Things to do in Saint Louis, Missouri (MO): The Best Museums

One of the largest collections of flying antique planes in the country.

Since opening on February 6, 1943, the Campbell House Museum has served the greater St. Louis area as one of America's premier historic property museums. The Museum not only preserves the Campbell's house, but also their collection of original furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects and thousands of pages of family documents. Included in these documents is a unique album of 60 photographs of the interior of the house taken in about 1885. In 2005 the Museum completed a meticulous five-year restoration that returned the building to its opulent 1880s appearance, when the house was one of the centers of St. Louis society.

The Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 1896 building that is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located in the 426-acre historic Jefferson Barracks Park which is a 15-minute drive south of downtown Saint Louis. The self-guided, accessible museum has many hands-on, how-things-work displays. In addition to the extensive collection of telephones manufactured from the 1800s through 2000s, the museum also contains: • A working Central Office Step Switch. • Operator switchboards. • Military telephones from WWI through the Gulf War. • Hundreds of pieces of telephone-related equipment and tools. • Hundreds of pieces of telephone-related memorabilia from the 1880s through the 2000s. • A large variety of novelty telephones. Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors; $3 Children ages 5 to 12; Free Children ages 4 and under. Free parking is available directly behind the museum.

Tucked away in Affton, Missouri stands the country home of the pioneer banker, Louis A. Benoist. Today, his mansion has been completely restored today to its original beauty from 1853. The house, now a historic museum, is owned and maintained by the Affton Historical Society. They began Oakland's restoration back in the early 1970s. Visit us for a historic tour of one of Affton's most hidden gems that was saved and still stands today. View our calendar for upcoming events and open house times.

Don't take the name so literally. We're about fun. Not your white walls, walk around, and be quiet museum. If you want to climb around, get active with your kids or are a big kid at heart, we're the place. If you get freaked out easily, you might not want to come. We're four floors filled with miles of tunnels, a full cave system, over 30 slides, a circus, an arts area, a large outdoor climbing space, Architectural Museum, a Cabin that serves adult beverages, a Museum of Mayhem, Mirth and Mystery, and a ton more. Also, there's the roof with a Ferris Wheel and a bus hanging off its edge.

This fun-filled attraction offers kids many hands-on learning activities and provides a special area for younger children.

The National Museum of Transportation has one of the largest and most diverse collections of transportation vehicles in the world! Trace the history of American railroading; see our new Sanford N. McDonnell Tribute wing with a wall full of aircraft models; see one-of-a-kind and historical cars, 70 locomotives, trolleys, planes, a towboat, and more on our 42 acres. FYI-Social distancing processes are in place. All individuals over five years of age must wear a mask indoors, on the miniature train and trolley, and when 6' social distancing cannot be met outdoors. Bring a mask for each person in your group and stay safe. Dogs are welcome outside. Thanks!!

With the mission "to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning", the Saint Louis Science Center is one of the top five science centers in the United States, and has been named one of the Top 10 Science Centers for Families by Parents Magazine and one of America's most visited museums by Forbes Traveler Magazine. The complex includes over 96,000 sq-ft of interactive science-technology exhibits that are part of the Science Center's free general admission. The most recent major permanent exhibit is GROW, a one-acre outdoor exhibit that will take visitors on a journey of food, to gain a deeper understanding of our food supply. The Science Center's ticketed areas include the OMNIMAX, a four-story IMAX Dome theater; the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, one of the world's largest planetariums; and the Discovery Room, an activity area for families with younger children.

Originally built as the first national monument to Thomas Jefferson, the Missouri History Museum looks at the history of St. Louis from 1764 to the present day. The History Clubhouse is a hands-on gallery for kids. Free admission!