City Museum, St. Louis, MO

We had a great family vacation at the end of July. Upon reflection, I've decided our trip to the City Museum in St. Louis was my favorite part of the trip.

I must start by saying that I don't think I'll really be able to adequately describe the place. In fact, us grown-ups have since discussed what you'd even call it and we don't have an answer. Check out their website for many more amazing pictures and details about the attractions.

Here are some pictures of us enjoying our day. Tomorrow I'll post more pictures of the amazing site, colors, textures and history of the place.

Here is the outside entry area of the City Museum. Yes... a real bus perches on the roof. Lots of other salvaged airplanes, fire trucks and other capsules all connected by life size tunnels, stairways, slides and stairs.


More adventure inside. Hundreds and hundreds of square feet of mosiacs. More tunnels, ladders, slides, water... Big fun!


You know how most museums are super clean and bright with easy-to-read, thoughtful signage everywhere? Not so at the City Museum. It's like walking into a giant mixed-media collage. It's gritty and grungy in all the very best "city" ways.

Experienced museum goers were seen wearing knee pads for all the adventurous climbing. (See that amazing shiny treatment on the ceiling? Another picture of that tomorrow!)


The museum is FULL of salvaged materials including this stunning man-hawk.


And these gargoyals -- one made of stone, one made of mischief!


Here are all the adventurers, minus Grandpa who was taking the picture. (We're eatting funnel cake! How many museums do you know that sell funnel cake?!)


After the indoor adventures, we headed outside. You see I'm wearing a denim skirt. Not the best choice. But it didn't slow me down too much. (Those below may have gotten a view of the white cotton panties I was wearing, though. Hmmmm. That may have been more information than you needed.)

At the end of that airplane wing, to the right, the "cage" dwindles into a little tunnel...

that rises above the whole climbing area more than five stories high! We all climbed through. Exhilerating.


This whole outside area is called "Monstro-city." Isn't that clever? I can't imagine the work and planning that went into the building. But, to all those involved, I thank you. It was well worth it!