Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Belleville

"The City Museum is a one-of-a-kind experience for adults and children alike!. With four floors of interactive exhibits, tunnels and slides, an outdoor climbing space, an architecture museum, and a cave system to explore, there's plenty to keep everyone occupied all day. If you hit a mid-day slump, head over to the on-site historic Cabin Inn where those over 21 can enjoy a refreshing cocktail or craft brew while the little ones devour a hand-scooped ice cream cone."

"Possibly the wildest highlight to any visit to St Louis is this frivolous, frilly fun house in a vast old shoe factory. The Museum of Mirth, Mystery & Mayhem sets the tone. Run, jump and explore all manner of exhibits, including a seven-story slide. The summer-only rooftop Ferris wheel offers grand views of the city."

"This is the most unique place that I have found in Saint Louis!. Made in an old shoe factory, City museum is nothing like your ordinary museum. It’s basically a giant playground for kids and adults alike!"

"Again, more free things in the Forest Park area of St. Louis!. The St. Louis Art Museum is more than just your typical art museum. They have the stereotypical art exhibits that include various painting and statues, but they have additional exhibits to meet everyone’s tastes."

"It will be hard to get through all of the Saint Louis Art Museum in one day, so don’t rush it!. There is one exhibit in the contemporary wing that is paid, the rest is completely free. Don’t miss the sculpture park!"

"There’s a wide range of exhibits housed inside of a World’s Fair building. The museum sits on Art Hill, overlooking the park."

"If you or your kids are remotely interested in the world’s most popular and challenging game of all, a trip to this chess mecca is a must. One floor of the World Chess Hall of Fame explores the connection of chess to art, culture, and history, and the others display thought-provoking exhibits. If it’s a nice day, play a game with the toddler-sized pieces outside!"

"If you’re not interested in chess, don’t let the name deter you. The World Chess Hall of Fame Museum is a really awesome collaboration between artists and the chess community. And features anything from chess inspired artwork to chess pieces made out of unexpected things."

"The World Chess Hall of Fame is a nonprofit institution nestled in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis which offers a different kind of fun to all its visitors."

"Named after a Kansas City, Missouri resident and lifelong patron of the arts the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum is part of Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts. The museum, which dates back to 1881, has exhibited the work of accomplished artists including New York City-based Rashid Johnson whose art – a mixture of painting, photography, sculpture and video – challenges perceptions of the black experience in America today, and gave the British collage artist John Stezaker his first US museum exhibition. The museum strives to expand its own collection, one of the most impressive university art collections in the country, which features a number of works produced in the 21st century including art from German painter and installation artist Franz Ackerman and Moroccan artist Yto Barrada."

"Washington University’s Kemper art museum has a large collection of contemporary and modern art. You can see works by major artists including Willem de Kooning, Berenice Abbott, Matisse, Max Beckmann and Picasso."

"And outdoor, two-acre park by the Aquarium entrance will have a play area and splash pad. Best of all, it’s free!"

"An array of red bricked buildings stands side by side, grim and strong against a backdrop of blue sky and green grass. Sometimes, you’ll see fighter planes soaring up above while soldiers train on the lawns below them. Steeped in history and fascinating facts, stands the Jefferson Barracks Historic Park."

"This historic park is focused on Missouri’s military and civil war history. In addition to a large park with trails 7 picnic shelters, you’ll find museums & military exhibits to explore. This is not an exhaustive list of free things to do in St. Louis."

"Though minuscule in comparison to Forest Park Forever, Lafayette Park sits on 30 beautiful lush, green acres. The park is home to three historic cannons of the Revolutionary War; the relics were lost in South Carolina harbor in 1776, but once recovered, they were donated to the park. In addition to the state of the art playground on site, kids love to climb all over the cannons."

"Lafayette Park maintains and recovers the park’s historic heritage, and increases resources for those purposes. Today, they are functioning to proceed to build regional consciousness of and support for Lafayette Park throughout the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area and further, and to enlist personnel, volunteers, and donors in assist of its mission."

"You can explore the pavilions, find all the statues, and take a walk along the lake. But really, the highlight of the park is the bridge. It's gorgeous among all the trees and it's definitely an Instagram worthy photo."

"One cool and unusual thing to do in St. Louis is to check out the Moto Museum’s private collection of motorcycles, spanning one hundred years of cycle history and coming from over 20 countries. But you have to go outside to discover the best secret of St. Louis: hidden art that can only be viewed with a special app from Re+Public."

"This small museum has a private motorcycle collection on display for all moto lovers. It also functions as an event space, so it may be closed due to private events."

"This downtown building first opened as part of the city’s convention center and municipal auditorium in 1934. The lovely interior of its main theatre seats 3,500 people for concerts, comedy and touring musicals and its decorative lobbies are used for special events throughout the year. The classical exterior of Missouri and Tennessee marble is guarded by two 10-ton limestone bears."

"The Peabody Opera House, formerly the Kiel Opera House, recently underwent a $79 million renovation and reopened in October 2011. The Opera House today hosts a wide variety of performances — opera, popular and country music, comedy, theater and concerts. With the renovation, the building has come into compliance with the ADA and is now wheelchair accessible."

"Let big, splashy musicals capture your imagination in the Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis, or ‘Muny’ for short. Characters come to life on the stage, which is nestled between the green, leafy shrubbery of Forest Park. Both calming and invigorating, you can relax your feet and work your mind at the same time at this St. Louis cultural hub."

"The Muny is a cultural treasure that has brought Broadway-style theatre to St. Louis for decades. Plan a trip to one of St. Louis’ most precious attractions for seniors with a love of live performance."

"Celebrating over one hundred seasons, St. Louis’ Municipal Theater is said to be the oldest outdoor musical theater in America; with seats for 11,000, it’s also the largest."