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MuseumsFamily favoriteRainy-day pick

The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum

516 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122 · Kirkwood, MO

Why you should go…

Since 1979, this rambling Victorian mansion in Kirkwood has been St. Louis's rite of passage for kids. Inside are hundreds of hands-on exhibits: a three-story spiral slide, the beloved electrostatic generator that makes hair stand on end, a kid-sized town with a market and vet clinic, a beanstalk to climb, and a mock Oval Office. Everything is built to be touched, climbed, and operated by small hands. Admission is $15, under-ones are free, and local-area residents pay just $3 after 3 p.m.

  • #kids
  • #children's museum
  • #hands-on
  • #kirkwood
  • #indoor

Good to know

General museums guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Check the special exhibition separately

    Touring shows usually carry their own ticket and their own opening hours, listed apart from general admission.

  • Look for the free window

    Many museums run community days, member evenings, or discounted late openings. It is worth a look before you pay full price.

  • Travel light through the door

    Large bags and backpacks often have to go to a coat check, and lines for it move slowly at opening.

  • Weekday mornings beat weekend afternoons

    School groups clear out by early afternoon midweek, while weekends stay busy from late morning on.

What's around here?

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

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    From Lewis & Clark to Lindbergh and the 1904 World's Fair, St. Louis's epic story, told brilliantly and admission-free.

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