Housed in a 600,000-square-foot former shoe company warehouse, City Museum is as much a playground as it is a museum. Exhibits consist largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects, from colorful tiles to safety deposit boxes to stainless steel buffet pans, which decorate the veritable adventure park.
The brainchild of internationally acclaimed artist Bob Cassilly, a classically trained sculptor and serial entrepreneur, City Museum opened for visitors in 1997 to the riotous approval of young and old alike. Cassilly and a crew of artisans have constructed the museum from the very stuff of the city and, as a result, it has urban roots deeper than any other institution. To this day, it remains one of the most unique attractions in St. Louis.
“It’s difficult to describe City Museum, but in general, it’s a place that builds confidence,” creative director Rick Erwin says. “I’ve seen kids who were once scared to go down the multistory slides encouraging their peers – even their teachers – to take a turn. At City Museum, families are encouraged to play – and grow – together.”
