Make Room For Museums In Missouri 

Missouri has a wonderful lineup of museums. If you think you can visit them all in a day, you’re in for a shock.

American Jazz Museum

Nestled in the historic 18th and Vine district, the American Jazz Museum draws music lovers to Kansas City, Missouri. A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum contains educational programs and exhibits on Jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

The Blue Room, a functioning jazz club, hosts live music performances within the museum while inviting visitors to try its very own Blue Room Pale Ale. Ideal for western Missouri travelers seeking some culture, the museum shares a building with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and is right across the street from the popular Gem Theater.

City Museum

Established in 1997, City Museum is a museum and funhouse, set in the Washington Avenue Loft District of St. Louis. The museum, found in the former International Show Company building, features three floors of play areas and intriguing architecture built from discarded urban objects.

Named a “great public space” by the Project Public Spaces, this unique museum features a variety of exhibits and attractions, like the Enchanted Caves and Shoe Shaft, MonstroCity, and the Shoelace Factory. Don’t miss the Ferris wheel on the roof for unique view of eastern Missouri.

Cole County Historical Society Museum

Dedicated to preserving the history of the area, the Cole County Historical Society Museum is located near the banks of the Missouri River in Jefferson City, Missouri. The four-story museum is one of eastern Missouri’s numerous buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to countless area-specific artifacts and decades of news on microfilm, the museum delights history buffs with displays like the Goller Room and the Civil War Room. Displays carrying different themes are rotated periodically, while features like Granny’s Attic and Suitcase Ladies remain popular year round.

Missouri History Museum

Founded in 1866, the Missouri History Museum is located in St. Louis’ Forest Park. The museum showcases the history of the Louisiana Purchase, eastern Missouri, and westward expansion with a collection of exhibits housed in the Jefferson Memorial Building.

Be sure and view the “Spirit of St. Louis” replica and the large number of artifacts from the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. The museum is just a short walk from other Forest Park attractions like the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Art Museum.

Museum of Transportation

Established in 1944, the Museum of Transportation (MOT) commemorates automobiles, locomotives, and other significant, historical modes of transportation native to eastern Missouri and the United States.

The museum is located in the greater St. Louis area. Museum visitors are invited to explore the wealth of exhibits and displays, as well as take a ride on the Miniature Train.

Kids will surely enjoy the Creation Station, while car buffs won’t want to miss the Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center.

The Magic House

Opened in 1979, the Magic House is an eastern Missouri hands-on children’s museum and discovery center located in St. Louis. The kids will likely enjoy learning with playful, fun-filled exhibits like the Art and Make-It Workshop, Math Path, and Kids’ Construction Zone.

Moreover, the Magic House often hosts insightful, yet fun special events, like holiday themed get-togethers, Free Family Nights, and weekly art programs. Rent out the museum for private parties and events, and don’t forget to visit the Museum Shop for souvenirs.