Hours
Wednesday – Saturday 10am to 4pm
Sunday Noon to 4pm
The museum is closed on all major holidays.
Admission
Adults: $10.00
AAA Members: $9.00
Children 7 - 16: $5.00
Children 6 & under: FREE
Current Exhibits
Current Exhibits
The Power of Words: The Ongoing Tale of Black Children’s Literature
July 30, 2020 – June 6, 2021
Representation is an integral building block of a strong and equitable community. In partnership with St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature, The Power of Words: The Ongoing Tale of Black Children’s Literature will share the continued efforts towards equitable representation in children’s and young adult literature. Learn about the trail blazers of Black storytelling like Langston Hughes and discover the impressive work of modern African American authors like Patricia McKissack, whose books continue to inspire new generations. From spoken tales to digital fiction, the stories featured in our main gallery exist to encourage young readers, foster a love of reading, and celebrate pride in diversity.
Image from The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats used with permission from the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, ezra-jack-keats.org
Steiff Everlasting
July 8, 2020 – January 3, 2021
Learn all about the Steiff company and their luxurious collectibles in Steiff Everlasting. As one of the first inventors of the teddy bear, it’s no surprise that Steiff has maintained their status as the world’s premier toy manufacturer since 1880, inspiring admirers like Don and Shirley Zork to curate their own cuddly collection. Featuring a selection of the Zork’s private collection, this exhibit includes favorite sets such as The Wizard of Oz and Mickey Mouse, as well as several limited editions with their signature white tags.
Life in Miniature
March 13, 2020 – March 7, 2021
Lose yourself in a microscopic world in the Field House Museum’s exhibit Life in Miniature. Featured on the third floor of the historic house, this exhibit shares the big story of all things tiny. Dollhouse enthusiasts can spend time examining the contents of a number of historic dollhouses while miniature lovers expand their knowledge on the place of these diminutive objects throughout history. With roots dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, and a variety of uses including education and city planning, the impact of miniatures is anything but small!
Note: This exhibit is on the third floor of the historic house, which is not handicap accessible.
Tails of Friendship
February 15 – November 29, 2020
Created in partnership with the Humane Society of Missouri to celebrate their 150th anniversary, Tails of Friendship is a must-see for animal lovers and history buffs alike! On display in the museum’s entry, this exhibit features the remarkable story of pet ownership since the ancient era and also highlights the invaluable work of the Humane Society in protecting countless animals since 1870. Accented with pet-themed toys from the Field House Collection and the collar of the family’s beloved fox-terrier, Jessie, visitors will leave with a new understanding of their four-legged friends and their place in history.
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Did you know that the Eugene Field Library has exhibits too?
Upcoming Museum Exhibits
2020 Exhibits
The Fields’ Fantastic Fairs
December 9, 2020 – June 20, 2021
The history of the World’s Fairs in Chicago and St. Louis is given a personal touch in The Fields’ Fantastic Fairs. With stories of Eugene acting as a frequent guide to all manner of travelling friends at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago and Julia Field’s position as juror at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis with the memorabilia to match, visitors are sure to feel the grandeur of the Fairs from the Fields’ perspectives. Featured in the Field House Museum’s entry, this upcoming exhibit will give visitors a peek into the cultural behemoth that was the World’s Fair while following in the Fields’ footsteps as guests of honor.
2021 Exhibits
Marching On: Toys of Combat
January 16 – June 6, 2021
Join the ranks with the Field House Museum’s exhibit, Marching On: Toys of Combat. War-themed toys have a history as long as society itself, with a purpose based in everything from simple play to strategy planning. Examine the ways in which these playthings have changed over time, their impact on their admirers, their place in American culture, and their future in the age of technology. Featuring artifacts that range from the early cast iron toy soldiers to the imposing, plastic figure of G.I. Joe, Marching On will offer a perspective on the history of these toys through the objects themselves.
Momentous Milestones
March 24, 2021 – Nov. 14, 2021
As the Field House Museum celebrates the 175th anniversary of the construction of the historic Field family home, we will be looking back at how we have changed since 1845. Featured on the Museum’s third floor, Momentous Milestones will highlight everything from the penny drive that saved the house in 1934 to the interior and exterior restorations that helped to earn us our National Landmark Status. Stop by the oldest privately-owned residential home in St. Louis, and we’ll share our secret to aging. It’s not every day you turn 175!
Note: This exhibit is on the third floor of the historic house, which is not handicap accessible.
Stitching Stories from the Past
June 16 – October 25, 2021
A carefully designed quilt can express a thousand words. With a rich history in creative expression and storytelling, the quilts featured in Stitching Stories from the Past will surely capture the minds of visitors with a wide range of passions. From August 25 – September 24, 2021, Stitching Stories from the Past will also feature a special bicentennial quilt on loan from the State Historical Society of Missouri. This traveling quilt features squares created by quilters across the state in celebration of Missouri’s 200th birthday. Be sure to stop by while this state-wide project is visiting; the Field House Museum will be the only site in the St. Louis area to host the quilt while it journeys across Missouri!
Blueprints: The Historic Architecture of St. Louis
June 26, 2021 – January 2, 2022
Lovers of architecture and neighborhood history can’t miss Blueprints, an exhibit brought to you by the Field House Museum that will follow the architectural history of St. Louis from the bricks that built it to the communities it has housed. The historic buildings and neighborhoods of St. Louis make the city what it is, and each has a rich and robust history worth hearing.
Struggle for Statehood
Nov. 1 – Dec. 3, 2021
The Field House is excited to announce that it will be hosting Struggle for Statehood, a traveling exhibit commemorating the bicentennial of Missouri statehood created by the Missouri Humanities Council in partnership with the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri, partners in the Bicentennial Alliance.
The exhibit chronicles the three years that the controversy over Missouri’s admission into the Union was fiercely debated and reexamines the lasting significance of the conflict on a local and national scale. The exhibit leads visitors through the story of Missouri’s admission with accessible educational content, including historical accounts and stories of people that this controversy touched.
Bagatelle
Dec. 18, 2021 – Oct. 30, 2022
Before the ring of pinball machines echoed through arcades, bagatelle was filling parlors and pockets across the world. Drawing from the private collection of Mr. Ed Nickels, Bagatelle will follow the journey of pinball’s predecessor from the court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the jackets of troops traveling the rough terrain of war. Featuring intricately decorated and brightly colored bagatelles from the 19th and early 20th centuries, this exhibit will surely catch your eye and get you yearning for a game night.
