Missouri Civil War Museum — Attraction in Lemay

I'm local and embarrassed to say I didn't know this gem exists. If you're at all interested in the subject, it's fantastic. The entire project was volunteer/donor funded and executed. No government funds were used and it's a model of private support for a public good. On to the museum...

The renovation to the building is of very high quality. It was originally the Post exchange and Gym, but was used as a hospital ward and various other purposes before sitting empty and in disrepair for years. Many truly original details are missing, but the mezzanine running track and railing along with a few other great components remain. What has been replaced is well done and in keeping with the building.

There are two intro videos early on and both are well done. The first provides background on the building and the second focuses on the Missouri Compromise and other preludes to secession. It's very much worth watching both and they provide good context for the displays.

The displays are well organized, content is explained in nice bite sized pieces and they are all spotless. There's representation of both the North and South with the obvious goal to tell the stories of those represented and let the visitor develop their own understanding.

Some objects that surprised me that were great to see: A sitting chair that a Union General bought from the estate of Mary Todd Lincoln. A cane the same General had made from brass and wood that originated on the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), the world's oldest ship that is still afloat. (Her tour in Boston is also Don't Miss.) A First Edition of Uncle Tom's Cabin. A toy - but functional - black powder cannon made from scrap materials recovered from the Eads Bridge construction. A spyglass used at Gettysburg (!!!) Other: LOTS of period weapons in excellent condition, a display medical, um, "technology" of the day and complete uniforms.

If this doesn't get you excited about making plans to go, you probably shouldn't. Admission was $7 with discounts for students, seniors and members. I spent about 3 hours and only finished the main floor. Will go back to walk the lower level. Bonus in August: The AC...

While my husband and I found the building to be lovely and the manager on duty to be friendly and the medical exhibits, in particular, enjoyable... I cannot, in good conscience, give this museum more than two stars. The clear and obvious confederate bias is present throughout the exhibits. There was almost NO representation of the Union side of the war. As for the experience of the slaves...indeed any people of color, the museum was disappointingly lily white. Stranger still... we saw nothing about the Battle of Pilot Knobb, and almost no mention of the battle of Wilson’s Creek. A museum with the moniker The Missour Civil War Museum should benpresenting an even handed view of the war as it happened in the state. This building, though lovingly curated, and beautifully restored, is grossly misrepresented. It should more aptly be called The Missouri Confederate Museum. If you are looking for extreme bias.... and dare I say... a lingering prejudice....this is the place for you. If you are looking for comprehensive history you would be better served by just...

I have lived in STL for ten years and am disappointed I missed this for so long!

Fantastic gem of a museum at a shockingly reasonable price. Small, but very dense, displays loaded with an impressive number of genuine period artifacts. Flows nicely from Missouri Compromise through early war years and conflicts in Missouri and neighboring Kansas, then moves on to general displays of soldierly life, era medical technology and weapons/gear.

Don't forget to go downstairs to some history of the civil war in film along with general history of Jefferson Barracks as well.

The staff were wonderful. Had a very young baby and they were very accommodating for feeding and understanding of his fussing/crying. We were there late but never felt rushed even as closing time approached.

Would highly recommend for an...