Soldiers Memorial Military Museum — Attraction in St. Louis

Great museum. Gorgeous on the outside with a very cool reflecting/infinity pond outside. 3 rooms of military history and a 4th room addressing veteran homelessness. All geared towards capturing the sacrifice and commitments of St Louis veterans. In military fashion, I'm going to provide some sustains and improves.

Sustain: the Vietnam section is very well done, fully encompassing both military and cultural events of the time. It was the most inclusive exhibit.

Free, self guided tours. Great way to get everyone to come visit and learn, especially school children growing up in a time of relative peace, unfamiliar with mass deployments.

Other: Lots of individual displays. Good capture of some heroic feats of St Louis natives. Easy to read murals. Wide walkways for crowds. Security. Volunteer staff to answer questions.

Improve: I called ahead to ask where we should park. We were directed to the parking garage. Apparently our group was supposed to get free parking signs but we weren't aware until our tour person met up with us.

The city has street parking available and needs to fix it. Several spots aren't in the kiosk and I had to move my car to find a number the machine would take. One of our party paid for parking and still got a $30 ticket from the meter maid.

There is a through street right in front of the museum and doesn't have stop signs. People are flying down that street and I almost got hit. That road needs to be closed.

As a currently serving veteran I was looking forward to the WW2 to modern times exhibit and was disappointed with the lack of GWOT material. It basically didn't exist. Compared to Vietnam getting a giant multi room display all to itself, there was a short wall with a few items for our recently ended conflicts. I think current servicemembers who've been in the Middle East and Southwest Asia deserve similar treatment and hope OIF/OEF will be given a similar exhibit in the future. There's a kiosk that you can enter info on to see locally serving members and of course we all looked for our names in there and couldn't find them. No information on how to get added to that registry.

Overall, I'll be back with my kids next time, cause we like museums, but I'd sure love a way to show my kids more about what their dad has done...

Learning is part of my self care and the Soldier’s Memorial was just the place.

St. Louis’s military significance dates back to the Revolutionary War, when the small settlement of St. Louis played a critical defensive role. Exhibits in the museum highlight stories of St. Louisans who served. The connection continues today as the city honors veterans and supports active-duty personnel.

One of the most fascinating exhibits was that of the Ghost Army, a top-secret U.S. Army unit during World War II. Comprised of artists, engineers, and creatives, this 1,100-member unit used deception tactics to confuse German forces. They used inflatable tanks/trucks, fake radio transmissions, and sound effects to create the illusion of large troop movements. Their work saved thousands of lives and contributed significantly to Allied victories in Europe. Biden declassified all the ghost army documents in 2022 so you can Google it.

I very much enjoyed this. Taking time to reflect on the past, understand the sacrifices of those who came before me, and connect with my hometown’s role in shaping history was very grounding.

I highly...

The Soldiers Memorial in St. Louis is so much more than just a memorial. It's a full museum that honors the service and sacrifice of people from the St. Louis area who served in every American war. Housed in a beautiful Art Deco building downtown, it blends powerful exhibits with personal stories, making it a meaningful stop whether you're a history fan or just curious to learn more.

Inside, you'll find everything from uniforms and letters to interactive displays that bring the past to life. The museum is open on weekends and is fully accessible, with ramps, lifts, and powered doors to make sure everyone feels welcome. Even the parking lot is thoughtful, with an EV charger available for visitors who need it.

The space itself feels calm and respectful, but never stuffy. It's easy to explore and close to other downtown landmarks, so it fits right into a day of sightseeing. Whether you're stopping by for a quick visit or diving deep into the exhibits, the Soldiers Memorial offers a heartfelt and well-designed tribute to...