Missouri History Museum

A great little museum full of interesting information, facts, and displays of local history. We especially enjoyed the exhibition of the 1904 World’s Fair! We learned so much about the events around the Fair, its introduction of many things that we now take for granted, and the deep racial undertones that the fair organizers and attendees supported during that time period. There is plenty of parking here, but during busy days you may have to park some distance away. There are several restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe available.

The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis is an absolute gem, and one of the highlights for me was their incredible World’s Fair (1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition) collection. The museum itself is beautifully located in Forest Park and offers free admission, which makes it an easy and worthwhile stop whether you’re a local or just visiting. The World’s Fair exhibit stands out as one of the most engaging and well-curated displays I’ve seen in any city museum. It does an excellent job of transporting you back to a time when St. Louis hosted the world on its grandest stage. Artifacts, photos, and interactive displays bring the scale and ambition of the 1904 fair to life. From original furniture and architectural models to cultural souvenirs and technological innovations of the time, the collection captures both the grandeur and the complexity of the event. The interpretive signage balances nostalgia with historical context, including the fair’s global impact and its more complicated legacy. Beyond the World’s Fair, the museum covers everything from local civil rights history to sports, music, and migration, all in an approachable and educational format. The building itself is inviting and well-maintained, and the staff are always helpful and enthusiastic. If you’re in St. Louis and even slightly interested in history, this museum should be high on your list. It’s informative without being overwhelming, and the World’s Fair exhibit alone is worth the visit. I left with a deeper appreciation for St. Louis’s role in shaping national and world events—and a sense of how history can be told in a way that’s both beautiful and thought-provoking.

The Missouri History Museum is a St. Louis gem- and one of the many free attractions in the city. Free admission and free parking! The parking lot isn't massive, but I haven't had trouble finding a spot each time I go. And if I did have trouble, I would just street park nearby, it's on the edge of Forest Park- so parking is available pretty much everywhere. I've recently visited twice this year- once in January and again on Mother's Day. Each time my group went to see the new 1904 World's Fair exhibit. It's done quite well and the city and visitors are lucky to have such a well-studied and -presented permanent exhibit. I have plans to go back to see Gateway to Pride before that exhibit closes (it's a temporary exhibit). I've visited the museum for as long as I can remember, but am only growing to appreciate it more. At these most recent visits, I was pleased by museum signage telling a more complete picture of history. Right at the base of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is information detailing his contradictory stances vs. actions. I especially appreciated the bit: "Ask Yourself- Can we still be moved by Jefferson's words but horrified by his actions?... This statue will not answer those questions for us, but it challenges us to answer them for ourselves." In the same vein, the World's Fair Exhibit did not shy away from detailing the human zoo, blatant racism, and atrocities that occurred as a direct result of the fair. True education happens here and I'm so grateful for it. As for the rest of the building- everything is spotless, restrooms were clean and accessible, and I love browsing the gift store following every visit. I especially appreciate that they're highlighting local artists' work. I'm hoping to check out a few of the many free programs that are offered over the summer.

Don’t miss the Gateway to Pride exhibit that ends July 6, 2025. I also saw the Collected exhibit for the first time and look forward to spending more time there in the future. And don’t skip the gift shop. Plus they had some really cool kids/family program going on in the lobby. Always something new.

My day at the History Museum was perfect,until a sudden tornado struck, damaging most of the visitors' cars. Despite the chaos, the museum staff remained calm and caring, quickly guiding everyone to the basement for safety. Thanks to their swift actions, no one was hurt. It’s truly one of the best places to visit and learn a great deal while feeling genuinely cared for.

I think this museum is beautiful, I do think that it is smaller than I expected it, but that’s not a negative. I was just surprised that there was not more to it, but that makes sense when you factor in that it’s in a historical park that includes other museums in a zoo that you can go to to add to your own Experience. They’re 1904 world’s fair exhibit was really cool. I really enjoyed the model they made of the fair with the projection and the audible storytelling that was available, I do think they should’ve had a section on the human zoo to bring to light the Controversial exhibit that existed at the 19 oh fair world, fair, it was even controversial for its time. I did think their kids area was really well done when it comes to being interactive and not overstimulating with tons of words everywhere where kids will get bored quickly, but instead they’re engaged with what they’re looking at and the things that they’re able to do and I think that would be my biggest highlight of the museum

This was a perfect place to go on a rainy day and my family mainly explored the kid's clubhouse area. I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the kid friendly exhibits the museum offered. Another plus is the museum and parking are free! There are plenty of different activities for kids and my almost 2 year old had a blast! He especially enjoyed the steamboat exhibit and Cafe play area. I hope to return soon to explore the rest of the museum!

Wonderful special exhibition of 1904 World's Fair. Interactive displays, memorabilia, and lots of detail immerses you into the World's Fair experience. While showcasing the fantastic influence the fair had on people of that generation, the museum is not afraid to uncover the jingoistic racism that prevailed at the time. History is portrayed in a truthful fashion rather than suppressed.

The 1904 World's Fair exhibit will dazzle you with the model of the fair grounds. Amazing view of what was and now what is today! The facts and information about the fair will keep you walking through the exhibit looking for more. The Eads Bridge at 150 years is also a comprehensive exhibit on this iconic bridge. Eat and shop there,also, in one stop.

I have stayed here all my life and never been here. This museum is awesome. Private FREE parking. Admission FREE!! Building clean and clear of clutter. Staff very friendly and welcoming . I came to see the civil rights exhibit and I was not disappointed. Very informative. Spaced just right. Spacious and well designed. Banners and hanging objects very colorful and cool. Dine in restaurants overpriced and food selection not impressive. Overall I really enjoyed it here

I went to the Pride DJ Night Saturday evening and it was pretty sad. The DJ played music but nothing to dance to which is why we went in the first place. A total of 4 people were dancing. It was so sunny and bright which is great for the museum itself but not to dance to. It's summer too so the sun would be up until 8pm... It looked like there were 30 people at best. Couldn't hear anything the guy was saying on the mic. Honestly I just wanted to leave and get a pizza but stayed longer than I would have liked because of the group I went with. The best comparison I can give is attending a middle school dance where a couple of teachers dance on the floor to get the kids to dance but everyone is just embarrassed. Dont recommend. Will never go back.

The Missouri History Museum is currently showcasing a major exhibition on the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (aka the 1904 St Louis World's Fair). We caught a lecture on the fair by a long-time member of the Fair's Historical Society that was extremely informative and quite interesting. After the lecture, we went to see the exhibit which included a model of the world's fairgrounds. The model is an incredible recreation of the fairgrounds. Also included in the exhibit are numerous posters and artifacts from the world's fair. My wife and her sister toured several other non- world's fair exhibits but I stuck with the main exhibit. Very interesting, informative and it was FREE.

The History Museum is a great family friendly free museum in St. Louis. We came here recently to meet up with friends and there were so many activities for kids! We started in the coloring room and the kids loved coloring St. Louis landmarks. I also had no idea about the kids clubhouse. It was so much fun! We happened to come on a Build-A-Bear day so we got to take pictures with the bear and left with discount cards and crayons. Would definitely recommend as a great rainy day activity to get the kids out of the house!

We visited the History Museum inside Forest Park on a dreary Sunday for brunch. We were able to check out a few exhibits and then head to the 2nd floor for breakfast. The STL Coloring exhibit features St. Louis architecture of every size, shape, and, you guessed it, COLOR! Children of all ages are invited to get a close-up look at these iconic buildings and color on the walls! The Soccer City exhibit shares the history of soccer in St. Louis through videos, photos, and memorabilia dating back to the first recorded soccer game in St. Louis in 1875! The 1904 World's Fair exhibit closed last year. BUT IT'S COMING BACK in April 2024 reimagined. We got a sneak peak! They have murals on the wall and they are planning for a giant map in the center of the gallery. I love old maps, especially when I can point on major landmarks and streets that existed both then and now. The Key Bistro Restaurant on the 2nd floor of the museum is open daily for lunch or grab-n-go snacks. They are also open for a Sunday brunch buffet which includes live music- $40 includes the brunch buffet and non-alcoholic drinks. We're a big fan of their dessert selection. The History Museum is always FREE to visit, so plan your trip today! It's the perfect indoor activity when it's rainy or cold.

This was a surprisingly fun museum. I enjoyed the 2nd floor exhibit on the early history of St. Louis (a good place to start in the museum if you're without kids). You'll learn that in 1803, Lewis and Clark began the Louisiana Purchase Expedition from here. The 1904 World's Fair was a key milestone - which helps to explain the Jefferson Memorial. On the second floor (the opposite side), the exhibits cover the 1900s and early 2000s with the development of suburbs and the Gateway Arch design. I did not have enough time to explore the history of musicians in the city, but it's worth a look. Other interesting tidbits include the Spirit of St. Louis plane, a cute but less informative exhibit on Soccer City (a fun place for adults), and a kid's section that provides an interactive experience. Overall, if you have 1-2 hours to spare as a first-time visitor to St. Louis, I would recommend the history museum. It was more entertaining and enjoyable than the Art Museum. Finally, the history museum is on the north side of Forest Park (5-10 minute walk from the Forest Park metro station), so it's convenient for visitors using public transportation. Two thumbs up!

The Missouri History Museum was a fun and interactive hall of exhibits dedicated to the state's rich background. One of the current exhibits focused on the history of soccer, and included video games and fooseball tables for visitors to play. There was also a room of whiteboards, decorated with black-outlined images of St. Louis icons, that guests could color with markers. Even adults, like ourselves, loved being able to grab a marker and draw on the walls! The Missouri History Museum really found ways to make history appealing and engaging for visitors of all ages.

2.5 Came here as we had an hour and a half to kill before our flight. I appreciate that this was free and so was parking but for such a huge building it has very little in the way of exhibits. There are 2 floors and the first floor has a city soccer exhibit and the kids exhibit which states you need a stamp for but there was no staff there. The upstairs has the past history and more "modern" history and the gift shop. The basement is meeting rooms. We were able to spend the amount of time we needed to here so we would not be sitting at the airport for hours but it is not some place I would visit again. The building on the outside and inside is beautiful and interesting.

Two hours here exploring the current exhibits at the museum and learning about Missouri's history. I got to enjoy the history of Saint Louis Sound, which includes history of jazz music, rock concerts that passed through town (Guns & Roses swore they would never return and yet, they did), some memorabilia and more. Beyond the Ballot displayed history of women getting the vote in Missouri and synopses of the women who helped make that happen. They did not have a good time, that's for sure. The Saint Louis World's Fair in 1904, which was technically called the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. History of the site (right here! this park!) and many of the exhibits that put Saint Louis on the world stage. The Spirit of Saint Louis (named so in honor of Lindbergh's supporters from the St. Louis Raquette Club) is hanging from the roof in the main Grand Hall is interesting. It is the "sister" of the plane that Charles Lindbergh piloted over the Atlantic Ocean to Paris in May 1927. And wow, it's small! Only a 46 foot wingspan, not even a quarter of a 747. Lots of history, lots to see, free parking and free access plus a great view of the park from the terrace. I had a great visit. [Review 17247 overall - 152 in Missouri - 764 of 2022.]

The Missouri History Museum is a lovely hidden gem in STL. The have an engaging and well-themed children's play area, several exhibits about local history, and a rotating exhibit. Most recently, the rotating exhibit has featured important women in STL history and Coloring STL. We learned so much from both! The coloring exhibit was relaxing and fun for all ages. We also really appreciate how un-crowded the museum is and how friendly and informative the staff is. We love this place!

I just want to mention how much I enjoy Jody Sowell's STLHISTORYMINUTE on CBS News Sunday Morning. while you might consider it to be a wealth of St Louis trivia, it is a fascinating look at St Louis's past, and extremely well done. I record the program every Sunday just so I don't miss it. I also want to mention that the History Museum archives contains important information about families, including some of my ancestors. It filled in some blank spots on my family from the late 1800s. The museum is an amazing St Louis treasure.

No entrance fee, but does accept donations. Great history and exhibits of the history of St. Louis, it's Native Americans, African Americans, Music, and LGBTQ+ community. There's a cafe upstairs with great coffee. I was great learning about the history of Missouri as I'm traveling through from the west coast.

We have enjoyed several different exhibits displayed there. "Little Black Dress" comes to mind. We also have gone several times when they have the summertime bands play outside.

I love the history museum. Sometimes there are some fantastic exhibits. He wanted to see STL ROCKS. He thought it would be an exhibit about radio and disc jockeys ( Wolfman Jack, Johnny Rabbit). Remember them. The part that we saw was really about sound. I did find out that they are starting Twilight Thursday's. Tonight is an Isley Brother tribute. The following Thursday's are a Temptation Tribute, a chuck Berry Tribute and a Tina Turner Tribute. It goes from 6-8 in front of the museum. You can bring a picnic dinner. Alcoholic drinks (no glass bottles) and dogs who are LEASHED. Go to their website to see what's allowed and what isn't. Would I come back here? Yes!! I'm sure future exhibits will be great.

There's no reason NOT to visit the Missouri History Museum if you have time. It's in Forest Park, so it's a pretty drive to visit it. It's FREE. Parking is FREE and onsite. It's clean, large, and well maintained with a friendly staff and a killer gift shop. Luckily for us, it's open into the evening (8pm?) on Thursdays when we were near. The exhibits rotate and change, so it's a good place to visit often I imagine. When we visited (Oct 2021) the featured exhibits were on the World's Fair in St. Louis, musicians/music from St. Louis/MO, and the suffragette movement in St. Louis. All were fantastic with plenty of original artifacts to view, art to gaze at, and videos/interactives to use. It was a stop well worth our time!

Okay, this is a great museum. In my opinion, it's a must-visit. And to top it all off, it's free, so it doesn't get much better. They do have special exhibits for which there is an additional fee, but I visited the free exhibits and they very comprehensive. There was an exhibit on St. Louis World's Fair which I really liked. They offer an audio tour, also free, which I used and it added a lot of detail and context. It's clean, bright and well-staffed--at least when I was there. A video in an exhibit wasn't working properly, and when I reported it to an employee it was fixed within 60 seconds. I spent at least two hours here, and my visit was confined to the two exhibits on the first floor. There's a lot more to see at MHM and I think anyone with a curious spirit will be delighted. As it's found at one of the entrances to Forest Park, you will find many other things of interest with and near the park. Car parking can be a bit sparse in the lots by the museum, but parking was easy for me along the road outside the park (it was mid-November, so in a more popular time of year might change things). I'm a nerd so I highly recommend it and I'll definitely be visiting next time I'm in StL.

I was quite excited to visit the museum, especially since it sits in such a large and beautiful park! I was quite underwhelmed however. Perhaps I have been spoiled with growing up near the Smithsonians. I love that it is free but I was thirsty for more history and information about Missouri. There is a good exhibit about the world fair but I definitly was hoping for more. I had a much better experience at the museum under the gateway. Our group was in and out within 30-40 minutes. Easy and plenty of parking around the museum. They do have a children's exhibit area as well.

Very solid museum that provided a lot of solid information. Had 2 floors - along with a small exhibit in the basement. Was easy to follow and see everything; really more St. Louis history than Missouri. A key exhibit was on the entirety of the 1904 World's Fair. They had a couple sections on the history of St. Louis from founding to current - one part was more commercial history; the other was more social history (including sports). There was a large section on the music of St. Louis; how it has changed over time. Finally, there's a sizable section for little kids with stuff to climb on and play with. We spent 3 hours before we got worn out - and it was free. The only reason for "not a 5" is there were a lot of signs that had missing exhibits.

They should apologize for wiping out the Natives and importing slaves, so they should change the name to "I'msorry History Museum", but yeah, won't happen. It's pretty harrowing and disgusting when you see exactly how much racism and murder and hatred there has been and how systematic it's been, throughout MO and the US. This country lives in massive denial about it. This state especially. If you ever wonder about that, just come to this Museum or one of many others. I can give them full marks for showing the true extent of the atrocities (well not the true extent, but more than some other museums do), and for not sugar-coating at all (or rather, not much). They also don't seem biased and don't seem judgy, they let you make your own decisions and I appreciate that. But really MO. We need to fix it and it's not anywhere near fixed yet. This museum is doing its part but are you? Am I? Are we?

I love this place. It's free!!! It has great exhibits, did I mention that it's free?? Just went to see the St Louis Sound exhibit - awesome musical history of St Louis. The gift shop is also my go-to for gifts, especially those I send abroad. Lots of activities all around the year for all ages and a great place to hang with a friend in the cold weather ;)

Wow, this place is really cool!! I was visiting my sister-in-law around thanksgiving 2022 and she took us to the Missouri history Museum. It was very clean, and it gave us something very entertaining to do while we were visiting her. There was one room in the museum where you can draw on the wall, or color. It was really cool. Another part of the display, they went through certain the different time periods for Music. Plus there are other displays they were there that we neat. If you're looking for something fun to do with the family I would recommend going here if you're in Saint Ann Missouri. The next time I'm up in Missouri, I'll see if we can go back.

I will start with my only complaint - the name. This is not a Missouri history museum, it is a St. Louis history museum and that is fine, just a little misleading for a life long Missourian that happens to reside in Missouri's largest city - Kansas City. I enjoyed the section devoted to the 1904 Worlds Fair, lots of cool artifacts and photos. The statue of Jefferson and the Spirit of St. Louis plane were equally impressive. Probably one of the most powerful exhibits I've had the pleasure to see was the collection of Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalism. From the 1950's to current day, this collection captures how amazingly wonderful to how simply barbaric the human race can be. The side show of photos from St. Louis' Post Dispatch were just as impressive and educational. An awesome gift shop to spend a few dollars to offset the free admission.

It's free! However membership helps to support the cause. Exhibits are well orchestrated, informative & appreciated. The gift shop has a plethora of unique items for all ages. Restaurant is back...definitely not what it use to be but not bad either. Give it a whirl! ~Christy

The Missouri History Museum is either something that interests you, or maybe something you'd pass on. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that most museums in STL are free, so no downside if you do not like it. With that said, I found my visit quite educational and spent about a solid two hours here, grant it I was on a schedule that day or I would of stayed longer. The museum is located in the largest park in STL with close proximity to all other museums in the city, but a decent walk. One thing that I underestimated was how hot it gets in STL during the summer. I figured it would be a good idea to walk to all the museums in the area, but bad idea in terms of heat and humidity. Either way all museums have air conditioning, which is great! Anyways onto the museum itself, it is a decent size, but not large enough to get lost in to be honest. Everything is laid out very well and the staff are very helpful if you have any questions. They do have a standard cafe as well as a kids museum to keep the young ones occupied. Obviously Missouri's history can fill up several reviews, so I think picture browsing or checking out their website is the best bet if you are curious. In my opinion again, well worth it especially if you are visiting other museums in the area.

Went on 5/30/23 to see the exhibit on soccer in St. Louis. Very disappointing. Really does not capture the rich history of soccer in the city and the true cultural institutions that fostered the rich soccer heritage. I am afraid the exhibit was a bit too concerned with being Woke rather than being real. With respect to the rest of the museum, it leaves a lot to be desired, unless, of course, you want to immerse yourself into various woke mythologies . . . The exhibits on the second floor were very confused and cluttered. Too difficult for little children to comprehend . . . .

The best park about this place is that it's free! Another great free attraction in STL! They have large areas with artifacts and St. Louis history everywhere. After you visit you can stroll around forest park or visit another museum close by! You can't go wrong with a visit to history.

I went to the MO History Museum with the family recently and we had a great experience. The children's part of the museum is fascinating, and feel like a fantasy-land segmented into particular historical themes. The workers here all were so helpful and friendly; it's easy to see that they truly love their jobs! Next time I return, I want to be sure to catch story-time and also hop into the trolley around Forest Park!

St. Louis Forest Park is larger than Central Park in NYC and packed with history. The Davis Cup tennis championship has roots with the park, as Dwight Davis was the head of the park in the early days, with a vision that parks were more than something to look at. Dwight wanted people to play in the parks. From the 1904 Worlds Fair, to today, the park draws millions of visitors to the best Zoo in the country, an impressive Art Museum, a Science Center and planetarium, the Dwight Davis Tennis Center, two golf courses, the Muny, the Boathouse, lots of sport fields AND... The History Museum! Plan to visit to see the past and envision the future!

I came here specifically for the architecture exhibit and movie which were both excellent. There is also an exhibit about St. Louis soccer City which should be seen as well. They always do a great job. Highly recommend.

My hubby use to be a photojournalist and I love photography, so when we saw an exhibit on Pulitzer Prize Photographs was showing, we had to go. I don't know what I thought I was going to see, but I went in excited and curious and came out the other side, devastated, eyes filled with tears. My heart had been ripped out and lay somewhere behind me in a puddle of sorrow, despair and absolute horror. I was naive I suppose and I wanted my rose colored glasses back...unfortunately, I can't unsee what I just saw. I am humbled by the courage and the bravery of some of these photojournalists. I don't know how they can sleep at night having witnessed such atrocities. My first instinct is to wish I had never seen these photographs. Then I realized that we must see them, so we know. So we can maybe make a difference, make things better, appreciate all the good we do have. I know I am deeply grateful that I have never experienced such evil, the excruciating horror and I pray I never do These powerful photographs changed me. One in particular will haunt me the rest of my life... Thank you to all the photojournalists out there in the trenches, risking their lives to show us the ugly truth. St. Louis is lucky to have such a wonderful museum that brings us wonderful exhibits that move us, make us think and hopefully, make us better humans. Everyone who was working the front desk and the lovely gift shop were amazing. You could tell they love their job and made the experience of visiting the History Museum that much better. Just one last warning on the Pulitzer Prize Photographs exhibit; not for children or the gentle of heart. And, yes that includes me...I shouldn't have gone, but I'm glad I did. Now let me go scream at the sky...

I love the Missouri History Museum! It is really a wonderful place to visIt for adults and children, although, I will say some exhibits lean towards adults. The last exhibit we visited over the holidays was the "Pulitzer Prize Photograph" exhibition. It was amazing and at the same very disturbing. There were award-winning photos and some of these photos left an emotional impression on me. This is NOT for children! There were photos captured at the time people were being killed by stabbing, burning, falling out windows with children, people being lynched and hung from trees. There were many dead bodies. The photos needed to be seen so we can learn not to repeat history, but I would have liked to have seen a balance of great, positive award-winning photos, too. I needed to leave the exhibition prior to seeing the exhibition in its entirety because it was too upsetting for me.

Excellent history museum! The only thing I regret is not visiting first thing when I got to St. Louis. I say this only because I feel that visiting would've given me a better understanding of Missouri while exploring. Note that it's a completely free museum; free admission and free parking! I would say the biggest thing to note about Missouri are the deep connections to Civil Rights movement both historically and even to current day and on going events. As they rightfully claim, "#1 in Civil Rights". Really well done exhibit and the highlight of the museum for me. In addition, there's a pretty significant exhibit on the World Fair that took place in St. Louis in 1904. Fun fact I learned was there was a huge Philippines culture exhibit which apparently was a hit. Cool to see some of the instruments and clothing from that exhibit as well. Plenty of Route 66 references and also cool to see the Spirit of St. Louis in there as well. There were also some really cool panoramic photographs from back in the day to see. Anyways, this one's a must if you find yourself in St. Louis. 'Til next time, cheers! 237/365

" Excellent Keys To History " We went to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park and had a nice time exploring the facility. This Free parking and Free admission Museum was so nice. The Panoramas of the City exhibit was great. It used panoramic photos taken throughout St. Louis's history and displays them. The Museum also has a lot of information and displays on early childhood educational programs that are in the city. Nice Museum

While touristing around St Louis, the Missouri History museum is worth a stop if you've got a bit of time. It's located right in Forest Park, which itself is worth spending some time in, with some free parking right by the building. Admission is also free, which may make it more appealing to those on the fence. There are some exhibits that change (they were working on a new one when I was there) and some that stay the same. I found their exhibit about the 1904 World's Fair one of the most interesting during my trip to the city - I had no idea about the scope and history of that World's Fair, and left wanting to learn even more. The signature exhibit about the history of St Louis was also very informative and worth the time.

I am always gaining more knowledge about my city and region each time I step foot in this building. To understand Metro St Louis of today you have to understand the Metro St Louis of the past. This is 1 of several places that will give great insight as to why the region of Saint Louis is the way it is today. This is a must visit for both residents and visitors. There is no admission fee.

Really interesting museum. Teaches a lot about St Louis' history and doesn't skim over the darker parts. Also had a really cute area for kids with a miniature St Louis to play in. I especially enjoyed the civil rights exhibit. Starts at slavery and continues through modern day issues of racism. Very powerful.

Free museum with great exhibits! Donate a few bucks to support the cause or become a member. Lots of St. Louis history and culture. Current exhibit (September 2021), "St. Louis Sound" for local musicians and music was great. Highly recommend for anyone interested in local history.

The little black dress exhibit was wonderful! First of all, I have to say it's so awesome to live in a city where there are free public events held regularly. The exhibit itself was set up well. The lines today were quite long but moved well given the crowd. I absolutely loved all the dresses from different time periods along with the paired shoes and jewelry. I never knew mourning periods could last so long. Overall it was very informative and some of the dresses were classic pieces that I can only wish were part of my wardrobe.

Perfect activity for a few hours on a snowy cold day. The museum is FREE with reserving tickets online, we showed up early and had no issue coming in. COVID precautions were in place, did not hinder the experience of any of the exhibits! Friendly helpful staff as well

Another great, FREE museum in Forest Park?! Stop it, St. Louis - you're making all other cities look bad. My friend and I were visiting St. Louis last weekend, and I decided we absolutely had to check out the Missouri History Museum! As a history major in college and a history buff now, I was thrilled to learn about this museum (I hadn't been on my previous visits to St. Louis). But I became especially excited when I learned that they have (through April 15, 2018) an exhibit on the civil rights struggle in St. Louis! And it was a great exhibit! When learning or reading about the civil rights movement, certain cities get bigger billing, and you don't always hear about or appreciate the part that St. Louis played in the struggle for civil rights. This exhibit was eye-opening and really interesting and well thought out - it begins with slavery and Dred and Eliza Scott and goes all the way to the present day and the events that took place in Ferguson, just a few miles from St. Louis proper. Well worth checking out if you're in St. Louis in March or April 2018. Another exhibit - Panoramas of the City (which runs through August 2018) was also great - it used panoramic photos taken throughout St. Louis's history, and it was a wow exhibit as well. All in all, this was a great museum visit, and I'd be excited to visit again and see their next exhibits the next time I visit STL!

We recently visited the St Louis History museum. This place doesn't have the flash and panache of the zoo or art museum but it fills its niche very well. There are always new and interesting exhibits, most often with a strong local focus. There is also a nice cafe and plenty of space to relax and chat about the exhibits and maybe imagine how THEN still influences NOW. Soon there trolley will be up and running and easy trips to the loop and back will be available. This is the junior of the 4 members of the Zoo Museum district but it is a gem on its own.

FREE. Tons of history. Located in the center of Forest Park across the street from Lindell. The set up is by era and includes painters, silverware, radios, cars, records (albums), and much more. Lots of local history about things that took place in St. Louis; to include old newspaper articles. I grew up around here but never ventured in until this one time. I will check back again as I am sure some of the items probably change from time to time.

Kids enjoyed the free clubhouse even though it was small. The exhibits looked good but couldn't stay very long and read through all of the display infographics and sources... PARKING IS FOR THE BIRDS!!!!

We sure are lucky in St. Louis to have so many wonderful museums and attractions that are free and almost all of them are located in Forest Park. The Park itself is truly a St. Louis gem! This review is for the Missouri History Museum. The building itself is a lovely older building with beautiful architecture, soaring ceilings, marble floors and gothic columns. There's an addition that includes classrooms and educational resources that is a very modern glass and metal structure. It's a very cool yin/yang. The museum is divided into many different wings with different exhibits, some of which are permanent some change from season to season. There are three floors which also include artistic photographs and historical artifacts. The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgable about each exhibit. The space is inviting with plenty of places to sit. They are very accommodating to families with children. The one major drawback I see is that it may not appeal to older children and teenagers. As a teacher, I'm always looking for educational aspects. But, I highly recommend this place as part of your tour of Forest Park. Again, did I mention, it's free!!

What a wonderful place to discover state history and learn new things! Missouri has an interesting history, especially as the forefront of Civil Rights in the United States. I visited the museum on a warm December Sunday. I was greeted so nicely at the door with an introduction, and given a map. The museum caters to all ages through multiple formats. There were plenty of placards to read, audio/visual, video, and large displays. I learned so much and I would definitely visit again. The museum is free of charge, which is greatly appreciated- don't forget to donate when possible.

The Missouri History Museum in Forest Park is a cool spot to check out when you're in the area and looking to do something different and interesting. It's one of many attractions located in the park that for the most part is free.Now on the occassion I have had to pay to experience an exhibit. The exhibits change every so often and sometimes they have additional events going on simultaneously with the exhibits. Some of the exhibits are usually pretty elaborate and intersting. All I can say is you just gotta stop in once in awhile and experience it for yourself. The exhibits are usually educating you about a culture, history, events, entertainment, etc. The museum also houses a restaurant inside which I have not tried. In the summer the museum host an outdoor concert series called "Twilight Tuesday's" which is also free where you can listen to music for free from various artists every Tuesday over a period of several weeks. The concert series is hosted on the lawn, so you can bring food and drinks or purchase items and have a picnic in the park.

I visited the Muny Memories exhibit a month ago and was disappointed by how limited and shortsighted it was. They gave a lot of extensive background on the starting of and the early years of the Muny, especially the famous actors that starred in shows once upon a time but not as much in terms of other areas of what constitutes an entire show. There was a lot displayed for very specific focuses, such as costume and props but not much else. Much of it seemed unbalanced in terms of what was talked about and what was ignored. Specifically a wide range of space dedicated to recent productions of "The Wizard of Oz". They had a short blurb about musicians randomly placed with no video or further explanation about anything other than the caliber of their skill. Could have been more cohesive, less randomly constituted and not so much jumping all over the place. Seemed to have been haphazardly put together at the last minute. It provided a few interesting factoids but overall lacked as a well put together whole.

Yes the History Musuem gets 5 stars because it meets the expectations of having great exhibits. This visit I stopped in to check out the StL Civil Rights History exhibit. It was a wonderful variety of photography, reading, interactive tv screens and even a live person who performed a song and monologue. The gift shop had a wonderful selection of items tied to the exhibit and I purchased 2 t-shirts. This museum is great for an afternoon out in the city; I encourage everyone to go.