City Museum

The City Museum is in downtown St. Louis. I'd only been there once before on a mini tour when the big museum was closed. The cost always seemed so high to me ($12 a person), so I didn't think taking Katie down there would be worth it. But, oh wow!

After taking everyone there last week, I realized it is totally worth it. I would recommend it to older kids (probably four and above) and at least two adults. One adult needs to climb with the child, and the other adult can meet the child at the end of the slide/ladder/treehouse/rebar tunnel/whatever crazy climbing thing you're in. It's really not for little kids, and definitely not stroller-friendly. It's not for wary kids, either. Your kid needs to be pretty adventurous to want to climb through all the nooks and crannies, and into some dark tunnels. Here are some photos. The first is the outside view of the City Museum. Do you see the bus on the roof? This photo doesn't do justice to all the crazy outdoor rebar tunnels - there are so many intricate slides and treehousey places and tunnels and hanging obstacle courses.

Here's another photo from outside the museum. You can see Wally and Dan walking on the bridge.

Inside the museum, it is a Type A person's dream (or OCD nightmare). There are so many repeating patterns that my brain almost shut down in order to process it all. Everything seems to be made from recycled parts: walls made out of empty soda bottles or chafing dish pans, banisters made from conveyor belt rollers, handrails made from rebar and bolts and railroad spikes, columns studded with old gears and marbles, and plenty of mosaics. Everywhere you turn, there is some new path or tunnel to explore. There is a shoelace machine, an indoor train, a major aquarium, a circus school, a glass blowing studio, a kids' craft wing, a three-story slide, and even a room to sit and cut intricate snowflakes (I cut a butterfly snowflake), and make rag dolls.

There's also this room on the third floor (I think) that looks like a skateboarding park. It's got those big loops and ramps, but you don't skateboard. The kids slide on their bottoms and climb up on concrete walls and roll down into big concave "bowls" that are 30 feet wide. Here's a photo of Katie and Peyton laying in one.

There's a random mirror tunnel that's set off to the side. Cool photo of Hannah, huh? There's also an exhibit showing architecture salvaged from buildings -beautiful architecture! (Talk about the repeating patterns!)

There are so many random little displays and tunnels and places to get lost. It seems overwhelming and scatter-brained, but also so creatively flowing at the same time.

Outside, there is an outdoor ball pit with HUGE balls - like the ones you use to play kick ball. And one of the coolest (and scariest!) things is this rebar tunnel suspended in midair by a chain. Here's a photo of Katie, Peyton, Hannah, Wally & Dan crawling through it. I tried not to have a heart attack while watching!

I could go on and on about the awesome nooks and crannies inside (and outside) the City Museum. But I'll stop now, and just tell you to go visit in person. It was one of the coolest things I've done with my family in a LONG time, and I can't wait to go back. I'd even love to just go alone and take photos of all the textures and patterns and great recycling ideas.

One more note: today's issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch had an article about the City Museum and its creator. Seems there are some more additions on the way. I can't wait to see it! The article also did put a little bit of fear in my mind. The creator seems to dislike getting building permits from the city. He likes to just create and build and then ask for forgiveness. Makes me worry about safety a bit.

Anyway, if you've been to the City Museum, leave me a comment to let me know your favorite part.