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Top 10 History Museums in Saint Louis, Missouri (MO)
The history of St. Louis has been heavily influenced by Westward expansion and blues music. The big "must-see" in this region is the Gateway Arch, while other important sites include the Museum of Westward Expansion, the St. Louis Cathedral and the Anheuser-Busch factory tour. The city offers plenty for the whole family. Children will enjoy the local zoo and the Magic House, while family members will also want to unwind at Forest Park, home to the World's Fair almost a century ago.
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1. Campbell House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 152 reviews
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.
Reviewed By stlflygirl99
I just love the elegance and charm of this Victorian mansion. All of the rooms are renovated and decorated in the period. Also, love the garden area. A lot of history, a must see.
2. Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By williamsC709BO - Belleville, United States
As generations succeed one another, a knowledge and reverence of the Holocaust is paramount, less history repeats itself. As an advocate that has toured Dachau (later learned my Grandfather was the 2nd wave in liberation of Dachau), and visited other Holocaust Museums in Europe and the US, this Museum and Learning Center is vibrant with research, first hand accounts, and exhibits. What I like best is, it's just not about the past. They also have an ethos to educate about their causes and illustrating how what happened during this tragic period relates to our lives today. They way the see it, while learning Holocaust history is the key to understanding its roots, they have another duty: to empower visitors to make the world a kinder, safer, more tolerant place by rejecting all forms of hate, intolerance, racism, and bigotry. Amen.
3. Oakland House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
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.
4. Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 104 reviews
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.
Reviewed By curiouser1228 - Cahokia, United States
We love going to smaller museums that are more focused in their presentation. It is small but packed with artifacts and documentation. Carol, the volunteer docent, gave us a marvelous guided tour and explained everything is a really entertaining and understandable way. She was patient with all of the questions that my husband had and spent quite a lot of time with us. She is super knowledgeable and obviously loves being there. The other woman who was volunteering (I unfortunately didn't get her name) was also wonderful and friendly. It was a wonderful way to spend the morning and I am sure that we will go back. Highly recommended!
5. St. Louis Car Museum & Sales
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Established in 1994, St. Louis Car Museum & Sales has provided a variety of automotive services, and NOW community events, to enthusiasts around the globe. Just 5 minutes from the Lambert International airport, the St. Louis Car Museum invites all visitors and enthusiast of the St. Louis area to tour our facility in order to reminisce on the fantastic history of the automotive industry!
6. The National Museum of Transportation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 407 reviews
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!!
Reviewed By billw434 - Oklahoma City, United States
Went on a Saturday afternoon, we only had a limited amount of time, and it was cold as all get out, but we made the most of it and had a great time. That also might have accounted for the fact that we were two of perhaps 10 people there at the time. The trains are lined up without too much order, so there was something new to discover around every corner. Simply an incredible collection of rail power, rolling stock, passenger cars and more, much of which I've seen only in books and magazines. My only disappointment is that the GG-1 in the collection is hidden back in the corner unrestored and, being right up against it, you didn't have room to step back and take in the scale of that thing even take a good picture. In fact, being cramped in precluded getting good photos of several items in the collection. Also didn't seem to have sidewalk access to see the Aerotrain which was a bit of a disappointment (though we may have missed that in our haste). Be advised that access to the trains can require a fair bit of walking up and down inclines, as the entire campus is tiered somewhat. With all that said, I can't wait to go back when I have more time, more energy, and it's just a bit warmer!
7. Missouri History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
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!
Reviewed By RacingFan14 - Mitchell, United States
First off, this museum is free, and located in Forest Park. This is absolutely worth spending a couple of hours at. I learned so much about St. Louis, the 1904 World's Fair, and about the state of Missouri itself. If you are a history buff, and you enjoy seeing artifacts that have stood the test of time, you definitely need to make this a priority stop when visiting the St. Louis area. The staff were super helpful, friendly, outgoing, and more than happy to answer any questions that I had.
8. Griot Museum of Black History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By superpickies
Small museum that packs a punch, and is so well done! Plenty of stuff for kids to do, and really important and well-interpreted pieces (including an entire slave cabin, dismantled from elsewhere in Missouri, and re-built in the museum). Great information on so many important people, with wax figures to help bring it to life.
9. Soldiers Memorial Military Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Explore American military history through the lens of St. Louis. The art deco building was built as a WWI memorial. Outside, memorial walls honor St. Louisans who perished in WWII, Vietnam and Korea. Free admission!
Reviewed By TimJacobs49
Hello we are the Jacobs family. The first time we went it was not completed yet. We had the pleasure of going again and it was completed. I highly recommend anybody who is a history buff or just an average American looking for something to do to go and see awesome soldiers Memorial Military Museum. It was awesome to see that they dedicated it to all the wars. It was nice to see all the different types of uniforms for the different branches of service as well as different types of military equipment as well as different types of military ammo as well as rifles to guns. It was an honor to see what all the people had donated or had sent there to be put on loan it wasn't worth the trip and worth the time to go through so please take the time out of your schedule to go see it well worth it. The time in the thought process that went into doing this was well worth the wait to see it. It's an easy walk from any hotel.
10. Missouri Civil War Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 678 reviews
The Missouri Civil War Museum is housed in the old 1905 Jefferson Barracks Post Exchange (PX) and Gymnasium building, formerly part of the Jefferson Barracks military post, which is still an active military installation to this day. Renovations began in 2003, and were completed 10 years later in 2013, with an opening date of June 29, 2013. During the Civil War, the property which this museum is located upon, contained various hospital ward buildings, where suffering and death occurred, thus making this sacred ground, and a most appropriate location for a Missouri Civil War Museum, honoring our soldiers of the past and present.
Reviewed By Spacefarer
This museum exceeded our expectations. It is in a beautifully renovated building many decades old in the Jefferson Barracks (US Army) Park in St. Louis County. The artifacts, movies and gift shop items are wonderful.
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