kids. I was able to crawl right through and do all of the fun things alongside them. 2- it's pretty much impossible to keep up with your kids. So if you find yourself more in the category of helicopter mom, this place might terrify you. Set up meeting spaces and make sure each group of kiddos has a watch and let them roam. 3- I put an AirTag inside of the shoe of one of my flight risks. If you have one of these kind of kids, you know what I'm talking about. I could track him, or ding the AirTag if it was time for him to meet back up with me. 4- Get involved with your kids. Squeeze through the tiny places and be adventurous right along with them . my teenagers loved climbing through with one another and also exploring with their younger siblings, and I found myself thinking it would be a date night my husband and I would absolutely love. Then I found a poster advertising adult nights! I would love to check those out in the future. 5- no bags on slides, even fanny packs. Plan to take turns swapping bags/ riders if you are carrying a bag of any kind.

This place is great, especially for kids. The amount of tunnels and climbing structures is crazy. You never know where you're going to end up, or what you'll discover. It's a must-do attraction for tourists, as well. My one complaint is the weird beer selection. The hey have no common light domestics. They have stuff like Stag and PBR as their staples. Pass.

I bring my kids here once or twice a year and it never disappoints. There are enough things to do here to fill your entire day. By the time your kids get done playing, they'll be ready to wind down and hit the hay. There are fabricated caves with 1000 different entries and exits, several fun slides for the kids to go down, and all kinds of other activities. One of the things my kids love the most is the wood half pipes ramps they can run up and down. The rooftop also includes a Ferris wheel and huge ramp to slide down. The Ferris wheel is older and really made my second guess my decision to hop on, but I'm here to tell the story. Seems like a little upkeep is due in my opinion. There is also an aquarium area which is fun. There are also DOCTOR FISH! Kids love how the fish nibble on your hands. There are a couple food options, but as you may have already guessed, they're somewhat expensive. Decent portion sizes but still not enough to justify the prices, at least for me. My last recommendation is, if there is something you plan on doing and can't live without doing, call first and make sure it's available that day. It seems like the rooftop is closed more often than it's open, at least in my experiences. This isn't the cheapest adventure to take your kids on, but rest assured you will get your moneys worth.

What a cool place! There's so much to see and do. We came on a weekday over spring break and it was so crazy crowded, but this is a big place. The lockers were all sold out, and we waited in a very long line for lunch. But we overall had a great time. Our son is 6 and he had a blast. He loved the toddler part and everything else. He enjoyed the art studio. He loved seeing the fish, lizards, plants, etc. The outside part was closed last time we were here, but open this week. That part is so cool as well. This place really is so unique and amazing.

There's no other place on Earth where you can see the World's Largest Underwear, a giant praying mantis, a walkthrough whale, a 1924 Wurlitzer pipe organ, a vault room from the 1800s, enchanted caves and a heck of a lot more. The last time I visited St. Louis was 1993, and this place didn't yet exist. My spouse and I returned to St. Louis for our 10-year anniversary and made this a destination to check out. We loved everything about the City Museum. From the adult-friendly boozy wine slushies and spinning top chairs, to the rooftop ferris wheel and giant praying mantis, the place is something else. Sensory overload - in a good way! We don't have kids - just a couple of 39 year olds exploring the place. We enjoyed taking in all the history that encompassed so much of the salvaged items on display throughout the warehouse. Yes, the building was formerly a shoe factory. I don't think I can pick just one favorite thing about the City Museum. The fact that a single person amassed such a collection and wanted to keep these artifacts from landfills is pretty fantastic. I loved the vintage Big Boy restaurant statue. We were able to see a 6pm circus act in the circus ring on the 3rd floor that was awesome. I can't remember the performers name now, but he had several diabolos and was very entertaining. I agree with other reviewers who have said that tennis shoes are a must, as well as backpacks - definitely! There are storage lockers for rent, which I recommend no matter how long you're going to be there. Plenty of places to grab food. Think nachos, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream, stuff like that. For the adults: There's a bar on most floors, including the rooftop. Nice gift shop, though we didn't buy anything. Play at your own risk - we saw a bloody face during our 4-hour visit. Parking is available at meters on the streets that surround the building, but we paid to park in the City Museum lot for $15. I recommend this because there is a parking attendant on site. There are elevators. There are uneven surfaces, dimly lit areas, etc. During our visit we spent about $125. This included regular admission tickets, rooftop access, parking, multiple drinks, and two wristbands for the arcade that's outside Beatnik Bob's. Absolutely recommend for all ages. You'll spend hours here.

Caught some BeatNick Bob's chicken tacos. Stains Louis Style Tacos are a refreshing taste from California Street Tacos. Red cabbage on with queso and shredded pollo. #spicemeister approved.

I have a membership and really really appreciate this place. Especially the salvage and display of building facades. Here's the negatives: - filthy. Just filthy. Be prepared - if I bring my ID because I don't have my membership card, they charge me to look up my membership (it takes 3 seconds). Yes, CHARGE ME for a membership that I already pay for. - things are randomly closed off, like the toddler ball pit - the sink by the baby changing table doesn't work. Gross It is what it is. I wish it was maintained a little better but they don't need to so they don't.

The city museum is definitely one of the highlights of St. Louis. There is so much to explore to the point where it gets overwhelming. It's fun for kids but also for adults too. Going here and appreciating all the art and how everything is designed is really cool. I only have 2 real complaints. The first would be a lack of Wi-Fi. I completely understand this one. Instead of just scrolling through YouTube Shorts the whole time, people should be having fun and exploring. But if you have kids, communicating with them is a nightmare unless you have them on your cellular plan (which why would you?). The second complaint would be that most of the staff were in a negative mood.

My friend and I went to City Nights at City Museum last night. The tickets were $25/person (+ online convenience fees). Tickets included access to the adult-only rooftop space and extended access to City Museum after hours. Quick tip: I don't recommend purchasing parking at City Museum since there is plenty of street parking around the area. The City Museum lot parking was $15. If you're nervous about parking downtown it may be worth it, but we found street parking no problem! When we arrived, we checked in and were given a wristband for rooftop access. We went up the elevator and a staircase to get to the roof. The rooftop space was awesome! There were booths set up with tarot card readers, several full bars, and a DJ/dancefloor area. Tickets included access to the rooftop Ferris wheel which was my favorite activity there! Since the event itself wasn't very busy, we were able to ride the Ferris wheel several times. My only complaint were some of the prices at the event. The tarot card readers were each around $20-25 for a reading. We also purchased spiked slushies that were a bit pricey at $10 for a small cup. There were calzones available for purchase at $10/piece as well. The slushies were wayyy too sweet and the calzones were pretty bland but we weren't expecting anything fancy! The food and drinks didn't take away from the experience at all. The view from the rooftop was incredible! We hung out & climbed around on the equipment outside for a while before heading inside to walk around the museum. It was really nice to visit in the evening when City Museum wasn't crowded with people! I would recommend going to a City Nights event; it is definitely worth the $$!

Sooooo worth it. Tips: 1. They sell beer on the roof 2. 99% chance you'll get separated from your kids so set meeting spots 3. Wear athletic shoes and comfortable clothes 4. The first ten minutes are disorientating but then you figure it all out 5. The ten story slide sounds terrifying at first but it's not 6. Imo's Pizza is a block away if you need some after visit food 7. Our nine-year-old loved it and didn't want to leave 8. We didn't wear knee pads and survived 9. No cash taken at the concession stands 10. Drink lots of water

We had a good time at the city museum. It was very crowded and very much overstimulated for all of us but it was still a lot of fun. I lost my kids a few times because there are so many people around everywhere but they had fun.

We have been here multiple times, but this last visit was one of the best! It was super clean, the temperature was great - not too hot inside. The lighting was good & bright as compared to the past when it's seemed dark. Melba in the women's bathroom was on top of the cleanliness & was so kind. We ended up getting the roof pass and stayed for 7 hours climbing and exploring. All the exhibits seemed complete and less a "work-in-progress." We had such a great time!

This was a fantastic spot to take the kids (and was equally entertaining for the adults!) With the entire facility being one massive jungle gym, some aspects are closer to a skating park, others a museum, an aquarium, and yet others a circus! This has so much to offer for everyone. The food is expensive to buy lunch here so I would definitely consider bringing your own. Admission tickets and gift shop prices are reasonable. Note that there is a different wristband to go to the roof (totally worth the extra money)

I stopped here on my road trip because it's literally the most unusual eclectic museum that I have come across as a nerd. It's 4 floors and a roof top so what the upper 6 floors are I can't tell. It's a big space with facades of the past local and far away. It has an aquarium, Farris wheel on the roof, floor to floor slides interior and exterior. Iron cat walks leading to planes, school bus, fire engine, stairs, landings etc. I can't put this museum in any accepted category because it's insane how it's every category thrown into a blender and realized in one place. Bottom line it's like nothing like anything else and it's definitely a destination stop and worth checking out because you will probably not find anything like this anywhere else. This museum is fun and broke all the rules which makes it so awesome, I have been looking at it for years and I'm so glad I stopped by.

I highly suggest not bringing kids until at least 10ish! This place is one very large indoor and outdoor playland! Very easy for parents and young children to become separated and lost- on multiple levels. Too many very tight places that adults can't fit in but little kids can, causing kids to run off and parents needing to back out to find an alternative route. We might not have found actual artifacts, because I felt like I was in H. H. Holmes house,(i.e- Devil in the white city) but it seemed more like a playland than a museum. The cave area, due to poor lighting made it even more difficult to remain with your group. However, it was $20 a person, lots of energy was expelled and the kids (and adults) were completely worn out!!!