Annual visit to the Missouri History Museum

Per tradition, we will finish out 2026 with a trip to the Missouri History Museum (I guess now the St Louis History Museum?). The History Museum is free. BUT: this is a great time to pay your annual dues of $5! Bring $5 to cover your 2027 dues. ($6 online)
Last went: 2025
Will go again: 2027
Cost: Free

Get there early to find parking!
Enter through the SOUTH doors!

We typically have time for 3 exhibits, but of course, you can stay for as long as you like. We'll meet in the front lobby - opposite side of the Jefferson statue. The museum does NOT open until 10am - so if you get there early, wait in your car! Or if warm enough, at the doors.

New exhibits (since 12/2025) related to St Louis that we can see include:

St. Louis at Bat
"Baseball is more than St. Louis’s favorite pastime. It’s one of the ways the city tells its story.
Opening 100 years to the month that the Cardinals won their first World Series, the exhibit St. Louis at Bat: 100 Moments in Baseball History explores the games, players, neighborhoods, triumphs, controversies, and communities that have made St. Louis one of America’s great baseball cities.
Through 100 unforgettable moments, visitors will discover legendary athletes alongside lesser-known trailblazers, humble sandlots and iconic stadiums, and events that show how baseball has always reflected much larger societal issues—often in unexpected ways. Featuring remarkable artifacts, immersive media, and surprising stories, St. Louis at Bat is for lifelong fans and first-time Museum visitors alike." from https://mohistory.org/exhibits/baseball

A Marvel in Motion
"A Marvel in Motion, the first rotating exhibit connected to our 1904 World’s Fair gallery, explores the compelling history behind one of the fair’s most enduring icons—the Ferris wheel. A true marvel of its time, the Wheel was more than just amusement, it was created as a bold example of innovation, ambition, and human ingenuity.
Visitors will follow the Wheel’s journey from its initial design by engineer George W. Ferris Jr. for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair to its time being a centerpiece for the St. Louis fair. The Wheel’s history (and urban legends about its burial) will be explored as well as its enduring legacy. Historical photographs, original engineering drawings, and artifacts will guide visitors through the challenges and triumphs of bringing this colossal structure to life. A near-scale replica of one of the Wheel’s cars (which could hold 60 people) will give guests a taste of what a ride on the original Wheel felt like." from https://mohistory.org/exhibits/marvel-in-motion

Made in St. Louis
Made in St. Louis proudly displays these words to show off that the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the tools we use originated right here in the River City.
St. Louis thinks big. St. Louis makes big things. Ofterntimes these contributions are so big and innovative that they quickly leap beyond the city’s borders. Throughout the city’s 262 years, St. Louisans have made all kinds of things—and they pop up in unexpected places. St. Louis–made bricks have been used to build structures on every corner of the map. St. Louis–made clothes have influenced trends time and again. St. Louis musicians helped bring rock ‘n’ roll to the world. One St. Louis man was the first person to put giant tires on a truck and call it a monster. St. Louisan’s labor and creativity launched the first Americans into space and gave humanity a new perspective on our planet.
This exhibit turns a spotlight on St. Louis creations and ideas—some that are familiar and others that might be surprising. Taken together, it’s evident that St. Louis–made products have profoundly shaped the world we live in. " from https://mohistory.org/exhibits/made-in-st-louis

Continuing Exhibits to see (if you haven't already) (from history museum website):

Collected
"Collected is St. Louis’s history brought to life, one map, toy, T-shirt, and painting at a time.

You Are Here
"Even though the Missouri Historical Society is over 150 years old, we’re constantly changing. The Missouri History Museum, Library & Research Center, and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum you visit today are much different than they were even just a few years ago. "

The 1904 World's Fair
"The 1904 World’s Fair was a complex, fascinating event that continues to evoke a range of emotions. It was grand and shameful. It was full of fun and full of indignity. Now, 120 years after it opened in St. Louis, the 1904 World’s Fair exhibit at the Missouri History Museum will reintroduce you to the Fair and its legacy in a way you’ve never experienced before."

St. Louis Sound Reprise
"St. Louis just can’t stay quiet. The region has produced legends who are on a first-name basis worldwide, like Ike & Tina, Miles, Chuck, and Nelly. It’s been home to the “Velvet Bulldozer” Albert King, the “Black Venus” Josephine Baker, and the original “king” of pop music, Scott Joplin. And don’t forget world-class songwriters like John Hartford, Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Willie Mae Ford Smith. Few cities anywhere can claim so many leading lights in such a wide range of style."

Route 66
"Known as the Mother Road and the Main Street of America, Route 66 plays an important role in American history and myth. But the famous road also has a story to tell about the St. Louis area and how it has changed. In Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis, visitors explored the local history of this world-famous highway. They learned about the road’s origins and heard the stories of the people who traveled it. This exhibit highlighted some of the famous places found along the way, including the Coral Court Motel and the Parkmoor restaurant chain. It also featured classic vehicles, from a Corvette Stingray to an Airstream trailer."