The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1979 |
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| Location | 516 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood, Missouri, 63122 |
| Visitors | 500,000 + annually |
| Public transit access |  MetroBus |
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The Magic House is a fun children's museum located in Kirkwood, Missouri, near St. Louis. It's a place where kids can learn by doing. The museum opened in 1979. Its goal is to help children experiment, be creative, and solve problems. It's a place full of wonder and joy!
Since it opened, The Magic House has grown a lot. It started at 5,500 square feet and is now 55,000 square feet. The museum is known as one of the best children's museums in the country. It was even ranked as the top attraction for kids by Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guide. More than 560,000 people visit each year. Over 12 million people have visited since 1979!
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The Museum's Story
The Magic House is an important part of St. Louis history. The main building is an old Victorian house. It was built in 1901 for the George Lane Edwards Family. The Edwards family was important in St. Louis business.
The museum was started by two women, Jody Newman and Barbie Freund. They worked for three years without pay to create a fun and educational place. When it first opened in October 1979, they expected 30,000 visitors a year. But in its first year, 165,000 people came!
The Magic House has grown many times since then. In 1985, they added "A Little Bit of Magic." This was a 2,000-square-foot area just for kids aged 1 to 6. In 1989, they added a big porch and an elevator. This made the museum easier for everyone to visit.
A big expansion happened in 1997. This added the Children's Village, Math Path, and a Fitness Center. In 2001, they opened Backyard Magic. This outdoor area has a Victorian Education Pavilion and a Children's Sculpture Garden. In 2008, the museum almost doubled in size with a 25,000-square-foot addition. In 2015, "A Little Bit of Magic" became "WonderWorks," a hands-on science exhibit.
How The Magic House Works
The Magic House is a not-for-profit organization. This means it doesn't make money for owners. It relies on donations from people, groups, and companies. Most of its money (80%) comes from things like ticket sales, the gift shop, and the Picnic Basket Cafe. The museum does not get regular money from taxes.
Besides daily visits, The Magic House offers many programs. Over 50,000 students come for field trips each year. The museum also brings learning programs to schools, libraries, and hospitals. These programs reach more than 25,000 children every year.
They also help special groups. This includes military families, sick kids, kids with special needs, and foster children. Many volunteers help at The Magic House. In 2015, over 250 adults and young people volunteered more than 6,000 hours!
Cool Exhibits to Explore
The Magic House has over 55,000 square feet of indoor space. It has hundreds of hands-on exhibits. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Electro-Static Generator: This is one of the most famous exhibits. It's a Van de Graaff generator. You can touch it and feel static electricity. Your hair will stand on end, which makes for a funny photo!
- The Children's Village: This is a large play area. Kids can use their imaginations and work together. It's like a tiny community! It has a pretend market, a bank, a vet clinic, and a library. This village was added in 1997.
- Jack and the Beanstalk Climber: This exhibit is based on the fairy tale. Kids can climb up and down three full floors!
- Star-Spangled Center: This area was added in 2008. It has a pretend Oval Office, Courtroom, and Legislative chamber. It helps kids learn about government and how to be good citizens.
- Mizzou Training Center: Opened in 2016, this center lets visitors test their fitness skills. You can learn about physical health. It has player jerseys, equipment, and helmets.
- Wonderworks: This area opened in 2015 for younger visitors. Kids can dig in sand, crawl through tunnels, and race cars. They can also look at creatures under a microscope and draw fish that swim on a screen.
Other Special Areas
- Backyard Magic: This outdoor area opened in 2001. It has a Victorian Education Pavilion and a Children's Sculpture Garden. There's also an outdoor Exhibit Patio with "Sandcastle Beach." This seasonal exhibit features amazing sand sculptures.
- Picnic Basket Café: This is a restaurant inside The Magic House. It serves healthy salads, sandwiches, and snacks. The cafe uses almost all recycled materials for its furniture. It has been called the "Greenest Restaurant in St. Louis."
- Play Port at Lambert St. Louis International Airport: This is a 1,500-square-foot exhibit at the St. Louis Airport. It's in Concourse C at Gate C2. It features planes, trains, and automobiles for kids to play with.
See also
