Sunday, June 2, 2013

The City Museum in St. Louis

If you get a chance to visit St. Louis for any reason take a couple hours out of your day and explore the City Museum.  I've never been to a place quite like it.  And it is practically impossible to describe but I will try my best.
After paying to get in, a steal at $12, I ventured off to the right.  It's like walking into an aquarium where you are the fish without the water.  The sculptures are amazing.  The scale of these figures are incredible.  And the mosaics are out of this world.  And they are everywhere.  It is an artists dream inside.
St. Louis
Once we finished wondering around for a while we found a pathway into another space.  It's really a giant playplace but without plastic everything.  Note to self, bring knee pads next time.  We climbed into the belly of the building itself.  The building was oringinally a shoe factory.  The creators kept the shoots that they moved the shoes from the top floor to the first.  And created a slide for the guests today!  But you have to climb all the way up.  It's a bit of a trek.
St. Louis
It is worth the climb!  Trust me!
Now to the actual museum part.  They feature remains of old buildings that existed in St Louis and all the architectural details, down to the glass doorknobs.  Another room housed bugs, lots of them.  Butterflies, moths, beetles, cicadas, wasps and more.  Another space had a multitdue of items that were found over the years in the riverbanks.  It's amazing to see bottles, placesettings, and more, intact, over 150-200 years old, and found in the muck.
St. Louis
The other big portion of the "museum" is outdoors.  Cleverly there are multiple entries in and out of the building to the outdoor playplace.  Climb around to your heart's content.  And they have a fire with marshmallows to boot.
St. Louis
I cannot recommend this place enough.  Everytime I go to St. Louis from here on, especially with people who have never been before, I will go to the City Museum.  I can only imagine what they will create next.
And next time I will bring kneepads and my good camera.