St. Louis Region
Forest Park is a major public anchor of the city
Forest Park concentrates free public institutions (zoo, art museum, history museum, science center) and is a defining piece of city geography worth understanding as public land.
Forest Park is one of the country’s large urban parks. It is also home to several free public institutions in St. Louis, including the zoo, the art museum, the history museum, and the science center.
The park hosted the 1904 World’s Fair, which still shapes its layout and some of its buildings. For residents, it functions as shared public land managed by the City with a major nonprofit conservancy partner.
Much of the city’s free, family-scale culture is concentrated here, making the park an orientation point for the central corridor. Check the City or institution pages for hours, closures, and event details.
Where to see it
- Forest Park
Use the City park page for official park context, then each institution for current hours and closures.
References
More from St. Louis City: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: June 15, 2026.