Tucked away in the expansive 600,000-square-foot space of the erstwhile International Shoe Company, the museum is a delightful fusion of a fantastical playground, an enchanting house of curiosities, a bizarre exhibition hall, and an architectural marvel. It’s pieced together from an eclectic mix of repurposed artifacts. The brainchild of the illustrious artist Bob Cassilly, a man of both classical artistic skill and innovative enterprise, the museum threw open its doors to an eager public in 1997, capturing the hearts of the young and the young-at-heart. Cassilly, with a small but skilled cadre of 20 craftsmen, carved out the museum’s essence from the city’s own resources, infusing it with a genuine metropolitan spirit that stands unparalleled. Harnessing recycled components obtained solely from local origins, the museum stands as a proud display of the city’s heritage, featuring everything from retired smokestacks and rescued bridges to hefty construction cranes, intricate mosaics, and even a couple of decommissioned planes.
History of City Museum
City Museum was established by artist Bob Cassilly and his then-wife Gail Cassilly. Originally, the museum occupied a former International Shoe Company factory and warehouse, which the Cassillys purchased in 1993. Construction commenced shortly after the acquisition, kept under wraps until visitors were granted a sneak peek on New Year’s Eve 1996. By 1997, the construction of the iconic giant whale in the lobby signaled the museum’s readiness for public opening on October 25 of that year. Within two years, it attracted an annual attendance of 300,000 visitors. Bob Cassilly served as the museum’s artistic director until his passing in 2011.
Over time, the museum underwent regular expansions, introducing new exhibits such as MonstroCity in 2002, Enchanted Caves, and Shoe Shaft in 2003, and World Aquarium in 2004.
Entertainment offerings include a circus ring on the third floor with daily live acts, along with occasional concerts. The museum also houses The Shoelace Factory, where antique braiding machines produce colorful shoelaces available for purchase. Additionally, the building’s fifth floor features apartments known as the Lofts at City Museum, offering residences ranging from 1,300 to over 2,800 square feet (260 m2).
Plan a Visit
Opening Hours:
- Wednesday to Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM;
- Friday to Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM (midnight);
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM;
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Entrance Fee Information for the City Museum:
- General Admission: $12.00 plus tax (Free for children under 3 years old);
- Admission after 5 PM on Friday and Saturday: $10.00 plus tax;
- Rooftop Access: Additional $5.00 plus tax;
- Parking: Available at $5.00 (Cash only).
- World Aquarium Access:
- Regular: Additional $7.95 plus tax;
- After 5 PM on Friday and Saturday: Additional $6.00 plus tax;
- Group Rates (15 or more people): $8.00 plus tax per person. Please note that group visits require advance reservations. Walk-in groups are not accepted.
Payment Methods:
The museum accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for payments. Note that rooftop access and the World Aquarium require a general admission ticket to the City Museum for entry.
Contact Information
- Phone: +1-3142312489;
- Fax: +1-3142311009;
- Email: [email protected];
- Website: https://citymuseum.org/.