This aristocratic Victorian home-turned-museum is the only survivor of the Locust Street area. Built in 1851 and preserved with 90 percent of its original furnishings and decor kept intact, this museum has become a major attraction among both tourists and locals. The history of the furnishings and decor dates from 1854-1935 and tells a tale of the families who lived in the home. The museum is convenient to downtown St. Louis and features a beautiful carriage house, romantic gazebo and a fragrant rose garden.
The first historic museum in St. Louis and the boyhood home of Eugene Field, The Eugene Field House & St. Louis Toy Museum packs a historical punch. Eugene’s father Roswell M. Field was the attorney who defended Dred Scott in that groundbreaking fight for Scott’s freedom. The relics found in the Field home are reminiscent of a time when joys and pains marked the plight of the Midwest. The toy museum consists of dolls and toys from the Field collection as well as toys that date back as far as 1790. All the proceeds go towards the upkeep and conservation of this historic landmark.
This three-story, 42-room estate cost half a million dollars when it was built by successful St. Louis businessman Samuel Cupples in 1889. The purple sandstone mansion features elaborate Romanesque architecture and boasts 22 fireplaces, five centuries of fine art, finely curved woodwork and some of the home's original furniture. Tours of the historic Samuel Cupples House, which was donated to St. Louis University in 1942, are conducted Tuesday through Saturday. Special tours in foreign languages and for the hearing or sight impaired can be prearranged by telephone. The mansion is closed during the month of January.
The Missouri History Museum houses the entire past and present of the state in one building. You'll never run out of things to do - independent film screenings, interesting exhibits and concerts that are always going on. Engage in the stimulating programs offered to interact and learn with each other. Don't forget to visit the "Seeking St. Louis," exhibit to travel through two centuries of history in this booming city. Admission is free, so bring your family and friends for an educational and fun day out without breaking the bank.