St. Louis Art Museum

St. Louis Art Museum featuring an administrative buidling, a park and a fountain
Transport yourself to different eras and places as you explore the vast variety of art, sculpture and artifacts in this renowned museum.

Immerse yourself in one of the world’s finest art collections at the St. Louis Art Museum. The beaux-arts palace that houses the museum was originally built for the World's Fair. Today, it contains a vast variety of art, over 30,000 pieces that span millennia.

The museum is divided into 18 collections: African American Art, African Art, American Art, Ancient American Art, Ancient Art, Arms and Armor, Art of the Pacific Islands, Asian Art, Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts and Design, European Art, Islamic Art, Modern Art, Native American Art, Photographs, Prints and Drawings, Sculpture Garden, and Textile Arts. Take a stroll through all of them or pick a few of particular interest for concentrated study.

Discover famous paintings, such as Monet's Water Lilies and Matisse’s Bathers with a Turtle, in the popular Modern Art collection. In the Photographs collection, see an arresting set of black-and-white nature studies by famed photographer Ansel Adams. In the Ancient Art collection, check out the Mummy Case of Amen-Nestawy-Nakht, which may date as far back as 945 B.C. Explore the special exhibits being held in the museum.

Time your visit to join one of the free docent-led tours, which are held daily. Tours begin at the Information Center in Sculpture Hall and last about an hour. On your tour, learn backstories about the artworks and the artists who created them.

Stop at the Museum Shop to purchase a unique art-inspired gift, from books to jewelry to toys. Visit the main Museum Shop, located on the first level of the South Building across from the Café or stop at the Exhibition Shop, located in the East Building.

Enjoy a meal with a view in the museum’s restaurant, Panorama. The restaurant lives up to its name with its floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of Forest Park. Have a quick snack or refreshment in the Café.

Visit St. Louis Art Museum any day except Monday. Enjoy unique nighttime visits on Fridays, when the museum is open late. Note that the museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Admission is free.

Reviews of St. Louis Art Museum

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
333
" "5 - Excellent 63.18785578747628%
4 - Good
132
" "4 - Good 25.047438330170777%
3 - Okay
50
" "3 - Okay 9.487666034155598%
2 - Disappointing
5
" "2 - Disappointing 0.9487666034155597%
1 - Terrible
7
" "1 - Terrible 1.3282732447817838%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jul 26, 2019

One of the highlights of my trip. The area surrounding the museum is picturesque and once you get inside, you'll be blown away by the variety and quality of the art on display. Everything from incredible high Renaissance masterpieces, to sculptures, Asian pottery, medieval weapons, and Victorian British furniture, so there's bound to be something of interest to everyone. The three story building is air conditioned, has places to sit (plus I saw some stools which you can take with you for sitting, which was unique.) Admission is free, although visiting one small area with the current main attraction will set you back $15.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
May 31, 2019

Make sure you take your time because there is so much to see. And they encourage you to sit and just enjoy the paintings. And if you want you can draw and you can take some pictures.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 26, 2019

The museum is free and will definitely take a lot of time to get through if you need something to fill your day (especially if the weather is not great).

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 22, 2019

Art museum is amazing!! A must go! I didn’t think it would be very good after all it was free, but it was great!! Probably best for adults and or very well behaved, quite children.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Feb 2, 2019

This is an excellent encyclopedic museum of art. You will see some masterworks.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Sep 10, 2018

Interesting art

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