St. Louis, MO

Museum of Western Expansion
DESCRIPTION: Located near the Gateway Arch, this somewhat austere museum chronicles  and preserves some of the rarest artifacts from the days of Lewis and Clark, as as well as the lives of pioneers who followed them going west during America’s formative years; via numerous exhibits you can explore the world of the American Indians and the 19th century pioneers who helped shape the history of the American West; the venue also has a display on the Buffalo Soldiers and other black pioneers who settled the western plains; there are plenty of kid-pleasing animatronic figures that educate and entertain

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: 9a-6p, 8a-10p
ADDRESS: 200 Washington Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: Arch-Lacledes Landing Metrolink stop

PARKING: $6 parking in St. Louis Public garage
PHONE: 314-982-1410
WEBSITE:  http://www.gatewayarch.com

St. Louis Art Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1879 as the St. Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts, as an independent entity within Washington University, then located in downtown St. Louis; relocated to Forest Park after the 1904 World's Fair created its initial structure; through generations of public support and philanthropy, this encyclopedic museum has assembled one of the finest comprehensive art collections in the country; features excellent striking collections of German Expressionist, Early European, African (Sub-Saharan and Egypt), Asian, Contemporary, Prints, Drawings & Photographs, Decorative Arts, and Oceanic art; a stanard-bearer in the arts world, the musem includes a excellent gift store and a Puck’s fine dining restaurant

ADMISSION: Free; admission fees to featured exhibitions vary and featured exhibitions are free on Fridays
DAYS & HOURS: Tue 1:30p-8:30p, Wed-Sun 10-5p
ADDRESS: 1 Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park  MAP

TRANSIT: Forest Park-DeBaliviere Metrolink stop less than 5 minutes away

PARKING: Free on premises

PHONE: 314-721-0072

WEBSITE: http://www.slam.org

Missouri History Museum
DESCRIPTION: For a comprehensive look at history in these parts check out “Seeking St. Louis,” a exhibition spanning two interactive galleries; the museum represents a fun educational for the whole family, including history programs for kids; this is a great place to learn more about the importance of the Dred Scott Supreme Court Decision; dancer-choreographer-anthropologist Katherine Dunham donated many archival materials to the museum; the museum also feature an inspiring George Washington Carver exhibition; to round out the visit dine at the museum restaurant and visit the museum store

ADMISSION: Free

DAYS & HOURS: Wed-Mon 10a-5p, Tue 10a-8p

ADDRESS: 5700 Lindell Blvd in Forest Park  MAP

TRANSIT: Forest Park-DeBaliviere Metrolink stop 2 minutes away

PARKING: on premises

PHONE: 314-746-4599
WEBSITE:http://www.mohistory.org

Sheldon Art Galleries
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1912 as the home of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, musicians have really enjoyed the perfect acoustics of the concert Hall over the years; when the Ethical Society relocated to St. Louis County in 1964, the Sheldon primarily became a music venue; in 1974, a former singer with the Duke Ellington Orchestra purchased the facility, transforming The Sheldon into a church and the site for jazz and gospel concerts; a California attorney with a love for chamber music purchased the building in 1984 and began operating it as a venue for a broader range of concerts and events; in 1998, the Sheldon added six art galleries and a sculpture garden; the art galleries encompass 7,000 square feet of exhibits on photography, architecture, St. Louis artists, jazz history, emerging artists and children’s art; in 2006, the Sheldon hosted a major Josephine Baker exhibition

ADMISSION: 

DAYS & HOURS:

ADDRESS: 3648 Washington Blvd  MAP

TRANSIT: Grand Blvd Metrolink stop 10 minutes away

PARKING: on premises and street

PHONE: 314-533-9900
WEBSITE: http://www.sheldonconcerthall.org

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
DESCRIPTION: The city’s leading institution for contemporary art exhibitions in an modern innovative venue; the list of current and upcoming exhibitions is as engaging as it is long; one example is the Contemporary Project Series 2006 featuring the work, Dirrrty Harriet Tubman, a funny and irreverent action-movie trailer that presents a unique re-imaging of freedom fighter Harriet Tubman as a Pam Grier-like super heroine ready to free her people via Underground Railroad; includes Tempt Café and Muse the museum store

ADMISSION:
DAYS & HOURS: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10a-5p, Thu 10a-5p, Sun 11a-4p
ADDRESS: 3750 Washington Blvd  MAP

TRANSIT: Grand Blvd Metrolink stop 12 minutes away

PARKING: on premises and street
PHONE: 314-535-4660
WEBSITE: http://www.contemporarystl.org

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1881, now has a strong collection of 19th, 20th, and 21st-century European and American paintings, sculptures, photographs, Egyptian and Greek antiquities, Old Master prints, and the Wulfing Collection of 14,000 ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine coins

ADMISSION:
DAYS & HOURS: Mon, Wed & Thu 11a-6p, 
Fri 11a-8p, 
Sat-Sun 11a-6p
ADDRESS: 1 Brookings Drive, Washington University  MAP

TRANSIT: Skinner Metrolink stop 1 minute away

PARKING: on premises and street

PHONE: 314-935-4523
WEBSITE: http://www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu

Museum of Transportation

DESCRIPTION: St. Louis has a proud transportation hertiage on display with more than 300 steam, diesel and electric-powered locomotives, passenger and freight cars, automobiles, streetcars, buses and aircraft on view; guided tours on Tuesday-Saturday at 10a and Sunday 1p; they also schedule a number of specialty car shows

ADMISSION: Adults $6, Ages 5-12, Seniors and Military w/ID $4, Ages 4 and under enter Free

DAYS & HOURS: Labor Day - April 30: Tue-Sat 9a-4p; Sun 11a-4p; May 1-Labor Day: Mon-Wed 9a-5p; Thu 9a-7p, Fri- Sat 9a-5p, Sun 11a-5p
ADDRESS: 3015 Barrett Station Road  MAP

TRANSIT: none

PARKING: on premises
PHONE: 314-965-6885
WEBSITE: http://www.museumoftransport.org