Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
St. Louis Central Library, St. Louis, MO

Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffRainy-Day Pick

St. Louis Central Library

St. Louis Central Library is a sightseeing stop in St. Louis, MO, part of the St. Louis guide. Cost: free.

1301 Olive St · St. Louis, MO

Why you should go…

The Central Library of the St. Louis Public Library system opened in 1912, designed by Cass Gilbert in a Beaux-Arts style with a grand barrel-vaulted Great Hall, ornate ceilings, and reading rooms open to the public. A later renovation added modern collections and event space while preserving the historic architecture. Admission to browse the building is free.

  • #historic architecture
  • #free attraction
  • #downtown st. louis
  • #beaux-arts

What's around here?

The closest stops to St. Louis Central Library, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    City Museum

    $25–$50

    A 10-story playground of caves, slides, tunnels and a rooftop Ferris wheel built from salvaged city treasures. Pure magic.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

    $25–$50

    Sharks, rays and 13,000 aquatic animals inside a grand 1894 train station, plus a 200-foot Ferris wheel next door.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Busch Stadium Tours & Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum

    Under $25

    Walk the warning track, sit in the Cardinals dugout, then dive into 11 World Series titles at the team's Hall of Fame in Ballpark Village.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Gateway Arch National Park

    Under $25

    Ride a tiny tram pod 630 feet up America's tallest monument for sweeping views of the Mississippi and the city skyline.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis

    Free

    Step inside 41.5 million glass tesserae, one of the largest mosaic installations in the Western Hemisphere, free to visit daily.

    2.8 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Cherokee Street

    Free

    Historic antique and arts district on St. Louis's south side, home to Cherokee Street Antique Row.

    3.0 mi awayMore like this