Rachel W.
Yelp
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.