City Museum fills the former International Shoe Company building at 750 N 16th St in downtown St. Louis’s Washington Avenue Loft District. The late sculptor Bob Cassilly and his crew opened it in 1997 as a climbable, artist-built playground made from salvaged architecture and industrial scrap. It draws more than 700,000 visitors a year (Audiala).
Inside, visitors crawl through the Enchanted Caves, drop down the 10-story slide that winds through old shoe chutes, and squeeze through tunnels lined with mosaics and repurposed bridge parts. Outside, MonstroCity strings wire-mesh tubes between two aircraft fuselages, tall towers, and a slinky-like climb. The rooftop holds a Ferris wheel and a school bus jutting over the building’s edge. The Everyday Circus troupe stages short performances in the museum’s circus ring. Since the venue keeps adding to its structures, repeat visitors still find new passages (turu.ai).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Hours change by season. Friday and Saturday evenings often run until 10 p.m. and draw an older crowd. Confirm dates on the official calendar before you go. Weekday mornings outside summer break are the least crowded. The rooftop and MonstroCity close in bad weather.
Buy tickets online and plan your clothing. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring kneepads and a flashlight for the caves. The museum has a paid lot next to the building, and the MetroLink Convention Center station is about a 15-minute walk away.
