Entry No. 7 — the St. Louis file — filed under: wax museum
Laclede's Landing Wax Museum
Housed in an 1885 National Historic Monument building, this kitschy museum features over 250 uncanny, life-size wax figures ranging from movie monsters to a gruesome basement Chamber of Horrors.
The story
Stepping off the cobblestones of Laclede's Landing into an 1885 National Historic Monument building, you might expect a formal local history exhibit. Instead, you step straight into a deeply uncanny fever dream. Situated just half a block west of the riverfront and a short walk north of the Gateway Arch, the building houses over 250 life-size wax figures that lean entirely into unfiltered roadside kitsch.
Do not expect the hyper-realistic, multi-million-dollar polish of a modern chain. The magic here lies in the wildly off-model celebrity likenesses, vintage movie monsters, and historical figures that feel like they were sculpted in another dimension. It’s folksy, surreal, and wonderfully unpretentious—a surviving slice of old-school oddity complete with an ice cream counter and gift shop tucked into the historic brick architecture.
What it's like
You'll be handed a bag of free popcorn at the door before stepping into the dim halls to face rows of unblinking eyes. Expect to spend your time taking selfies with bizarrely off-model wax celebrities and exploring classic movie monster displays alongside a basement Chamber of Horrors showcasing historical torture methods. It rarely gets overcrowded, making for a quiet and eerie walk. Just be sure to confirm their current operating hours before making the trek down 2nd Street.
The move: Snap selfies with the notoriously off-model wax celebrities, then head to the basement to see historical torture methods depicted in animatronic action.
- 📍 Laclede's Landing
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 720 N 2nd St, St. Louis, MO 63102
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- City Museum — Keep the fever-dream momentum going by heading a mile west to explore ten stories of surreal, hand-built architectural playgrounds.
- Giant Vess Soda Bottle — Pair your indoor wax oddities with a quick half-mile trip to see a 34-foot roadside soda bottle built in 1953.
- Thaxton Speakeasy — Decompress from the uncanny valley with a password-protected cocktail in a historic 1920s Art Deco basement less than a mile away.
Good to know
What kind of wax figures will I see?
The collection includes over 250 figures, ranging from movie monsters and historical icons to notoriously off-model celebrity lookalikes.
Where is the museum located?
It sits at 720 N 2nd St in Laclede's Landing, inside an 1885 historic building located just north of the Gateway Arch.
Do they offer any extra amenities?
Yes, every visitor gets free popcorn upon entry, and the museum houses a gift shop and ice cream counter.
Is the basement Chamber of Horrors very intense?
It depicts historical torture methods with animatronics, leaning much more into vintage theatrical kitsch than modern gore.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · tmbw.net
last checked: 2026-07-21