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In 1683, Elias Ashmole, an Oxford graduate and true polymath, , the modern world's first public museum. Stocked with his private collection of artifacts, curios, and special scientific equipment, the goal of the museum was to create a center for practical research and the advancement of knowledge. This, Ashmole felt, was a goal "very necessary to humaine life, health [and] the conveniences thereof."

According to figures from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are in the United States today. Their collections encompass everything from modern art, like at the MoMA in New York City, to mustard, like at the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin, and everything in between.

Museums are anchors of our communities. The reports that museums support more than 725,000 jobs and contribute upwards of $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Three-quarters of Americans agree that museums are an important part of our civil society and have an important role in promoting knowledge and civic engagement.

Beyond their educational and economic significance, museums are just plain fun. Whether you have a developed interest in natural history or just want to learn a little bit more about funerary history (the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston), there's sure to be a museum that strikes your interest. There's simply nothing else quite like spending an afternoon learning about famous figures, arts and crafts, military history, or what else you fancy.

Here, compiled a list of the highest-rated specialty museums in Missouri on as of Aug. 13, 2025. Keep reading to see what unique museums are in your home state. Then, make sure to plan a visit. With many museums facing funding cuts due to the current administration's efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, who's to say how much longer these treasure troves will be available to us?

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#30. Celebrity Car Museum

- Rating: 4.1/5 (268 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#29. The College Basketball Experience

- Rating: 4.2/5 (254 reviews)
- City: not available
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#28. National Blues Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (337 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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#27. Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (195 reviews)
- City: Saint Charles
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#26. Walt Disney Hometown Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (204 reviews)
- City: Marceline
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#25. The Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks

- Rating: 4.6/5 (88 reviews)
- City: Springfield
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#24. Myseum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (205 reviews)
- City: Town and Country Saint Louis
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#23. Willmore Lodge

- Rating: 4.6/5 (200 reviews)
- City: Lake Ozark Lake of the Ozarks
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#22. Glore Psychiatric Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (340 reviews)
- City: Saint Joseph
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#21. Ralph Foster Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (502 reviews)
- City: Point Lookout
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#20. Route 66 Car Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (108 reviews)
- City: Springfield
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#19. Pony Express Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (455 reviews)
- City: Saint Joseph
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#18. Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (280 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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#17. Beyond the Lens & Flyride

- Rating: 4.5/5 (298 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#16. TWA Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (144 reviews)
- City: not available
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#15. Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum

- Rating: 5.0/5 (160 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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#14. Hollywood Wax Museum

- Rating: 3.9/5 (1,791 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#13. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Branson

- Rating: 4.0/5 (1,294 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#12. Patee House Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (514 reviews)
- City: Saint Joseph
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#11. The Money Museum

- Rating: 4.2/5 (506 reviews)
- City: not available
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#10. Veterans Memorial Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (723 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#9. World's Largest Toy Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (922 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#8. Hallmark Visitors Center

- Rating: 4.3/5 (514 reviews)
- City: not available
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#7. Campbell House Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (183 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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#6. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,129 reviews)
- City: not available
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#5. The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

- Rating: 4.7/5 (361 reviews)
- City: not available
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#4. Museum Of Illusions St. Louis

- Rating: 4.9/5 (393 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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#3. Arabia Steamboat Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,269 reviews)
- City: not available
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#2. Titanic Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (7,549 reviews)
- City: Branson
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#1. City Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (6,754 reviews)
- City: Saint Louis
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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