City Museum: Where found objects become a ton of fun
Where can a collection of found objects, like old chimneys, construction cranes and even abandoned planes come together to create magic for kids and adults alike? At St. Louis’ City Museum, art and architecture are created from all kinds of unexpected objects to make one very unusual and entertaining attraction.
Located in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company, City Museum is the brainchild of artist and sculptor Bob Cassilly. Originally opened to the public in 1997, the museum is a creative mix of children’s playground, funhouse and entertainment pavilion, built by Cassilly and a crew of 20 artisans from strictly local materials found throughout the city.
Museum guests can explore MonstroCity, where two Saber 40 aircraft fuselages, a castle turret, fire engine and even 4’ wide slinkies are brought together in a fantastic playground. Visitors can crawl through the painted Enchanted Caves, built within the historic factory’s spiral conveyer tunnel system, explore an indoor tree house, and even walk into the belly of a whale.
In Art City, professional artists from painters to potters demonstrate their craft, and visitors can create their own works of art too. In the Tiny Train Town Model Railroad, an exceptionally detailed miniature train display chugs to life. In Toddler Town, little explorers can climb through tunnels and bounce in an indoor ball pit.
On the second floor, the 13,500 square-foot World Aquarium holds more than 10,000 creatures, including stingrays, sharks and seahorses. Within the museum’s third floor Skateless Park is the World’s Largest Pencil. Measuring 76 feet long and weighing in at a whopping 21,500 pounds, the No. 2 pencil writes and erases, although picking it up might be a challenge. On the museum’s roof, visitors can soar on Big Eli (a restored four-story Ferris wheel), ride a massive rope swing and traverse Splash Pond.
With so many fascinating and unusual things to see and do, City Museum is sure to be a hit with visitors of all ages. It’s a wonderful collection of art, architecture, culture and education, just waiting to be discovered.
- by D.J. Siegel, Saint Louis Reporter for HelloMetro
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