Magic House, Saint Louis (must see)

The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum is a nonprofit children's museum dedicated to hands-on learning through interactive exhibits that combine science, creativity, history, and everyday life. Opened on October 16, 1979, inside a restored 1901 Victorian residence, the museum has expanded over the decades from its original 5,500 square feet into a 55,000-square-foot national landmark. Located in Kirkwood, Missouri (just outside St. Louis), successive modern additions have integrated seamlessly with the historic house to encourage exploration, curiosity, and problem-solving through play.

Today, the museum welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year and offers activities for children of a wide range of ages. The museum features hundreds of interactive exhibits spread across multiple levels. Visitors can explore areas focused on physics, engineering, electricity, math, health, and environmental science through experiments designed for active participation. Popular attractions include the three-story Super Slide, a giant Van de Graaff generator that literally raises visitors' hair, a children's construction zone, the Star-Spangled Banner legislative and courtroom area, and the Children's Village, where young visitors can role-play everyday community occupations like a veterinarian, bank teller, or grocery store clerk. Rotating exhibitions and seasonal displays introduce fresh topics to families throughout the year.

Beyond its main galleries, The Magic House offers educational workshops, school field trips, family events, summer camps, and outreach initiatives that extend learning beyond the museum walls. Accessibility programs and specialized hands-on activities are carefully designed to engage visitors with different interests and abilities. By pairing historic architecture with interactive learning experiences, the museum encourages curiosity while helping children and families explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through play.