List of museums in Missouri facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A museum is a special place where cool and interesting things from the past or about nature, science, and art are kept and shown to people. These places collect, take care of, and display objects that teach us about history, different cultures, science, and art. They can be run by non-profit groups, governments, or even private businesses. This list includes museums in Missouri, as well as art galleries that are part of universities or non-profit groups.

Awesome Museums to Explore in Missouri

Here's a list of some of the amazing museums you can visit in Missouri. They are sorted by name to help you find them easily!

Name	Town/City	County	Region	Type	What You'll Find There
1859 Jail, Marshal's Home & Museum	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Prison	Learn about what an old jail was like, run by the Jackson County Historical Society.
Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum	Ridgedale	Taney	Southwest	Natural History and Paleontology	See amazing fossils and learn about the history of the Ozarks.
Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Aviation	Discover the history of airplanes and military events.
Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Art	Enjoy American art from the 1700s to today.
Archery Hall of Fame and Museum	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Sports	Explore the history of archery and bowhunting in America. It's inside Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World!
Audrain County Historical Society	Mexico	Audrain	Northeast	Multiple	This place has several museums! See a historic mansion, a horse museum, an old school, and a country church.
Auto World Museum	Fulton	Callaway	Central	Automotive	Check out cool vintage and classic cars and car-related items.
Bates County Museum	Butler	Bates	Southwest	Local history	Learn about local history, from old Victorian rooms to the Civil War and coal mining.
Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad	Belton	Cass	Northwest	Railroad	Ride a historic train and learn about railroads.
Bingham-Waggoner Estate	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Historic house	Visit a beautiful Victorian mansion that once belonged to artist George Caleb Bingham.
Bollinger County Museum of Natural History	Marble Hill	Bollinger	Southeast	Natural history	See fossils, Native American tools, and learn about the Lewis & Clark expedition.
Bootheel Youth Museum	Malden	Dunklin	Southeast	Children's	A fun place with over 250 hands-on exhibits and activities for kids to explore and learn!
Branson Dinosaur Museum	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Natural history	See life-size dinosaur models, skeletons, and real fossils.
Branson Military Museum	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Military	Discover weapons, uniforms, and items from different wars, from the Civil War to today.
Calaboose	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Police	Visit an old 1891 jail that now holds a police museum.
Children's Peace Pavilion	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Children's	This museum teaches kids about peace, how to get along, and how to care for the environment.
Coal Miners Museum	Novinger	Adair	Northeast	Mining	Learn about coal mining in the area, with a pretend coal mine and an old blacksmith shop.
Commemorative Air Force Missouri Wing Museum	St. Charles	St. Charles	Northeast	Aviation	See real World War II aircraft and military items at the airport.
Community of Christ Museum	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Religious	Learn about the history of the Community of Christ church.
Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center	Defiance	St. Charles	Northeast	Living	Explore the life of Daniel Boone and visit a village with buildings from the 1800s.
Daum Museum of Contemporary Art	Sedalia	Pettia	Central	Art	See modern art from different artists.
Discovery Center of Springfield	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Science	A hands-on museum where you can do fun science experiments and activities.
Enns Entomology Museum	Columbia	Boone	Central	Natural history	Discover the amazing world of insects at the University of Missouri.
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site	St. Charles	St. Charles	Northeast	History	Visit the place where Missouri's first government met in the early 1800s.
Fort Davidson State Historic Site	Pilot Knob	Iron	Southeast	Military	Explore an old fort and learn about the Battle of Fort Davidson during the Civil War.
Fort Osage National Historic Landmark	Sibley	Jackson	Northwest	Military	See an old fort from 1812.
Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park	Kirkwood	St. Louis	Northeast	Historic house	Visit a unique house designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1950s.
Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site	Laclede	Linn	Northeast	Historic house	See the childhood home of General John J. Pershing from the mid-1800s.
George Washington Carver National Monument	Diamond	Newton	Southwest	Biographical	Visit the farm where scientist George Washington Carver grew up in the 1800s.
Glore Psychiatric Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Medical	Learn about the history of mental health care, in what was once a hospital.
Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site	Lamar	Barton	Southwest	Historic house	See the house where President Harry Truman was born in the late 1800s.
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Historic house	Visit the home where President Harry S Truman lived from 1919 until he passed away in 1972.
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Biographical	Explore the life and work of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S Truman.
Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum	Maryland Heights	St. Louis	Northeast	Aviation	See many old airplanes, especially fabric-covered ones and biplanes from between the World Wars.
History Museum on the Square	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Local history	Learn all about the history of Springfield.
Hollywood Wax Museum Branson	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Media	See lifelike wax figures of your favorite movie stars, TV personalities, and music icons.
Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site	New Madrid	New Madrid	Southeast	Historic house	Step back in time in a beautiful mansion from the mid-1800s.
James Farm	Kearney	Clay	Northwest	Biographical	Visit the birthplace of the famous outlaw Jesse James.
Jefferson Barracks Museums	Lemay	St. Louis	Northeast	Military	Two museums that tell the story of the historic Jefferson Barracks Military Post.
Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum	Lemay	St. Louis	Northeast	History	See old telephones and equipment, and learn about the history of communication.
Jesse James Home Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Biographical	Visit the house where Jesse James was shot.
Jim's Journey	Hannibal	Marion	Northeast	African American	Learn about the man who inspired Huck Finn's Jim and the history of African Americans in Hannibal.
John B Mahaffey Museum Complex	Fort Leonard Wood	Pulaski	Central	Military	This complex has several military museums, including ones for the US Army Chemical Corps, Engineer, and Military Police.
Joplin Museum Complex	Joplin	Jasper	Southwest	Multiple	A big museum with sections on minerals, local history, electricity, sports, and even cookie cutters!
Kemp Auto Museum	Chesterfield	St. Louis	Northeast	Automotive	See a collection of amazing cars.
Laumeier Sculpture Park	Sunset Hills	St. Louis	Northeast	Art	Explore a huge outdoor museum with over 70 large sculptures.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum	Mansfield	Wright	Southwest	Biographical	Visit the home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the Little House on the Prairie books.
Leila's Hair Museum	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Commodity	See a unique collection of wreaths and jewelry made from human hair from before 1900!
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center	St. Charles	St. Charles	Northeast	History	Learn about the famous Lewis and Clark expedition and the Missouri River.
Liberty Jail	Liberty	Clay	Northwest	Jail	Visit the old jail where Joseph Smith, Jr. and others were held in the 1830s.
Louis Bolduc House	Ste. Genevieve	Ste. Genevieve	Southeast	Historic house	Explore a French Colonial house from the early 1800s.
Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum	Altenburg	Perry	Southeast	Local history	Learn about the German Saxon immigrants who settled in this area in the early 1800s.
MAAPS Military Museum	Malden	Dunklin	Southeast	Military	Discover the history of the Malden Army Airfield, located inside the airport building.
Margaret Harwell Art Museum	Poplar Bluff	Butler	Southeast	Art	See art from around the world.
Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site	Florida	Monroe	Northeast	Biographical	Visit the small cabin where the famous author Mark Twain was born.
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum	Hannibal	Marion	Northeast	Biographical	Explore the complex that includes Mark Twain's childhood home and other historic houses.
Mastodon State Historic Site	Imperial	Jefferson	Northeast	Archaeology	See where ancient ice age animal remains and tools from the Clovis culture were found.
Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum	St. Louis	St. Louis	Northeast	Art	Part of Washington University in St. Louis, this museum has paintings, sculptures, and photos from the 1800s to today.
Missouri Children's Museum	Columbia	Boone	Central	Children's	A fun museum designed for kids to learn and play.
Missouri Civil War Museum	Lemay	St. Louis	Northeast	Military	Learn about Missouri's important role during the American Civil War.
Missouri Mines State Historic Site	Park Hills	St. Francois	Southeast	Industry	Discover the history of lead and zinc mining and the geology of the area.
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Sports	See cool items from famous Missouri athletes and try out interactive displays.
Missouri State Museum	Jefferson City	Cole	Central	Multiple	Learn about Missouri's history, nature, and cultural heritage.
Missouri State Penitentiary	Jefferson City	Cole	Central	Prison	Take a guided tour of this historic former prison.
Missouri Town 1855	Lee's Summit	Jackson	Northwest	Living	Step back in time to the 1800s and see what life was like in a 30-acre historic village.
Museum of Anthropology	Columbia	Boone	Central	Anthropology	Learn about different cultures and human history at the University of Missouri.
Museum of Art and Archaeology	Columbia	Boone	Central	Art	See art and artifacts from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East, as well as other collections.
Museum of Missouri Military History	Jefferson City	Cole	Central	Military	Explore the military history of Missouri.
Museum of the Dog	Town and Country	St. Louis	Northeast	Art	A unique collection of art all about dogs, run by the American Kennel Club.
National Museum of Transportation	Kirkwood	St. Louis	Northeast	Transportation	See antique cars, boats, a plane, and many historic trains and railroad equipment.
National BB Gun Museum	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Sports	See old BB guns and advertisements.
National Churchill Museum	Fulton	Callaway	Central	Biographical	Learn about the life and times of Sir Winston Churchill, a famous leader. It's part of Westminster College.
National Frontier Trails Museum	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	History	Discover the history of America's important western trails, like the Oregon Trail.
National Military Heritage Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Military	Explore military history.
National Silk Art Museum	Weston	Platte	Northwest	Art	See beautiful French and English silk tapestries.
NRA National Sporting Arms Museum	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Sports	Located in Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, this museum shows the history of hunting with over 1000 hunting rifles.
Old Cooper County Jail & Hanging Barn	Boonville	Cooper	Central	Jail	Visit an old jail from the 1800s that was used until 1978.
Patee House	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Multiple	Learn about United States history, see old vehicles, and walk through recreated streets of Old St. Joseph from the 1860s-1880s.
Pony Express Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Transportation	Discover the exciting history of the Pony Express.
Poplar Heights Farm	Butler	Bates	Southwest	Living	Experience what farm life was like in the 1870s.
Puppetry Arts Institute	Independence	Jackson	Northwest	Entertainment	See a puppet theater and a museum with hand puppets and marionettes.
Ralph Foster Museum	Point Lookout	Taney	Southwest	Local history	Learn about the history and culture of the Ozarks region. It's part of College of the Ozarks.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Amusement	See strange and amazing exhibits that will make you say "Believe It or Not!"
Riverbluff Cave	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Natural history	An exhibit center with cave and worldwide fossils, also known as Missouri Institute of Natural Science.
Robidoux Row Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Local history	Explore a mid-1800s apartment building with exhibits about the city's history.
Rockcliffe Mansion	Hannibal	Marion	Northeast	Historic house	Visit a grand 13,500-square-foot mansion from the late 1800s.
Route 66 Museum	Lebanon	Laclede	Central	Local history	Located in the library, it has recreated 1950s gas stations and diners, plus antique cars and Route 66 items.
Route 66 State Park Visitors Center	Eureka	St. Louis	Northeast	Local history	Learn about the famous "Mother Road," Route 66, in Missouri.
Saxon Lutheran Memorial	Frohna	Perry	Southeast	Open-air	See a log home and historic buildings from the 1800s.
Softball Museum	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Sports	Learn about the history of amateur softball in Missouri.
The Space Center	Bonne Terre	St. Francois	Southeast	Science	See cool space memorabilia and artifacts.
Springfield Art Museum	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Art	Enjoy American paintings, watercolors, sculptures, and prints from the 1800s to today.
Stars and Stripes Museum	Bloomfield	Stoddard	Southeast	Media	Learn about the history of the United States Armed Forces military newspaper, the Stars and Stripes.
St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum	Creve Coeur	St. Louis	Northeast	History	A museum dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust.
Ste. Genevieve Museum	Ste. Genevieve	Ste. Genevieve	Southeast	Local history	See local artifacts, art, antiques, and interesting oddities.
Still National Osteopathic Museum	Kirksville	Adair	Northeast	Medical	Learn about the history of osteopathic medicine. It's part of A.T. Still University.
St. Joseph Museum	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	History	Features a collection of Native American items and exhibits about Lewis & Clark.
The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum	Kirkwood	St. Louis	Northeast	Children's	A fantastic place with many hands-on exhibits for learning and fun!
Titanic World's Largest Museum Attraction	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Maritime	See artifacts and learn about the history of the famous ship, the RMS Titanic.
Walt Disney Hometown Museum	Marceline	Linn	Northwest	Biographical	Learn about Walt Disney's childhood and family, and see railroad artifacts.
Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site	Lawson	Clay	Northwest	Living	Explore an 1860s farm, a woolen mill, a gristmill, and the Watkins family home.
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield	Republic	Greene	Southwest	Military	Visit a Civil War battlefield site and its museum.
Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium	Springfield	Greene	Southwest	Natural history	This huge museum and aquarium is currently expanding to bring even more amazing exhibits about wildlife!
World's Largest Toy Museum	Branson	Taney	Southwest	Toy	See over 1 million toys, including a museum dedicated to author Harold Bell Wright.
Wyeth-Tootle Mansion	Saint Joseph	Buchanan	Northwest	Historic house	Visit a beautiful Victorian mansion.

List of museums in Missouri facts for kids

Awesome Museums to Explore in Missouri

See also