The City Museum is nothing like any other museum you and the kids have visited before. It is part interactive art display, part playground, and part aquarium. It allows you the chance to face your fear of heights, tight spaces, or nibbling fish. The unique art decor is endless, and there are too many slides to count. There is even more fun on the roof of this 12-story building, including slides, a Ferris wheel, and more climbing structures. The City Museum is fun for kids and adults and is chock-full of artistically crafted caverns, crevices, slides, twisty turns, and tunnels. Get ready for an adventure!
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What Should I Bring?
- Knee pads for adults. They are not necessary, but they will extend the fun if you plan to crawl after the kids. Don’t bother getting them for the kids; they do a lot more squatting than crawling. My biking knee pads were perfect, but they are pricey. If you just need some for the day, consider these more affordable ones.
- Bring a flashlight for everyone. Preferably a headlamp, but a phone will do in a pinch.
- Clothing choice will matter for slide speed. Skin or rough materials go slower than slippery materials, such as leggings. Dress comfortably so you can crawl, twist, and turn. Wear closed-toed shoes.
- Leave purses and backpacks at home. A water bottle on a strap might work. Alternatively, take advantage of the water fountains whenever you see them.
- Buy tickets online to save 10%. It is $20 per person plus $8 for the rooftop and/or $6 for the Pinball Hall. FYI-They are cashless. If you are going for more than one day, there might be a membership option to save you money.
- Did you forget some essentials? On-site gift stores sell flashlights and knee pads.
Day of Play-Top Tips
Write your phone number on the wristbands of anyone in your group who doesn’t have a cell phone. I am shocked that I haven’t lost my quick and independent kids in that maze yet!
Check the weather and consider the best time of day to be outside, prioritizing Monstro City and the Rooftop during those times. If you are interested in the circus show, check the performance time. It is usually only once or twice a day.
Don’t forget knee pads for the adults who want to play!
Slide Height Requirements
Are you wondering which slides at the City Museum your kids are tall enough for? Here is the list under Rides and Slides. There are some small slides without any requirements, some you need to be 36″. Most of the slides are 42″ and above, and a few you need to be 48″ or taller. I always check the height requirements before going somewhere new, but honestly, it didn’t seem to matter much for the City Museum. Even my brave kids were cautious about the slides they could go on, much less the ones they were too short for! Plus, there is SO MUCH to do outside of the slides.
The City Museum was known for its 10-story slide for years. An employee informed me that it has been closed for almost a year as of summer 2025, but I couldn’t find any information about why or when it might reopen. It is no longer listed on the website.
What Should I Expect at the City Museum?
You can read about different sections of the museum and get a rough idea of where to find certain things, but even on the website, there are no detailed maps. The City Museum is so integrative that it would be nearly impossible to map it in a way the average visitor would find helpful. There are tons of ways between the different floors, including slides, tunnels, ladders, climbs, and traditional stairs. The best way to explore the City Museum of St Louis is to just go with the flow.
As a family with young kids, we decided to take turns between the four of us regarding who would make the next decision about where to go. As the kids got older we would split into groups of two so each kid could explore without debating the next turn with their brother. With older kids or groups of adults, pick a place and a meeting time, as it’s easy to get separated. You can also decide as a group to stay in a particular section. Here is a general list of items located on each floor.
My husband and I had a blast following our kids through the narrow tunnels, and we found ourselves in some tight spots. I have a size 12 pants and didn’t find anything I couldn’t squeeze into. There were plenty of places where I was crawling and could not turn around. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any signs warning about tight spaces. Those who tend toward claustrophobia will want to avoid certain parts of the museum, which is completely doable.
MonstroCity
The outside installations near the front entrance are called MonstroCity. We loved this section! There are tons of tunnels, slides, and bridges to explore. There are many options for tight areas adjacent to more spacious routes. This section features several old planes with castle turrets and winding staircases. It will challenge your fear of heights and can also challenge any claustrophobia, though the tight areas are reasonably easy to avoid here.
The Artquarium
My favorite part of the Artquarium was the touch tank. It had Red Garra fish that flock to hands in the water. They gently nibble the dead skin of your hand! It does not hurt, but it takes courage to stick your hands in. In addition to the touch tank, there were more tunnels, slides, and hidden passages for different views of the various tanks of stingrays, fish, and desert animal life.
Enchanted Caves and the 5 Story Slide
In the center of the museum are the infamous Enchanted Caves. They are dark, twisting, cave-like paths winding up, down, and around. This is also where you can find the 5-story twisting slide. It wasn’t our favorite slide, but we did have fun on it. Kids must be 42″. My youngest went on it at 42″ when he was 5 years old and had trouble following the instructions to stay on the outside of the slide. This meant he got thrown around a bit and came down crying. A year later, he did great. For young kids first time on this slide, I’d try to dress them in less slippery pants and emphasize the tips from the workers at the top.
Regardless of your decision to partake in the twisty slide, the caverns are fun to explore. There are plenty of opportunities to test your comfort with small spaces! There are also plenty of areas to explore that are a bit more open. Having a headlight made this area a lot more fun for the kids. My husband and I managed just fine with a phone light, but a headlight would have been better.
Treehouses and Tunnels
Another of my favorite sections was the tree house and tunnel area. It is just to the right when you enter the museum. This is every kid’s dream treehouse! Caution, parents: some of the spaces are tight! There is always a way to avoid the tight places, but knowing where the kids will pop out is hard. They found another ladder, tunnel, or slide whenever I turned around. There are plenty of eclectic decor items to enjoy while waiting for kids to finish their exploration.
Toddlers
There is a toddler area for kids 6 and under. My kids were 5 and 6 at the time of our first visit, but they breezed through that area pretty quickly. It would be a safer place for the younger kids to play with less concern for them entering a tunnel that a parent is uncomfortable following. There is also a much lower chance of losing them.
The area features a climbing tree house and a ball pit filled with large, bouncy balls. It also has a bunch of large foam Legos that click together. A small train for kids 48″ and under is between the toddler area and the circus.
The Circus at the City Musuem
There are many different performances held here. Our favorite so far was Laura M Lippert. She was hilarious and a talented artist who has worked for Cirque shows. A common act at the City Museum is the local social circus and youth circus known as Circus Harmony. It’s a youth circus focusing on social change. If you are a local, you can even sign up for circus classes!
Skateboardless Skate Park
The “skateboardless” skate park” section of the City Museum is filled with bowls and ramps. No skateboards are allowed, so now it is for running, climbing, sliding, and swinging around. They have a maze-like section under some of the ramps.
The Rooftop-Exploring Heights
The roof has an extra charge of $8 a person. You will have plenty of fun without the rooftop, but it is a lot of fun if you have the time and money. This was my husband’s favorite section. They do not offer refunds for bad weather, so check ahead. They close it in the rain.
The rooftop can present a challenge to those who are afraid of heights. For those who get a thrill from heights and enjoy challenging their fears safely, you’ll find plenty of fun here! You can walk into the bus hanging off the edge of the 12-story building! Then, you can climb up a narrow but open-feeling tunnel to slide to the bottom. It is not a fast slide, but it looked pretty intimidating to my kids the first time they tried it.
There is a vintage Ferris wheel on the roof that gives an awesome view of the city for those brave enough to ride! The large dome was another favorite feature for my daring family. The ladder-type climbing structure is on the inside of the large dome. Since it is inside, the dome is to your back and below you is……the metal ladder and space!
Art Center
There is an art room that offers both free and paid projects. The day we were there the free project was coloring under black light. It was exactly what my kids needed after exerting themselves in the museum. Just novel enough to be interesting but also some down time to chill, color, and rest.
Food Options and Prices
You are not allowed to bring in outside food. The City Museum has several food stands and gift stores. A sample of the menus is above. They also had Dippin’ Dots and ice cream sandwiches. The restaurant near to the pinball hall and circus has tacos and quesadillas. These were higher quality options than I would have expected, but overall the food, like many amusement centers, is overpriced, but necessary to fuel the fun. On weekdays, some of the restaurants may be closed.
Examples of menu options and pricing include a cheeseburger combo with fries and a fountain drink for $15, a large pretzel with cheese for $8, or chicken Caesar salad for $12. The taco dinner includes two tacos, chips, and queso for $14. Bottled water for $4.5, craft beer to $9.
There are water fountains and restrooms scattered around the City Museum.
Parking
We took our kids to the City Museum on a weekday just after St Louis schools started, so it wasn’t very busy. We parked in the main lot, which is enclosed by a fence. Going in the summer, it was busier, but we still had no problems finding paid and fenced-in parking. Parking seemed to run about $15 for the day. Other reviewers recommended being cautious about where you park, as the cars of museum-goers may be targeted for petty theft. Be smart, be safe.
More Options to Explore
You can take a tour on the first Saturday of every month to learn more about the nitty-gritty details of this marvelous and unique place. They do private tours as well.
We loved just exploring the museum but the events look like they take it to the next level, especially for adults. They have themed cocktail nights, a 90s dance party, fright night, and more. Check the calendar to see if anything is going on that piques your interest.
Once, when we went, they had the very famous Ready Go Dog Show, and it was included in the price of the museum!
Lodging in St Louis
Just like any city, there are lots of options. There is a deal between City Museum and the Druary hotels offering a modest discount on both museum tickets and lodging! If you have never been to a Druary before, don’t discount their “Free 5:30 pm kickback!” It’s essentially a complimentary dinner and drinks for guests and a great way to save money. The menu changes daily. We’ve had taco night and BBQ with mac and cheese in the past.
Nearby Activities in St Louis
After the kids have finished exploring the City Museum, there are plenty of other fun things to do in the area.
Check out the Gateway Arch National Park. This is not your typical natural scenery park, but it has its own beauty. I think the best part is the tram ride to the top, you can see for miles! There is also a museum at the base of the structure. This park has a Junior Ranger Program, too, and we always love those.
The Missouri Botanical Garden has excellent reviews and caters to a wide variety of interests. They have a dedicated children’s garden, tram rides, and various events throughout the year. It is adjacent to Tower Grove Park.
St Louis Union Station is a hub of tourist activity. It includes an aquarium, ropes course, mini golf, selfie museum, mirror maze, a large Ferris wheel, and more. There are plenty of dining options with train themes as well.
The St Louis Zoo is right downtown. If you have the extra time or money, consider the animal encounters for an extra special experience.
Hungry? You can eat and play here. Pieces has food, drinks, and board games! I love seeing these board game and restaurant combinations, and they are gaining popularity. Washington Street, located near the museum, offers a variety of food options. Delmar Street is a bit farther away, but it also offers excellent food options.
Check out The Magic House, St Louis’s Children’s Museum. Just Northeast of the city is Willoughby Farms, a free heritage farm with a petting zoo and education on the past.
The St Louis Art Museum has some family specific events and activities targeted at a large variety of ages.
Finally there are escape rooms, axe throwing establishments, a sculpture park, and wax museum.
In Conclusion
St Louis is a medium-sized city with plenty of fun things to do, and the presence of the City Museum has made this a favorite destination for our kids. It’s a worthy destination for families of all ages who enjoy climbing, crawling, and exploring!
Update!
In July of 2025, literally days after our most recent visit, they opened a new floor! It is called the Labyrinth. We cannot wait to go check it out.