Campbell House Museum, Saint Louis

Established in 1943, the Campbell House Museum commemorates the home and Victorian lifestyle of Robert Campbell, an Irish immigrant who became an American frontiersman, fur trader, and businessman, and his wife, Virginia Kyle Campbell, an American socialite who hosted members of local high society, including President Ulysses S. Grant, James Eads, General William T. Sherman, and botanist Henry Shaw.

During the preparation of an inventory and evaluation of the estate, experts in history, architecture, and art were amazed by the condition of the property and declared that “probably nowhere in America, possibly nowhere else, is such an intact and integral display of elaborate and ornate furnishings of the middle Victorian period to be found as in the Campbell mansion.”

In the 1940s, the Campbell House was one of the few museums dedicated to the history and decorative arts of mid-Victorian America. The museum was designated a City of St. Louis Landmark in 1946 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

The museum showcases meticulously restored rooms adorned with original Campbell family furnishings, including ornate furniture, fine china, and period clothing. Notable highlights include a grand dining room with a recreated painted ceiling and a morning room featuring wallpaper patterns restored from 1885 photographs. The museum also displays a collection of carriages and a unique set of interior photographs taken in the mid-1880s, offering a rare glimpse into the home's original ambiance.

In recent years, exhibits have expanded to include narratives on the lives of servants and enslaved individuals associated with the Campbell family, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the household's history.

Tip:
Don’t miss the holiday season tours when the museum is beautifully decorated with antique ornaments. Be advised, however, that on certain days of the week—and during January and February—tours are available by appointment only.

The museum shop is also worth a visit, offering unique lithograph nightlights and books about the St. Louis area.