The Campbell House Museum at 1508 Locust Street is the last surviving mansion of Lucas Place, the private enclave where St. Louis’s wealthiest families settled in the 1850s. Built in 1851 and home to fur trader and financier Robert Campbell, his wife Virginia, and their sons for nearly 90 years, the house draws visitors for its original contents.
Most of the furniture, paintings, carpets, and personal belongings on view belonged to the Campbells. A set of 1880s interior photographs guided the restoration, so the parlors, dining room, and bedrooms closely match how the family lived during the Gilded Age. Expect richly patterned wallpaper, gas-era light fixtures, family portraits, and letters and keepsakes tied to Robert Campbell’s work in the western fur trade. A walled garden and carriage house complete the property, which opened as a museum in 1943.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with Monday and Tuesday visits by appointment only (Campbell House Museum). General admission includes a guided tour, and reservations aren’t required during regular hours (Campbell House Museum). Weekday mornings tend to bring smaller tour groups. The house sits in Downtown West, a short walk from City Museum, so the two pair easily for families. MetroLink riders can use the nearby Civic Center or Union Station stops.
