National Blues Museum

Unfortunately, all of the interactive elements at the museum were out of service during our visit — every single one. We were really looking forward to an engaging, hands-on experience to enjoy as a family, but instead, it was mostly reading static information that can easily be found online. It ended up being boring for the kids, and overall, the ticket price didn’t feel justified given how much was unavailable. It's the blues museum! We should listen to it!

Very disappointing that every interactive portion of this museum was broken or out of order. I had read older reviews saying the same thing, and hoped that coming a few months later, things might be fixed. Nope. My guess is funding issues preventing proper upkeep/repairs. The exhibits were informative, but nothing stood out to make this museum feel special. I am a musician myself and would have appreciated more opportunities to feel immersed in the blues, hear more music samples, or just any way really to interact with the music and the history beyond reading about it. I love opportunities for music education but unfortunately don't feel this one was worth the admission fee.

Full of blues history, neatly displayed. Friendly staff. Unfortunately many of the electronic interactive devices did not work.

I loved everything about this museum. The history, the art, the fun activities. The only disappointment I had was that all the stations to create our own blues album weren't working, so I never got my completed album via email even though we did all the working stations. They do a curated gallery that one can only assume they change out with new artists. It is a fairly new addition to downtown. Take it all in, watch all the videos, take lots of pictures, and read all the history. Well worth the admissions fee, but you do get $5 off admission if you eat at Sugarfire (attached) BEFORE you visit the museum (see the bottom of your food receipt).

The museum itself is great, but...she kicked us out at only 3:10, so if you go, make sure & allow enough time. They are only open 16 hours in total for the whole week, 11-3 Wednesday through Saturday. She said allow about 45 minutes for the tour, it takes us longer. We got there about 1:35 or so. So allow more time if you're a museum lover.

Very nice exbits and artwork. Well done history of blues in America. Self guided tour takes about 45 min. to a hour. I gave this only 3 stars because I think the entry price of $30. is a little steep and I was hoping to pick up something form the gift shop but it had little to nothing of interest to purchase.

A great little museum where to learn about St. Louis cultural legacy and blues roots. Very well presented collection of items and interactive displays allows us to understand a little closer the meaning of blues. Highly recommend and a great place for children. Not to miss!

I visited the NBM for the first time. It was amazing! There was so much information to absorb. It was an awesome experience!

The National Blues Museum is a beautiful juxtaposition of both a historical, story-telling museum as well as a venue for live music. It doesn't get much better than this! Plan to spend a couple of hours touring the exhibits and if you're really looking for the full experience, come back on a Thursday evening for the live jam session. There's a fabulous house band and other musicians can sign up to play along on stage with them. The staff here are wonderful-engaging and welcoming as well as passionate about blues music. If I lived nearby, you could be sure to find me here on the regular. But for now, I'm looking at flights to see when I could return-just to come back for more.

My husband and I visited the Blues Museum in a Saturday morning with a big group of people. The young gentleman at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. The tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for 65+ and military. I thought it was a fair price for the museum. You walk through the museum in chronological order. There is extensive information to read on the Blues as you stroll through the museum. The displays are interesting and professionally created. A few videos to watch. And, it even features artists that were influenced by the Blues. You finish up in a nice gift shop with lots of apparel. Very interesting .

Loved the background information and history of jazz. The interpretation of the evolution of this genre was interesting. Loved seeing so many names of note .

My family had a chance to visit with the Redbird Rookies group. Such an interesting place. So many facts I hadn't heard about groups from the past. I do recommend!

Yes, yes a hundred times yes! We walked in after lunch and really enjoyed this museum! There's a $15 ticket price and the museum is well worth it! There is so much information to learn and you can make your own song! You stop at 5 stations (not all of them were operational this time) at the end you can make an album cover and name your album. The exhibits are informational and interesting! So much music comes from the blues! Definitely worth a stop in to learn a little something and enjoy yourself!

I agree with both sides of the spectrum on these reviews. Is this a great museum? Yes! Is it small and could this be far more in depth? Yes. But I don't regret going. This museum is more to teach newbies the basics, to encourage interest in those who aren't familiar with the blues and jazz. The blues really is the bedrock of pretty much any music, and a lot of people don't realize that. This is a jumping off point. The exhibits aren't deep or extensive, but they are well laid out, organized, colorful, and introduce the big players, like Ma Rainey, Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, and more. There is a clear line between the African roots of the blues all the way to the blues artists of today. The tickets for adults are 14 dollars. It took me probably about 40 minutes because I'm well versed in the jazz and blues. The employees were all super nice. There are a lot of fun interactive exhibits, one of which allows you to compose your own blues song. It's not the Mecca of blues or anything, but it's worth supporting.

I went to the National Blues Museum for the first time for a live concert. The venue was small and intimate in the best way with every seat being close to the stage. The small bar in the back was very well stocked and the drinks were great. We got to see Laka who was absolutely amazing. I was singing and dancing along to every song. Can't wait to come back and tour the whole museum next time.

We loved the museum. The exhibits were informative with some really interesting pieces. There were also some great activities to do that were very interactive. The only issue was that's some of them were out of order. It's not a huge place, but it was the perfect size for visiting while we waited for our time to go up in the Gateway Arch. The lady at the front desk was also very helpful.

This is a wonderful first step into the rich history of the blues. It's a small, beautifully designed experience that is perfect for all ages and all levels of blues knowledge. I would love to see it expanded with more in-depth and interactive exhibits.

I love Blues music, so of course I enjoyed visiting this museum. I loved seeing posted pictures and bios of musicians I was not fully familiar with ... but really would have loved to be able to listen to their music at each stop. Headphones, headsets, cell phone ... anything? I'm also hoping the museum continues to grow its collections, adding more artifacts, costumes, videos. (The special exhibit of musician photographs was fantastic!) Honoring the men and women who created the blues is long overdue ... and this is a very good start!

Ive been here about 4-5 times now. Specifically for open mic nights on Thursdays and one of their Friday events with a live band. I started coming out because I am a Blues Dancer and was looking for a STL blues dancing group/events and found out that there is a group that frequents the Blues Museum to dance. It's a fun space for live music. The open mic nights on Thursdays are pretty awesome. And free! The only negative I've experienced was at one of their Friday night events. The live band had a $20 cover per person for a 2 hour event. The event was from 7-9 and immediately after the band finished at 9:00pm, the front desk museum staff member came in and started telling everyone to get out and was annoyed that the dancing group wanted to take a group photo before leaving. I understand wanting to get home after a long day of work. But it was surprising to me how brash this staff member came off, after a 2 hour event that was $20 per person. I'm not saying the band and the space doesn't deserve to be paid for their work. But how the situation was handled by the staff was disappointing. For those of us on a tight budget, that's a lot of money for a short time. But overall, I'm really excited about the museum and the blues community that they are helping to foster. Excited to be able to blues dance again.

Stopped by Blues Museum while on our recent trip to St. Louis with the husband. Granted neither one of us knows that much about Blues, but it was a very interesting museum with lots to see. Very well put together, with tons of exhibits demonstrating the different eras of the music, the different types of Blues, etc. Lots to see, and it had two galleries as well. The staff was friendly and definitely very much into Blues! Good information, lots of memorabilia, interactive exhibits (it's right next to SugarFire BBQ also!). Cost is reasonable at $15 per person. Would recommend!

Trust me, you will want to come to the national blues museum for their Thursday night sitting on the porch concert. I was blown away by the level of professionalism with these players. The Thursday night sitting on the porch is an open jam session where artists can come together and play an impromptu set or two. It's free! And open to the public. There's a bar that takes cash or card. And you can get parking validated for only seven dollars. Definitely worth your while. Also check out the rest of their calendar, some great shows are coming down the pike!

Very interesting collection of blues performers. I'm glad I had time to visit. The young people that work there were very polite.

The National Blues Museum is well worth your time. A comprehensive, large, and detailed museum with lots of exhibits, videos, and interactive exhibits. Not only do they do a great job of highlighting the history of and key figures in blues music, they showcase local (ST.L, MO) heroes of the field as well as detailed explorations of the off-shoots and genres influenced by the Blues (so all popular music, really). Clean, modern, detailed, and enjoyable. A great gift shop, friendly staff, and a fair price of admittance. Recommended.

Never been to a place like this before. There are "house musicians" who play some standard instruments and others can join in with their own instruments and have a jam session. It's really cool! You get to see people's different styles, voices and singing techniques. Loved every minute! Highly recommend for those who just want to chill out, have a beer and listen to great music.. also a great date night spot!

We were Visiting from Los Angeles and my 18 year old son was dying to go to this museum. Third time is a charm! First attempt it was closed because of a fire. Second attempt it was also closed for construction. Third time was this last Thursday and it was a wonderful experience!! We were greeted by the most delightful woman, Debra! She was friendly, helpful and such a personable sweet lady! She made our visit extra special! We were inquiring about the live music going on at the Legends Room and she was not only very informative but encouraged us to come later that night to experience it! And boy are we thankful we did! We signed up for a museum membership to show our support and headed back later that evening to watch and partake in the wonderful musical experience!!! People were so friendly and welcoming!!! We had a fabulous time and we are so thankful for meeting Debra!! Thank you thank you thank you! On a side note we recommend getting a bite to eat at the restaurant next door .... Great BBQ and we loved the museum too! *my son was welcomed on stage to perform in a jam session by all the fantastic other musicians. Lots of very talented people for sure! And the MC and sound guy were great at their jobs! Hands on and proactive! Meant to say thank you before we left!

Beautiful history of BLUES and the St. Louis influence. Took about an hour to walk thru / read and interact in the museum. There is also a nice gift shop. I didn't know much about Blues until being in this museum. I recommend!!! Convention Center is the nearest metro.

I'm a huge blues fan since I am from Mississippi where it is the birthplace of the blues. They had a wide assortment of blues information and memorabilia.

What a wonderful place. Explains the place in history of blues music. Thoughtful and inspiring. Loved it.

INCREDIBLE just incredible!! From our tour guide to all the amazing interactive stations. So much rich history of all the jazz legends! They even have SugarFire next door and a souvenir shop in the museum itself.

This museum was beautiful and it is in a great location being right next to Sugarfire! I loved wandering through the exhibits learning about the influence Blues music has had on many artist throughout all genres. The ONLY reason they are getting four stars and not five from me is because I wish there was an option for some sort of a guided tour. There was a volunteer, Larry-- he was so sweet, at the front of the museum that greeted me when I was entering who offered to answer any questions I might have along the way. But I still wish there was an option to have someone walk through and give those little extra stories and history you don't get from walking through on your own. (And this is definitely something I would have paid extra for!) Also BIG bonus for them on the student discount! I am a graduate student on a budget and stuff like that is much appreciated! If you are at all into music and music history this was a fun and very interactive place to visit!

I'm not that big of a fan of blues but when you have a groupon, off you go to see the National Blues Museum. I could see if you were a fan of this music, this would be the place to go. I'm not going to tell you how much, if there's parking or where it's located at. I'm tired of doing that so look it up. It seemed like it was a very informational museum and they had some inner active things to do. It told the story of the blues from its start to present day. Would I go back here? Well it was nice to go see it but there is no need for me to go back.

Wanted to check this out as it was directly across from my hotel, and this was the National Blues Museum for the country. Outside exterior was impressive, and you could see a small concert venue thru the glass walls. Admission is $15 and there are no discounts other than children or military. St Louis has several if not most museums with free admission, so this was on the high side of my trip. The highlight of the museum was the chance to see some live blues I the concert venue as we picked a day where they had a performance. They played for about 2 hrs and the show was really impressive. Small intimate setting with really good acoustics and sight lines. Then it was off to the museum portion. The museum consisted of mostly photos of artists dating from the origins of blues to present day. They tried to have a history of blues and showcase various artists. Exhibit was actually very small considering the cost, and there were really not much of what I would call a museum. The exhibit consisted almost exclusively of reproduced photos and biography's of artists. You could literally get thru this one in about 30 min. Some of the items on display were things like radios, phonographs, and items from certain periods, but did not have any direct correlation to any of the artists , with the exception of the last section where you got to see one showcase with items like one of BB King's Lucille guitars. So sadly, I was unimpressed with the volume, and the quantity of actual Blues memorabilia and the size of the museum. I was impressed with the quality of the photos and cleanliness of the museum, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. On this day, the music was worth the price of admission, but sans that experience, the museum has a way to go to justify the $15 admission fee.

This a beautiful museum that I am so happy I visited while in St. Louis. My first night in town, there was live music but the museum itself had closed for the evening, so I came back the following day. There were so many things I enjoyed about this experience. First, there is a clear path to walk through; everything in chronological order from the early days--where the blues found its roots, to the blues influence on rock and roll, and up to the blues of today. It is like experiencing a great story being told with plenty of visual and interactive exhibits along the way. There are numerous interactive stations that allow you to experience different blues elements, playing with different instruments and style. There is plenty to take in, both visually and in writing, hanging on the walls, but then if you step back, the wall themselves are painted with beautiful murals. There are some artifacts in display cases as well. There is a section dedicated to the prominent women in blues history which I was happy to see. There is also a large video screen playing towards the end at which you can stop, sit, and watch. I found this to be a very well constructed institution offering a fun and educational experience. The only thing I had wished was that the gift shop had more in the CD and book categories to buy. But I'm kinda old and I still like CDs and books.

It was okay. If you don't know anything about any blues history, it is well worth the visit. It was almost all pictures and paragraphs on walls. There wasn't much to actually look at in terms of records, instruments, or memorabilia. Yes, there were a few 78s, 45s, and some early cylinders. A wall of a few hundred harmonicas was a point of interest. The biggest draw for me was the Chuck Berry exhibit. There was his guitar, an outfit, and records. The museum needed more of that type of exhibit. All in all, if you've gone to a web site about the history of blues, you've been to this museum. There was lots to read on the walls. There were a lot of pictures. I just really wish there were more actual things to look at.

First off, some of the out-of-towners may wonder: Is it worth going to St. Louis just for this museum? My answer would be "Probably not" since there's not to much thus far. However, I would recommend it if you're visiting other places in addition to the National Blues Museum, such as the City Museum, Forest Park or a Cardinals game. You would likely be disappointed, or maybe not depending on how deep you are into the Blues. Before I write the review, I just want to say that I'm proud St. Louis was chosen as the host to the National Blues Museum a few years back. (Hey, we beat out Chicago, ain't that a thrill!) Even better, in addition to local corporations - many celebrity sponsors from John Goodman to Jack White have helped contribute to the museum! I'm just glad now St. Louis has joined the ranks of other cities (Memphis, Cleveland) to have a special modern music museum. When I first visited the museum two summers ago, I didn't think too much of it. Especially for $15. Sure, it was interesting. On my most recent visit, they actually docked the price to $10 (because I was wearing Cardinals gear...yeah, I had no idea either). But I had a great time looking around and browsing. You learn so much that just about everything we hear on the radio started with the blues. They start with the mid-19th century to its influences to rock and roll. And of course, they pay a small tribute to the late local father of rock and roll, Chuck Berry. The museum has many interactive sections, including playing the instruments and making your own blues track! In a big room, they have changing exhibits there. This time around, it was the museum curator's collection of tombstone rubbings of late blues personalities. All of them he did himself, as he traveled throughout the country - they were all cool and inspirational to look at. I know, a lot of people dislike the photography rule. I do too, but it is what it is. And some of the reviewers have pointed out that most of this information can be accessed online anytime - true, that goes for a lot of other museums. But can you also get to see the artifacts and old mementos, too, in person? That's why they have other cool stuff for the visitor to enjoy. If you're in St. Louis and want to visit something pop culture-related, you got to check out this museum! Psst...and if you live in the area and haven't visited yet, what are you waiting for?!

When my partner and I were in St. Louis Memorial Day weekend, the place we most wanted to visit other than the arch was this museum. Coming from Chicago, we LOVE the blues. This place exceeded our expectations. The museum starts with the very roots of blues music and its early founders, then branches off into the variations of blues. The hands-on activities, like learning how to play jugband instruments, writing lyrics, laying down different instrument tracks, and then finally mixing your own record, added a lot of richness to the experience. The museum is large enough to give a full morning of experience without overwhelming or becoming repetitive. We learned a lot! The displays, artifacts and artwork were top-notch. It was astonishing to see how blues music has influenced so many musicians. And if we'd been around for the open jam sessions on (I think) Wednesday nights, we would surely go.

My friends, this is church. For ten bucks, you get to walk through the history of truly American music. The docents give you a quick overview of how to move through, and what interactive fun awaits you. Guys. You get to make your own blues track as you go and they email it to you in an MP3. They feature the men and the women who laid the foundations of the music, and how they came from the Delta, one generation out of slavery, to sing and play their stories. Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Chuck Berry, they're all there. On Fridays and Sundays, they have live music. You owe it to yourself to go.

This place is great, who knew that St. Louis had such a history in the Blues, go figure. There is so much to see & admire that you should allow more than an hour to experience it all. You can actually play a few things via their interactive displays which is cool. The influence that the Blues had on so many musicians through the ages is apparent here. I think there should be something about Billy Joel & the influence Ray Charles had on him that he names his daughter Alexa Ray. I learned so much by visiting & took a bunch of photos too. They actually have a stage there where they have local musicians play weekly so you can check out the schedule for shows. The gift shop also has a bunch of new items as well.

A must visit whether you're local, have friends visiting, or from out of town. Rivals the tours in Nashville and Chicago for Blues! Great interactive blues music creations throughout the museum. Be a part of a blues band playing a handful of instruments you wouldn't expect. Nice art and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable which makes it all the more fun. Motivates you to get back to playing an instrument yourself if you ever played any! Highly recommend.

lovely staff, lovely music, lovely museum. totally worth the entrace fee in my opinion.

Great place to see the history of Blues music. Great displays, and some historical archives and photos of the genre. The only letdown was how there wasn't enough, there could have been a two floor museum on Blues and it would have been amazing but the current set up is good. I really do hope they eventually start adding more and give it some expanded exhibits and photos. I would go back again.

I'm so glad I came here! There was a lot of interesting information and hands on things I could do! Not only that, the employees here are amazing!! Deb at the front desk was courteous and just the best person I've ever met at a museum!!! The lady in the gift shop was also great!! Please check this place out!!!

This is a really interesting and also FUN museum! They have done a great job with explaining g the history of the Blues in America via exhibits, interactive as well as video and film. Also, there is a truly inspiring art exhibit going on through the end of September 2018. "Expressions of the Blues" by Carol Boss. She has painted portraits of 30 different musicians and singers who are pivotal in the Blues. She used antique tin ceiling tiles which give the paintings great dimension and depth---highly recommend!!!

I am not into Blues but my other half is. This place was very cool! I was surprised by how much fun we had. I made my own little song. I would recommend this to anyone who likes music in general. The blues inspired many different artists.

The blues museum offers an informative history of the blues and how St. Louis figures into that history. I enjoyed the interactive displays. There is a room where you can play a few different old-timey instruments like the washboard and the spoons. The exhibit that Jack White sponsored where you can write lyrics and mix different instrument tracks into a song was super cool!

Stopped in during a short trip to St. Louis. Really interesting place with lots of interesting history about the Blues and Jazz. Wonderful display of tombstone rubbings of blues musicians. Cute gift shop too.

Loved the Concert at the Blues Museum! Sherry Evans and band were amazing...the guitar player played like Jimi Hendrix. A lovely, intimate, venue.I can not wait for the Stevie Wonder Review and tribute. The Museum displays are terrific.

Don't take a pass on this national gem. From the moment we walked in to this beautiful space we were hooked. First of all, hats off to the volunteers.They are obviously passionate about the museum and it can be infectious. They were eager to share the history of the Blues, to the point we felt like we had our own personal docent. We really enjoyed them and found them helpful in many ways. The few interactive pieces were really engaging. They included making your own mp3 and being able to "sit-in" as a musician in a band. Yes, the majority of the exhibits involve reading the history of the blues & viewing photos, but there are also a few great videos and listening stations. While we were there, one of the volunteers came out and played the theme from the movie "THE STING", on an old time roller pin piano. Sweet. This place is new. It's growing. You can see the seeds have been planted for future growth. For those lucky enough to attend a concert there, it will be a triple treat. I didn't mind the cost. I considered it a donation to a worthy cause. But for those who don't think that way, there are certain discounts on certain days. Check their website for detailed info. Finally, the gift shop here is not overpriced. The usual items like t-shirts, hats and shot glasses are for sale. We bought a CD featuring a complication of St. Louis blues artists $15

This is a great museum! Even if blues music isn't your thing, you will still enjoy the music and exhibits here. I'm not a blues fan but came here yesterday and i really enjoyed it. The exhibit takes you from the origins of blues music from slavery, shows the different styles of blues, and also depicts blues' influence on other genres of music. They have interactive exhibits in which you can be a part of a jug band and make your own blues song that gets recorded and emailed to you at the end. I loved that! It was so cool! While you walk through the exhibit, you keep adding new elements to your song by making your lyrics, then adding piano, harmonica, and guitar styles to it. The entire place takes about an hour and a half to two hours to walk through if you take part in the interactive things. They also have live blues music performances there on Saturdays. It's $15 admission for adults. So sorry folks, this isn't one of St. Louis' free attractions, but it's worth it!

St. Louis is incredibly lucky to be the home of this fantastic brand new museum! This is one of the most interactive and fun museums I have ever been to. They have an awesome feature where you can "record" your own Blues song. You pick the lyrics, play the piano/guitar/harmonica, and then mix the song throughout the museum using touch screen stations. At the end of the museum, they email you a copy of your unique song and you get to hear what other people's creations sound like. They have other interactive exhibits like one where you get to be a part of a Jug Band. They teach you how to play instruments like the spoons or washboard, then they turn on the mic and you and your friends become the music! It is really fun! The museum does a great job showing you how important Blues is to the musical story of our country and the world. They show case the history, geography, and most important people and moments of the Blues. It took us just under and hour and a half to tour the museum and interact with all of the exhibits. It really wasn't too busy for a Sunday, but it is newly opened. I think with crowds it will take longer, especially if you need to wait for people to progress through some of the interactive exhibits. This is a must see for tourists and St. Louisans alike!

This is a must if you're in town. It's a fun tribute to the music, with some interactive aspects to it. You can write your own Blues lyrics and arrange music that you can mix and record for yourself. There's also a small room where you can learn to play some instruments for a jug band, like washboard, spoons, and bones. Excellent, informative, a little too brief. I'd recommend checking it out.

I really enjoyed this Museum! It gives you a very thorough walk through of The Blues from the beginning up until today. Very interactive. The gift shop is super cute also! I would recommending stoping through while you're in STL!

This museum was the most interesting museum I've ever been to. Great place to go if you're visiting St. Louis! There was a Groupon for the tickets, so very good pricing! There was a lot of interactive sections of the museum that made it so much more interesting. Only sad part was the main one wasn't working while we were visiting which was sad. It's not too big, so I would take your time going through everything they have. I heard they had some live music, wish we could have stayed for that. Great place to learn!

I have been here now 3 times for their Howlin Friday's live music nights and have LOVED every time. They bring in both local and national Blues talent for their shows. During the shows, they have a full bar available.

Fantastic museum. Great interactive items. Played the spoons with a jazz band. Enjoyed my time with big Giraffe and this Staircase Blues.

Super cool experience. STL has invested in something that the ENTIRE community (and country) can be proud of. Amazing set up, rich in detail -- it covers all the bases and with an updated interactive take on the traditional museum approach. Nearly all the greats are here, and the narrative is clean and precise, not to mention visually stunning. As others have pointed out, it could use more artifacts; however, I am told these will be added over time. Perhaps most importantly, it lays down the law about the foundation of American popular music. It's the depth of the blues, formed in the struggle of the African American experience, that ultimately elevated American music and made it resonate across the world. There would be no Rock n' Roll, Hip Hop, etc. without it. Given the STL's rich heritage of producing and/or harboring innovators like Peetie Wheatraw, Chuck Berry, Lonnie Johnson, Josephine Baker, Albert King, Tina and Ike Turner and so on, it's fitting that this museum calls St. Louis home.

Went for a Saturday morning family day with free admission, crafts, live music and scavenger hunts for the kids. Totally impressed with the history, exhibits and presentations at the museum. Definitely something to put on my list of things to do when friends come to town looking for suggestions. Friendly, happy staff as well. Looking forward to going back for another family day next month. A St. Louis hidden gem.