Saint Louis, Missouri is known as the “Gateway to the West”. Founded in 1764 by Pierre Laclede, it is best known for the 1904 World’s Fair, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Gateway Arch. It is a great city, filled with lots of fun and exciting things to do, especially if you’re on a budget. There are many free things to do in St. Louis: parks and tours, national attractions, family friendly fun, and educational experiences.
The first thing many people associate with St. Louis is the Gateway Arch. The Arch was built between February 1963 and October 1965. It stands 630 feet tall and is the tallest US National Monument. It is open year round, and while there is a fee for a trip to the top of the Arch, you can tour the Museum of Westward Expansion for free. The museum is located under the Arch and contains Native American artifacts and a display of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
The Old Courthouse is another historic attraction. It is two blocks from the Arch grounds and information about the courthouse can be found on the Arch’s website. The courthouse building was completed in 1862, and was most notably home of the Dred Scott case in 1857, a pivotal event in American Civil Rights history. Visitors can tour a restored 1860’s courtroom and learn more about other historical cases. General admission tours are free, but there are occasional unique displays that charge a fee.
For visitors looking to learn more about Missouri, the Missouri History Museum offers much to see. Built in 1913 and located in Forest Park, the museum has permanent exhibits about Charles Lindbergh and the 1904 World’s Fair. There are special exhibits that change regularly, some have featured noteworthy Missourians like Katherine Dunham and George Washington Carver. The museum also features an extensive library and research center, a nine-foot marble statue of Thomas Jefferson created by Karl Bitter, a restaurant, and a gift shop.
Located in Forest Park, the Art Museum houses over 30,000 works of art. The museum was founded in 1879 and was originally housed in Washington University. The current building was built for the 1904 World’s Fair and designed by architect Cass Gilbert. An inscription on the building reads “Dedicated to Art and Free to All”, a commitment that the Art Museum continues to honor. It is open year round and features a restaurant and gift shop. The museum does charge a fee for rotating exhibits, however, on Fridays admission to these special events are free.
The St. Louis Zoological Park is one of the few zoos in the United States with free admission. With origins in the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage, the zoo was established in 1910. In 1913, the City of St. Louis set aside 77 acres in Forest Park, and since then, the zoo has continued to grow, and, according to their website, is now “one of the world leaders in saving endangered animals and their habitats.” The zoo houses the Wild Care Institute, which consists of 12 centers dedicated to wildlife and conservation science. There are plenty of things to see and do, and the zoo is a day trip in itself. Some of the more extraordinary destinations within the park include: The Jungle of the Apes: a walk through a gorilla habitat that puts you face to face with the Great Apes, Penguin and Puffin Coast: a temperature controlled environment featuring four species of penguins and several other varieties of water birds, and The River’s Edge: featuring elephants, hippos, and other river dwellers in habitats that mimic different regions of the world. There is a charge for parking in designated zoo lots, but there is plenty of free parking along Forest Park’s roads. The zoo also features other attractions like the Children’s Zoo, the Railroad, and animal shows for a small fee, but the majority of the Zoo’s beauty remains free for all to enjoy, thanks to a 1913 mandate by the state: “the zoo shall be forever free”.
The Science Center was originally known as the Museum of Science and Natural History. The center moved to the McDonnell Planetarium in the mid 80’s and underwent extensive renovation in the 90’s. There are displays featuring dinosaurs, aviation, life sciences, ecology, space exploration, and plenty of other educational and fun topics. Kids and adults can explore, play, build, and participate in many of these exhibits. Admission is always free, but some additional facilities, like the OMNIMAX® Theatre, the Planetarium, and The Discovery Room, do charge a fee.
St. Louis is the home of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The company was founded in 1852, and you can find out the story of this historic brewery by going on a tour of the facilities. Open to all ages, the tour takes visitors through the Brew Houses, where they can follow the different processes through which AB products are created. Sightseers will also see the World Famous Clydesdales and get to sample some of the products in the Hospitality Room. Guests must be 21 or older to try alcoholic samples, but soft drinks and snacks are also provided. There is a large welcome area with displays from AB’s long history as well as a gift shop. The first Saturday of every month is Camera Day, where visitors can pose with the Clydesdale horses, and there are other special events throughout the year.
Grant’s Farm is the historic home of the 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant, and currently owned by Anheuser Busch. As it states on their website: “According to the U.S. Family Travel Guide Zagat Survey®, Grant’s Farm ranked overall as the seventh-best family attraction nationwide. The property is now a wildlife preserve and home to over 1000 animals. Visitors can take a tram ride through the grounds and see bison, elk, zebra, and more. There is a petting zoo, animal shows, and the Clydesdale Stables, where guests can see the animals up close and take photos. Grant’s restored home, a cabin known as “Hardscrabble”, is also on the site. The “Bauernhof”, an authentic Bavarian homestead, features a restaurant and a Hospitality Room, where visitors 21 and older can sample AB products. Grant’s Farm is not open year round, and there is a fee for parking, but admission to the site itself is free.
A trip to St. Louis would not be complete without a visit to one (or more!) of the many city and county parks. The City of St. Louis offers Forest Park, Serra Sculpture Park, and Tower Grove Park, among others. Some of the notable St. Louis County park attractions: the Dog Museum, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, and the Butterfly House. Many of the special attractions do charge a nominal fee for entrance, but there is much to do for free in these gorgeous parks! Many of the parks feature historic statuary, beautiful architecture, impressive fountains, and large playgrounds. There are concerts, special events, and plenty of walking trails, bike paths, and sporting fields. Some parks include skating rinks, swimming pools, and dog parks. There is something for everyone at a St. Louis park.
There are many more exciting things to do in St. Louis, Missouri. People come from all over the world to explore the Gateway City. Some other websites to check out are: Explore St. Louis, St. Louis Attractions, and the World Guide.
