Top 50 Museums in Missouri - Complete List, Map & Guide

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: July 10, 2026

Kansas City and St. Louis split Missouri's museum identity almost evenly. Kansas City claims the country's official National WWI Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, while St. Louis counters with a free, encyclopedic art museum and City Museum — an indoor-outdoor structure built almost entirely from salvaged architectural parts that defies easy description.

Missouri Museums Map

The Missouri Museums Map highlights the locations of museums across the state, including art museums, history museums, science centers, and cultural heritage institutions. Use this interactive map to explore popular museums in Kansas City, St. Louis, and other destinations throughout Missouri.

Here's a fuller list of Missouri's museums, split between Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield.

List of Museums in Missouri

Museum Name City Category Admission Best For Official Website
Saint Louis Art MuseumSt. LouisArtFreeWorld-class art collectionshttps://www.slam.org
City MuseumSt. LouisInteractivePaidFamily adventure & creative exhibitshttps://citymuseum.org
Missouri History MuseumSt. LouisHistoryFreeMissouri and St. Louis historyhttps://mohistory.org
Saint Louis Science CenterSt. LouisScienceFreeInteractive science exhibitshttps://www.slsc.org
National Blues MuseumSt. LouisMusicPaidBlues music heritagehttps://nationalbluesmuseum.org
The Magic HouseSt. LouisChildrenPaidHands-on learninghttps://www.magichouse.org
Missouri Civil War MuseumSt. LouisMilitary HistoryPaidCivil War exhibitshttps://www.mcwm.org
Campbell House MuseumSt. LouisHistoric HousePaidVictorian-era mansionhttps://campbellhousemuseum.org
Soldiers Memorial Military MuseumSt. LouisMilitaryFreeU.S. military historyhttps://mohistory.org
Museum at the Gateway ArchSt. LouisHistoryFreeWestward expansionhttps://www.nps.gov/jeff
National WWI Museum and MemorialKansas CityMilitaryPaidWorld War I historyhttps://www.theworldwar.org
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtKansas CityArtFreeGlobal art collectionshttps://nelson-atkins.org
Arabia Steamboat MuseumKansas CityHistoryPaid1856 steamboat artifactshttps://www.1856.com
American Jazz MuseumKansas CityMusicPaidJazz historyhttps://americanjazzmuseum.org
Negro Leagues Baseball MuseumKansas CitySportsPaidBaseball historyhttps://nlbm.com
Kemper Museum of Contemporary ArtKansas CityContemporary ArtFreeModern arthttps://www.kemperart.org
National Museum of Toys and MiniaturesKansas CitySpecialtyPaidToys & miniatureshttps://toyandminiaturemuseum.org
Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and MuseumIndependencePresidentialPaidPresident Truman historyhttps://www.trumanlibrary.gov
Vaile Mansion MuseumIndependenceHistoric HousePaidVictorian architecturehttps://vailemansion.org
National Frontier Trails MuseumIndependenceHistoryFreeWestward migrationhttps://www.independencemo.gov
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & AquariumSpringfieldNatural HistoryPaidWildlife & aquariumhttps://wondersofwildlife.org
History Museum on the SquareSpringfieldHistoryPaidLocal historyhttps://historymuseumonthesquare.org
Route 66 Car MuseumSpringfieldAutomobilePaidClassic automobileshttps://66carmuseum.com
Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Visitor CenterRepublicMilitary HistoryFreeCivil War battlefieldhttps://www.nps.gov/wicr
Museum of Art and ArchaeologyColumbiaArtFreeAncient & world arthttps://maa.missouri.edu
Museum of AnthropologyColumbiaAnthropologyFreeWorld cultureshttps://anthromuseum.missouri.edu
State Historical Society of Missouri Center for Missouri StudiesColumbiaHistoryFreeMissouri historyhttps://shsmo.org
Museum of Osteopathic MedicineKirksvilleMedical HistoryFreeOsteopathic medicinehttps://www.atsu.edu
Pony Express MuseumSt. JosephHistoryPaidPony Express historyhttps://ponyexpress.org
Jesse James Home MuseumSt. JosephHistoric HousePaidOutlaw historyhttps://www.stjosephmuseum.org
St. Joseph MuseumsSt. JosephHistoryPaidRegional history & arthttps://www.stjosephmuseum.org
Glore Psychiatric MuseumSt. JosephMedical HistoryPaidPsychiatric historyhttps://www.stjosephmuseum.org
Jesse James Birthplace MuseumKearneyHistoryPaidJesse James birthplacehttps://jessejames.org
Missouri State MuseumJefferson CityHistoryFreeMissouri state historyhttps://mostateparks.com/museum
Missouri State Penitentiary MuseumJefferson CityHistoryPaidHistoric prison tourshttps://www.missouripentours.com
Jefferson Landing State Historic SiteJefferson CityHistoryFreeState heritagehttps://mostateparks.com
Battle of Lexington State Historic Site MuseumLexingtonMilitary HistoryPaidCivil War historyhttps://mostateparks.com
National Churchill MuseumFultonHistoryPaidChurchill & Iron Curtainhttps://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org
Auto World MuseumFultonAutomobilePaidClassic carshttps://autoworldmuseum.com
Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & MuseumMansfieldLiteraryPaidLaura Ingalls Wilderhttps://lauraingallswilderhome.com
Mark Twain Boyhood Home & MuseumHannibalLiteraryPaidMark Twain historyhttps://marktwainmuseum.org
Rockcliffe Mansion MuseumHannibalHistoric HousePaidVictorian mansionhttps://rockcliffemansion.com
Osage Beach Outlet MuseumOsage BeachHistoryFreeLake of the Ozarks historyhttps://funlake.com
Bollinger Mill State Historic SiteBurfordvilleHistoryFreeHistoric grist millhttps://mostateparks.com
Deutschheim State Historic SiteHermannHistoryPaidGerman-American heritagehttps://mostateparks.com
First Missouri State Capitol State Historic SiteSt. CharlesHistoryPaidMissouri statehood historyhttps://mostateparks.com
Foundry Art CentreSt. CharlesArtFreeContemporary arthttps://foundryartcentre.org
Historic Daniel Boone HomeDefianceHistoric HousePaidFrontier historyhttps://boonehomestead.org
Museum of Westward ExpansionSt. LouisHistoryFreeAmerican frontier exhibitshttps://www.nps.gov/jeff
Ste. Genevieve Museum Learning CenterSte. GenevieveHistoryPaidFrench colonial heritagehttps://www.stegenevievemuseum.org

Missouri Museums Facts

Fact Details
StateMissouri
Approximate Number of MuseumsMore than 700 museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions
Largest Art MuseumSaint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis
Most Visited MuseumCity Museum, St. Louis
Largest Science MuseumSaint Louis Science Center, St. Louis
Most Popular Military MuseumNational WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City
Largest Natural History MuseumWonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Springfield
Official State History MuseumMissouri State Museum, Jefferson City
Most Popular Art MuseumSaint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis
Popular Free MuseumsSaint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
Largest Museum DistrictForest Park Museum District, St. Louis
Major Museum CitiesSt. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Jefferson City, Columbia
Popular Museum CategoriesArt, History, Science, Military, Music, Children's Museums, Presidential, Transportation
Historic Landmark MuseumMissouri State Museum, Jefferson City
Best Time to VisitSpring (April–June) and Fall (September–October) offer the most pleasant weather for museum visits.
Top Family MuseumsCity Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, The Magic House, Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium
Presidential MuseumsHarry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence
Specialty MuseumsNational WWI Museum and Memorial, Arabia Steamboat Museum, National Blues Museum, Pony Express Museum, Glore Psychiatric Museum
Annual Museum VisitorsMissouri museums attract millions of visitors every year.
Top Museum RegionsSt. Louis Metro, Kansas City Metro, Central Missouri, Ozarks, Missouri River Valley
US Museums by State

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