A World of Imagination

Southern Living, Oct 2004 by Canedo, Vivian

Kids crawl through caves and jump on giant rubber bands at this one-of-a-kind attraction.

My high school art teacher once made us transform recycled scraps into useful objects. When I submitted a flimsy coffee table with a cardboard top and 2-liter Coca-Cola bottles for legs, I realized this stuff isn't easy. Such work demands vision, style, and a sense of engineering-all of which clearly eluded me. The people at City Museum in St. Louis, however, ace this assignment.

At this ingenious space, they salvage everything from bottle caps to fire engines. The result is a giant playground of the mind where kids climb inside supersize springs made from airplane parts and bounce on a giant fuel bladder filled with water. Now, that's art you can use.

From Junk to Jungle Gym

City Museum, the brainchild of sculptor Bob Cassilly, sits in a 10-story warehouse filled with interactive art. Here, Bob's masterpieces become a theme park, entertainment complex, and children's museum all in one.

"We're enigmatic," admits director Elizabeth Parker. "We definitely attract kids and families, but we're open to people of any age if they're ready to play."

With several floors of opportunities, tackling this kooky, almost overwhelming place requires a game plan. First, decide when you want to visit, as the atmosphere changes from day

to night. Then, choose which exhibits you want to see.

Play in the Day

General admission lets you explore quirky creations throughout much of the first and second floors. A highlight of this area is the Puking Pig: A fire truck's water tank, molded to look like a pig, fills with water and pours out its liquid contents every 90 seconds.

For an extra fee, museum guests can crawl through the Enchanted Caves, check out the new aquarium, and tear through MonstroCity, an outdoor jungle gym.

A Sight at Night

In the evening, adults catch a circus cabaret show upstairs while enjoying libations and light sandwiches. Visitors also love listening to the nightly concerts and riding the outdoor Ferris wheel during warm-weather months.

With a myriad of activities and acquired goods, City Museum earns high marks for creativity, conservation, and fun. I think Mrs. West, my high school art teacher, would have to agree. VIVIAN CANEDO

City Museum: 701 North 15th Street, St. Louis, MO 63103; (314) 231 -2489 or www.citymuseum.org. Admission: $7.50 ages 2 and older. MonstroCity: add $2.50. Enchanted Caves: add $5. World Aquarium: add $5.