The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the finest and most graceful museums in the Midwest, and general admission is free every day it is open. Cass Gilbert designed its main building as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1904 World’s Fair, and it still crowns Art Hill in Forest Park, with the equestrian statue Apotheosis of Saint Louis out front and the Grand Basin below. Inside, a grand sculpture hall modeled on the Roman Baths of Caracalla opens into galleries that run from ancient Egypt to the present day. The museum is famous for German Expressionism and holds the world’s largest public collection of paintings by Max Beckmann, and it is also strong in Impressionism, American art, Asian art and the art of Oceania and the ancient Americas, while an Egyptian mummy draws every school group in the region. The East Building by David Chipperfield, opened in 2013, adds daylit galleries for modern and contemporary art and a restaurant overlooking the park. Special exhibitions usually carry a fee, but they are free on Fridays. This page links to the museum’s official hours, location and parking page.
How to visit: the museum is at One Fine Arts Drive in Forest Park, the 1,300-acre park that also holds the free Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center. It is closed on Mondays; check the official page for current hours and holiday closures before you go. Free surface lots sit across Fine Arts Drive, and an underground garage charges a fee. Without a car, the Skinker MetroLink station is roughly fifteen minutes away on foot, and buses serve the park.
What to expect: the free collection is large, so pick a few galleries rather than trying to see everything. The main building has the classical sculpture hall and the older collections, while the East Building holds modern and contemporary work. The building is accessible, and lockers, a cafe and a shop are on site.
Making the most of it: come on a Friday if you want to see the main special exhibition for free, then walk down Art Hill to the Grand Basin for the classic view back up to the museum. In winter, Art Hill is a favorite sledding slope for local families after a snowfall. Pair the visit with the zoo or the Missouri History Museum, also free, for a full day in Forest Park.
What to expect
The experience
A free, self-guided visit to an encyclopedic art museum in a 1904 World’s Fair palace and a modern wing.
Best time
A Friday, when the main special exhibition is free, or a weekday morning for quiet galleries.
How long
Two to three hours for the highlights.
Tips
It is closed on Mondays, so plan Forest Park for another day, and use the free surface lots rather than the paid garage.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Art lovers, couples and anyone looking for a free, world-class rainy-day plan.
- Families
- The Egyptian mummy and the armor are reliable hits, and the zoo is a short walk across the park.
- Couples
- Finish with the view from the top of Art Hill over the Grand Basin.
- Pair with
- The free Saint Louis Zoo or Missouri History Museum, and dinner in the Central West End.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours, or a full day with the rest of Forest Park.
Good questions
Is the Saint Louis Art Museum free?+
Yes, general admission is free every day the museum is open. Special exhibitions usually have a fee but are free on Fridays.
When is the Saint Louis Art Museum closed?+
It is closed on Mondays. Check the official hours page for holiday closures before you go.
What is the museum best known for?+
It holds the world’s largest public collection of Max Beckmann paintings and is strong in German Expressionism. The building itself is the Palace of Fine Arts from the 1904 World’s Fair.
Where do I park at the Saint Louis Art Museum?+
Free surface lots sit across Fine Arts Drive, and there is a paid underground garage. Without a car, the Skinker MetroLink station is about fifteen minutes away on foot.
What else is free in Forest Park?+
The Saint Louis Zoo, the Missouri History Museum and the Saint Louis Science Center also offer free general admission. Together they make Forest Park one of the best free days out in America.
