Saint Louis Art Museum
In St. Louis, MO, the Saint Louis Art Museum, known as SLAM, stands in Forest Park and is free to visit thanks to a local cultural tax. Its three-story building holds paintings, sculpture and cultural objects from around the world, including ancient pieces, and up to half a million people come each year. Founded in 1909, it pairs well with the nearby zoo and sits about 3.4 miles off the old road.
What is Saint Louis Art Museum?
The collection ranges widely, from ancient masterworks onward, with painting, sculpture and objects from many cultures. On top of the main galleries, the museum runs rotating shows. The Currents series spotlights contemporary artists, and there are regular shows of new media and works on paper, so there is usually something new to see.
Two noted architects are linked to the museum: Cass Gilbert and David Chipperfield. The result is a three-story building set among the lawns and trees of Forest Park, with galleries that carry you from one part of the world, and one era, to the next.
History of Saint Louis Art Museum
The museum dates its founding to 1909. Its home in Forest Park and its free admission, funded through the cultural tax district shared by St. Louis City and County, help draw up to half a million visitors a year.
It has grown up alongside the park's other big institutions, including the zoo and the Missouri History Museum, which are both a short walk away. Together they make Forest Park one of the richest single stops on the St. Louis leg of a Route 66 trip.
Visiting Saint Louis Art Museum: tips
Plan on two hours at the least; the collection is large enough to fill a whole day. The museum reports wheelchair access. Because entry is free, it is easy to drop in for a single gallery and come back another day.
Forest Park makes an easy day out. The Saint Louis Zoo and the Monsanto Insectarium inside it are each about 0.3 miles away, and the Missouri History Museum is about 0.6 miles off.
Practical info
- Address
- 1 Fine Arts Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63110
- Phone
- +1 314-721-0072
- Website
- slam.org
- Hours
- Tue–Thu, Sat, Sun 10–5 · Fri 10 am–9 pm
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Saint Louis Art Museum
All diners on Route 66 →
On the map
Full mapSaint Louis Art Museum with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Saint Louis Art Museum
All of Missouri
0.3 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
0.3 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
0.6 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
0.7 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
1.8 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
2.6 mi from Saint Louis Art Museum
Questions about Saint Louis Art Museum
Is the Saint Louis Art Museum free?
Yes. Free entry is paid for by a public tax district that covers St. Louis City and County.
Who designed the Saint Louis Art Museum?
Two architects are credited: Cass Gilbert and David Chipperfield.
Own or run Saint Louis Art Museum? Send us a photo or a correction.