Close
We're Sorry
National Great Rivers Museum
Science & Nature Museum in St. Louis, Missouri
National Great Rivers Museum
East Alton
view websiteMelvin Price Locks and Dam
1 Lock and Dam Way
East Alton, MO 65606
877-462-6979
Good-for-Kids Rating
BabiesToddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Science & Nature Museum
Special Collection
National Great Rivers Museum Description
Kids with mechanical minds and industrially inclined imaginations are awed by learning how locks and dams work, why the Mississippi is termed "muddy" (hint: it's churned up a lot), how massive barges ply the great river, and what sort of wildlife call it home. Hands-on experiments in water use, a video training simulator for would-be barge drivers, film clips of dam construction, and walking tours out onto the dam itself bring the subject to life.
Kid Tips
School-Age Kids: Kids in this age group love the interactive exhibits that let them "drive" a barge, determine the amount of water you use everyday, and mix up the sediment in the river.
Pre-Teens & Teens: Mobile phone owners will love the phone audio tour at the museum that relieves them from reading while guiding them around the exhibits.
Planning Notes
- Road trip. This attraction is a worth-the-trip 20 to 30 minute drive from downtown St. Louis.
- Time it right. Two to three times a day guides lead free walking tours onto the lock and dam that get you into otherwise restricted areas for a close-up view of passing freight. Call ahead for the schedule.
- Roll up your pants. When finished touring, wade into the museum's wandering fountain that replicates the Mississippi's eddies and deltas.
- Bring your own snacks. There is no food service at the dam.
- Test your skills. Kids of all ages love the pilot training simulator that puts you at the controls of a river barge, but only teens (and possibly their parents) have a hope of successfully guiding the ship into the lock chamber (it's hard!).
- Not for little ones. An engaging place for school-age kids and up, this museum is not designed with toddler and infant visitors in mind.
Just the Facts
Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Fees: Free
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
