• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • Road Trips
  • Destinations
  • Disney
  • Packing
  • Outdoors
  • Travel Resources
  • Search
  • Road Trips
  • Disney
  • Free Things to Do
  • Destinations
  • Outdoors
  • Packing
  • Travel Resources
  • About TravelingMom
    • Privacy Policy
    • Website Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Midwest Family Vacation Ideas / 9 Not-To-Miss Kid Friendly Missouri Museums
Only in Missouri, get sucked in at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum Photo credit: Becky Davenport / Budget TravelingMom

9 Not-To-Miss Kid Friendly Missouri Museums

July 6, 2016 //  by Becky Davenport//  5 Comments

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Dusty old artifacts and a cranky curator shushing you to be quiet are the museums of the past. Today you can visit a Missouri museum and learn about fighter pilots or slide down a mile long slide! Get wild about history at these 9 not-to-miss, kid friendly Missouri Museums that you will want to visit.

Located in St. Louis, the City Museum is 1 of 9 Not-To-Miss Kid Friendly Missouri Museums
Located in St. Louis, the City Museum is 1 of 9 Not-To-Miss Kid Friendly Missouri Museums. Photo courtesy: Becky Davenport

Make Learning Fun at Kid Friendly Missouri Museums

Forget about the ho-hum museums of the past. From St. Louis to Jefferson City, Missouri museums put the fun in history for all ages. Take a look at these 9 kid friendly Missouri museums that make learning fun during your Midwest family vacation.

1. City Museum

Located in St. Louis, check out this oversized playground known as the City Museum, consisting largely of repurposed architectural and industrial objects. Be ready for a work-out at this museum, guaranteed to challenge your physical ability. Perfect for ages 2 to 102,  this museum features something for everyone – even if it is just watching the grandkids climb the giant metal jungle gym.

2. Stars and Stripes Museum

A tad on the tamer side, but wild on the history side, the Stars and Stripes Museum is dedicated to the history of the Stars and Stripes Newspaper for U.S. military. The kid-friendly museum staff gives free educational tours. Listen closely as the staff gives up all the little secrets of the newspaper  and fun military history. Perfect for ages 7 to 107, you’ll be amazed by all the military equipment and stories at this Bloomfield, Missouri, museum.

3. Harry S Truman Library and Museum

You could say all of Independence, Missouri, is a museum to Harry S Truman. But the Truman Library is truly dedicated to the impact that the 33rd President of the United States had on America. The museum offers an informational self-guided tour and is perfect for ages 5 to 105.

4. Missouri State Capitol

Missouri State Capitol, 1 of 9 family friendly must-see Missouri Museums
Missouri State Capitol is a museum overflowing with state’s history, art, and information. Photo Credit: Becky Davenport / Budget TravelingMom

Maybe this is a stretch and not what you would usually consider a museum. But bear with me as the Missouri State Capitol, located in Jefferson City, IS a museum overflowing with state’s history, art, and information. Take advantage of free self-guided tours of the first floor with discovery displays perfect for all ages. The upper floors offer a self-guided or guided tour. I do suggest a guided tour, especially for older children as the tour guide shares fun facts that even a native to Missouri wouldn’t know!

5. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center

not necessarily a museum, but a center of knowledge. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge is located in the tiny town of Puxico, Missouri – so it is often forgot about. The beautiful park is full of trails, wildlife, and swamp history. The newly built visitors center is a child of all ages delight. Interactive discovery stations, live snakes, and an opportunity to learn about Missouri animals you may not see every day.

6. Laura Ingalls Wilder House

Raise your hand if you were fascinated by the Little House on the Prairie books?  You’ll need to add Mansfield, Missouri to your literary travel bucket list and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum.  Located on the historic Rocky Ridge Farm, this is where she lived from 1896 until her death in 1957. Learn about what inspired the well-known Missouri writer at her living farm museum, open for tours and perfect for ages 8 to 108.

7. The Sikeston Depot

Did you know Sikeston, Missouri, is the farthest north place where cotton can be grown? Did you know that the first mechanical horse was invented in Missouri? Can you imagine what a size 34 shoe looks like? Yeah neither did I until my family visited The Sikeston Depot. The depot is free to visit and perfect for ages 5 to 105, although young kids may struggle with not touching the well-maintained artifacts.

8. Arabia Steamboat Museum

In 1856 the Steamboat Arabia sank in the Missouri River. Today, the recovered artifacts reside at the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City. This museum is home to some of the most beautiful dishes and artifacts I have ever seen. The Arabia Steamboat Museum offers guided tours, perfect for ages 9 to 109, even if the little guys and gals want to touch all the pretty things.

Get sucked in at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, 1 of 9 not to miss Missouri Museums
Only in Missouri, get sucked in at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum Photo credit: Becky Davenport 

9. Vacuum Cleaner Museum

The museum that will get you sucked in or sucked up is the Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri. Learn why vacuums have headlights, how the first vacuum was operated, and what is next in the vacuum industry. Admission to this Missouri museum is free, perfect for clean fanatics of all ages.

What’s your favorite museum in the Midwest— and why? Tell us in the comments below.

9 must see kid friendly Missouri Museums

Join our Private FB Group for more travel inspiration and tips! JOIN HERE

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Midwest Family Vacation Ideas

Previous Post: «Cousins' Country Inn, The Dalles, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Hotel Review: Cousins Country Inn The Dalles Oregon
Next Post: A Couple’s Getaway Beyond Perfection at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa Buhl Mansion»

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

5 Comments on “9 Not-To-Miss Kid Friendly Missouri Museums”

  1. Christine Tibbetts, Cultural Heritage TMOM says:
    July 11, 2016 at 11:36 am

    What a fun story! Back of my closet has a few relics for the Vacuum Cleaner Museum.

    Reply
  2. Christine Tibbetts, Cultural Heritage TMOM says:
    July 11, 2016 at 11:35 am

    4.5

    Reply
  3. R Sue mayo says:
    July 8, 2016 at 11:17 am

    Becky,
    Thank you for including Stars and Stripes Museum/Library in your list of 9 Must See Kid Friendly Missouri Museums. Many of our exhibits have changed since your last visit. Please stop again when you are in this part of the state.
    Our hours are 10-4 Mon., Wed., Thur., Fri.; 10-2 Sat; Closed Tue. & Sun. Call 573-568-2055 for more information.

    Reply
  4. Jacquie says:
    July 8, 2016 at 10:39 am

    We just visited Arabia this past week! And my middle schooler loved it because there was quite a bit of history that she learned this past year at school that was presented on the tour. We also love the WWI museum in Kansas City and want to get out to Marceline to see the Walt Disney Museum too. Putting Mingo on our list — I didn’t know about that one!

    Reply
    1. Becky says:
      July 9, 2016 at 9:07 am

      Jacquei – if you come visit Mingo do let me know and I will give a you a list of Museums and must see in that area!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms and Conditions
  • Manage Push Notifications

Copyright © 2022 Traveling Mom · All Rights Reserved