The City Museum

St. Louis, MO

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

An adventurous, ramshackle collection of outsized sculptures and play spaces, including famous multi-story slides.

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Why It Works

The brainchild of sculptor Bob Cassilly, the City Museum is like an amusement park in the middle of downtown St. Louis. It occupies an old shoe factory--a Depression-era relic that Cassilly and his partners have brought back to life with a fantastically imaginative collection of play spaces, exhibits, and sculptures. Some attractions, like the Museum's awe-inspiring underground cave system and its multi-story slides (which visitors use like downward escalators), take advantage of the building's unique industrial spaces. The museum invites its visitors to create and interact with exhibits, from the studios on display at "Art City" to the unique indoor playground known as "Skateless Park."

In addition to the museum space, the City Museum is a true mixed-use destination, housing a banquet facility, artist galleries, office space, and residential lofts. A tavern on the first floor called the Cabin Inn occupies a transplanted 19th century log cabin structure and is a frequent venue for local musicians. Like the rest of the museum, it is a place unique to St. Louis.

Contact Info:

Phone: (314) 231-CITY

User Comments:

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08/03/05 Lennie Bryan said:: My family vacationed in St. Louis last summer and we are still talking about the City Museum today (I praised it to my girlfriends just last night). The City Museum is such a novelty and a wonderland. Aside from the creativity and beauty of its design and multiple uses, I really love that there are no signs pointing to every cave, tunnel or treehouse. This museum invites one to explore and seek out its exhibits - entrances to tunnels, for instance, are not always obvious... then you find it and it's an absolutely thrilling discovery. There's no other museum like this on earth, I'm fairly certain. I wish I could go to City Museum every summer --
06/29/06 Raleigh Muns said:: I'm a transplant (via Los Angeles since 1991) and if I were to tell a visitor to see three places in St. Louis they would be the Gateway Arch, the Botanical Garden, and the City Museum. The City Museum is the only "museum" that I regularly leave with fresh bruises. From the giant "Thunderdome" ball pit (the balls are dodge ball size) to the suspended airline fusilages of Monstrocity, to the quiet oddness of the shoelace making machine . . . the City Museum is indescribably really. What I really like is watching people on cell phones calling someone and saying "you aren't going to believe what I'm looking at now." This place is so unique, the best way I can describe it is "it's VERY un-St. Louis!"
05/31/07 Toney Lowery said:: Just got back from the City Museum as a chaperon for my 5th grader's class trip. This place is perfect for anyone 8 and up. Any younger than that and it's a bit intimidating. Dark caves with tunnels that lead under the floor and over the ceiling that don't have obvious entrances and exits. Steel "slinkies" that are suspended 20-40 feet off the ground and sway a bit. Slides with slopes that easily exceed 60 degrees. If your child needs to be in sight of you (or vice versa), this isn't the place. You'll lose sight of them in a heartbeat. The areas are set up so there's only one way in/out though so you can catch them before they stray too far. That said it's unbelievable. Tiny passages, dizzying heights, fast slides and climbing everywhere. My ten year old said it "Released my inner monkey". The other amazing thing is the use of mostly recycled materials (including airplanes)and how everything is arranged. Steel plate next to wood, next to glass next iron grate next to tile. Architecture remnants, a firetruck, a fiberglass whale, railroad spikes, concrete snakes. There are also circus shows, an aquarium (with a plexiglass tunnel through one of the tanks), glass blowing and a bar (yep they sell beer). Just go and enjoy and get ready for tired, happy and bruised kids and adults.
05/31/07 Toney Lowery said:: ps... Wear long pants. Your knees will thank you later. Good shoes as well. No sandals or flip-flops. For a brief look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbz2F7R29i8