The Magic House is the children's museum that St. Louis families rave about, and for visitors with young children it is the best rainy-day answer in the metro area. It occupies a large house-turned-museum at 516 South Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, a suburb about 15 miles southwest of downtown, and its exhibits are designed for children and adults to play together. Current galleries named on the venue's site include Children's Village, Wonder Works, Story Time Magic, the STEAM Center, the Jack and the Beanstalk Climbing Sculpture, the Bubble Room, the St. Louis City Soccer Training Center, the St. Louis Blues Ice Zone, Play Music Play, the Super Slide, Trike Town: Route 66, Take Care with Peanuts, Argentina's Niños and Hero Quest, along with outdoor spaces. Story time runs Tuesday through Sunday at 11 am and 2 pm, and a science demonstration takes place daily at 1 pm. New exhibits including Gabby's Dollhouse, Children's China and a weather exhibit are announced as coming soon. Admission is one price for all-day access, and the museum says parking is free and easy. Children under one are free.
How to visit
During the school year the museum is closed on Mondays, open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 5 pm and on Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm, with changes around holidays, so check the venue's special hours page. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Discounts exist for residents of listed Missouri and Illinois counties, including a reduced price in the late afternoon and a free family night on the third Friday of each month, which require proof of residency, and there are military and foster family offers. Visitors from out of town should plan on the regular all-day ticket.
What to expect
This is a place for children from toddlers to around ten years old, and adults should be ready to climb, slide and get a bit messy. Time to spend: most families need two to four hours and many stay longer. It is busiest on weekends, school holidays and rainy days, so a weekday morning is calmer.
Tickets do not appear to require timed entry according to the venue's page, but crowds can build, so arrive at opening if you want the most hands-on time at popular exhibits. Bring socks for children and a change of clothes if they like the water and bubble areas.
Making the most of it
Choose your morning or afternoon around story time and the 1 pm science demonstration, which are free with admission, and let the children set the pace. Kirkwood itself has a pleasant downtown with a farmers market in season, so lunch nearby is easy. If you are traveling with older children, combine this with the Saint Louis Science Center or City Museum, which suit a slightly older age group.
Because the Magic House is in the suburbs, a car is the easiest way to reach it. Parents of babies and toddlers will find the youngest-child spaces calmer than the main galleries, and the museum's outdoor areas give children somewhere to run in good weather. Pack snacks and check the venue's policy on food before you arrive, because rules about eating areas can change.
What to expect
The experience
A hands-on children's museum in a large Kirkwood house, with climbing, slides, a bubble room, story times and daily science demonstrations.
Best time
A weekday morning in the school year, or any rainy day.
How long
Two to four hours.
Tips
Closed Mondays and on Thanksgiving, check special hours, and time your visit around the 11 am and 2 pm story times and the 1 pm science demonstration.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families with toddlers and young children up to around ten.
- Families
- The top family stop in the metro area, with exhibits designed for adults and children to play together.
- Couples
- Not a couples stop; save it for time with kids.
- Pair with
- The Saint Louis Science Center or Saint Louis Zoo on another day.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
What are the Magic House hours?+
In the school year it is closed Mondays, open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Holiday hours differ, and it is closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Is parking free at the Magic House?+
The museum says admission includes free, easy parking.
Are there discounts?+
Residents of listed Missouri and Illinois counties get a reduced price late in the afternoon and a free family night on the third Friday of each month with proof of residency. Military and foster family offers also exist.
What ages is the Magic House for?+
Exhibits are designed for children and adults to play together, with pricing from age one up. Children under one are free.
Are there daily activities?+
Story time runs Tuesday through Sunday at 11 am and 2 pm, and a science demonstration is held daily at 1 pm.
