Magic House (Children’s Museum) | St Louis

The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum, is a premier, nonprofit interactive museum dedicated to fostering learning through play and creativity for children and families. Located at 516 S. Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, Missouri-just a short drive from downtown St. Louis-it has grown from a modest Victorian mansion opened in 1979 to a sprawling 55,000-square-foot facility, welcoming over 16 million visitors since its inception. The museum’s mission centers on inspiring children to imagine, create, and learn by engaging with hands-on exhibits that stimulate curiosity, problem-solving, and imagination.

Facility and Design

The Magic House occupies a large, multi-level building designed to provide diverse and accessible experiences for children from infancy through pre-teen years. The museum’s layout is thoughtfully organized into themed zones that encourage exploration and experimentation. Wide hallways, spacious exhibit rooms, and fully accessible ramps and elevators ensure a comfortable visit for families with strollers or mobility challenges. Bright, colorful design elements and child-scale furnishings create a welcoming, stimulating atmosphere that invites visitors to dive into discovery.

Core Exhibits and Experiences

The Magic House features hundreds of interactive exhibits spanning science, art, engineering, storytelling, and imaginative play. Each exhibit encourages hands-on participation, making complex concepts tangible and fun for children.

Children’s Village: This centerpiece exhibit is a miniature, fully realized town where kids take on real-world roles such as doctors, firefighters, bankers, grocers, and postal workers. They can practice skills like writing prescriptions, putting out fires, counting money, and delivering mail. The village fosters social interaction, responsibility, and creative role play.

Wonder Works: Designed for younger children (toddlers and preschoolers), this soft and safe area invites sensory exploration and discovery through natural elements, textures, light, and sound. It provides age-appropriate challenges that promote early cognitive and motor development.

Make-It Workshop: A creative makerspace where children engage in hands-on arts and crafts, including sewing, sculpting, woodworking, and basic 3D printing. The space encourages experimentation with materials, tools, and design, nurturing artistic expression and technical skills.

Bubble Room: One of the museum’s most beloved features, this exhibit allows children to experiment with bubbles of all sizes and shapes. It demonstrates scientific principles like surface tension and air pressure in an entertaining and visually captivating way.

Story Time Magic: This expansive, 5,000-square-foot exhibit immerses visitors in the world of classic children’s stories and fairy tales. The exhibit combines storytelling, puppetry, costumes, and interactive set pieces to inspire imagination and literacy skills. Children can become characters and physically engage with story elements, reinforcing narrative understanding.

Educational Philosophy and Programs

The Magic House is deeply committed to educational excellence, using play-based learning to promote STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education. Through its exhibits and outreach programs, the museum:

Encourages critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity.

Supports early childhood development milestones.

Offers workshops and classes for children and families that extend learning beyond the museum visit.

Partners with local schools and organizations to provide accessible, inclusive programming.

MADE for Kids

Complementing the main museum is MADE for Kids, a specialized makerspace located at 5127 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis. This 7,000-square-foot facility offers advanced creative and technical tools including laser cutters, screen printing stations, stop-motion animation setups, and 3D printers. MADE for Kids encourages older children and teens to explore engineering, digital fabrication, and entrepreneurship in a collaborative environment, making it a unique resource for innovation and skill-building.

Visitor Information and Amenities

Hours: Typically open six days a week with extended summer hours and special evening events, including “Free Family Nights” on the third Friday of each month, providing free admission to families within designated limits.

Admission: Regular admission fees are $15 for adults and children over one year old, with discounts for groups, residents, military families, and foster families. Children under one enter free. A discounted admission window is available daily from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for local residents.

Membership: The Magic House offers memberships that provide unlimited admission and exclusive benefits. Membership levels include Kids Club and MADE for Kids, catering to different age groups and interests.

Accessibility: The museum is fully accessible, with elevators, ramps, and accommodations to ensure all visitors can enjoy the exhibits.

Parking: Complimentary parking is available in a large lot behind the museum, with additional parking options nearby.

Facilities: Family-friendly amenities include nursing stations, restrooms with child-sized fixtures, a café area, and stroller-friendly pathways.

Community Engagement and Impact

The Magic House has become a vital cultural and educational institution in the St. Louis region, drawing families from across the metropolitan area and beyond. It actively promotes inclusivity and accessibility, offering free or reduced admission days, specialized programs for children with disabilities, and community partnerships that extend its reach. The museum’s focus on hands-on learning through play has a proven positive impact on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Summary

The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum, stands as a dynamic, engaging environment where children learn through play, discovery, and creativity. Its extensive, thoughtfully designed exhibits-from the imaginative Children’s Village to the scientifically fascinating Bubble Room-make learning joyful and interactive. Coupled with specialized programs like MADE for Kids, the museum supports lifelong skills in STEAM fields, nurtures curiosity, and fosters community connection. It remains a beloved and essential destination for families seeking educational enrichment and fun in the St. Louis area.