City Museum in downtown St. Louis turns a former International Shoe Company warehouse into a hands-on maze of art, tunnels, climbing structures and slides. Artists built its installations from salvaged architectural and industrial materials, including old bridges and chimneys. Explore the cave-like passages, climb through the indoor structures, then head outside to MonstroCity or the rooftop, where a Ferris wheel and a school bus extending over the edge are among the sights. This is an active, sprawling visit, so allow plenty of time and expect to climb, crawl and use stairs.
A warehouse turned into an artwork you can explore
City Museum occupies the former International Shoe Company warehouse at 750 N 16th St in downtown St. Louis. Artists Bob and Gail Cassilly bought the 10-story building in the early 1990s and developed it as a city within a city. The museum opened in 1997.
Its materials are part of the experience. Old architectural and industrial pieces have been reused as stairs, bridges, tunnels and climbing structures. Among the salvaged objects associated with the museum are chimneys, bridges, construction cranes and industrial equipment. Look closely as you move through the building: the routes between exhibits are themselves part of the artwork.
Caves, slides and passages
The museum spans four floors and includes a network of caves and tunnels, climbing areas, themed rooms and slides. Some routes are dark or narrow, and many involve crawling or climbing. A flashlight can help you explore the dimmer passages; knee pads make crawling more comfortable. The layout has many turns and alternative ways through, so keep younger children close and agree on a buddy system before splitting up.
Slides are a major part of the visit, including very tall ones that run through the building. There are also bridges and structures made from repurposed materials. The museum is less suited to a quiet, linear look around than to an active visit: you will spend much of your time moving through, over or under the installations.
MonstroCity and the rooftop
The outdoor areas extend the climbing and exploring beyond the warehouse. MonstroCity is a multilevel outdoor play structure made from industrial objects, with two Sabreliner 40 airplanes that visitors can climb into, giant Slinkies and ball pits. The rooftop has further attractions, including a Ferris wheel and a school bus that projects from the building. Outdoor areas add another set of routes and activities, so leave time for them instead of treating the roof as a quick final stop.
City Museum is open later on Fridays and Saturdays than on its other listed days. The indoor-outdoor scale, stairs and crawling spaces make a short visit difficult to plan; allow several hours, and take breaks if you need them. The building has a café, restaurant and other places to eat, as well as lockers for rent on the third floor.
Häufige Fragen
How long should you spend at City Museum?
Allow around 5 to 6 hours to explore the floors, tunnels and outdoor areas. The museum is large, and a visit involves a lot of walking, climbing and stairs.
Is City Museum suitable for children?
Yes. It has play areas and climbing structures for children, along with activities that adults can enjoy. Keep younger children close, since tunnels and multiple exits can make it easy to lose sight of them.
What should you bring to City Museum?
A flashlight can help in darker passages, and knee pads can make crawling more comfortable. Wear clothes you do not mind using in the tunnels and play structures.
What can you do on the rooftop?
The rooftop has a Ferris wheel and a school bus extending over the building. The outdoor areas also include climbing structures and routes to explore.
