St. Louis
Educational Tours
& Student Trips

The Gateway Arch is the defining symbol of St. Louis and a monument to the westward expansion of the United States. Standing 630 feet tall, it is the tallest arch in the world, and students can ride the unique tram system to the top for breathtaking views across the city and the Mississippi River. The experience is as much an engineering marvel as a historical one, giving students insight into the ambition and ingenuity behind its 1960s construction.

At the base of the Arch, the Museum at the Gateway Arch tells the story of the pioneers, explorers, and Indigenous peoples connected to America’s expansion westward, along with the story of the monument itself. For students studying American history, the Lewis and Clark expedition, or 19th-century westward migration, the Gateway Arch turns a national symbol into a rich and memorable learning experience.

The City Museum is one of the most extraordinary and unexpected attractions in the country, a sprawling, hands-on playground of art and architecture built inside a former shoe factory. Constructed almost entirely from reclaimed and repurposed materials, the museum is a maze of tunnels, slides, sculptures, and climbing structures that blur the line between art installation and adventure. For student groups, it is an unforgettable experience in creativity, engineering, and design, showing how discarded materials can be transformed into something wondrous. It is also a fantastic outlet for energy and teamwork, making it a favorite stop on any St. Louis itinerary and a memorable counterpoint to the city’s more traditional museums.

St. Louis is home to two outstanding, free institutions that anchor the educational core of any student trip. The Saint Louis Science Center is one of the largest science centers in the country, with hundreds of interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and an OMNIMAX theater covering everything from space and physics to ecology and engineering. Students engage directly with hands-on STEM learning that connects classroom concepts to real-world discovery.

Nearby in Forest Park, the Missouri History Museum explores the rich history of St. Louis and its role in the broader American story, including the 1904 World’s Fair, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the region’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. Together, these two institutions give students a strong foundation in both science and history, and their location in Forest Park places them among the city’s other great cultural attractions.

St. Louis rounds out its offerings with three destinations that showcase art, architecture, and the natural world. The Saint Louis Art Museum, one of the leading free art museums in the nation, houses a collection spanning cultures and centuries, giving students the chance to study masterworks of painting, sculpture, and decorative arts in Forest Park. Historic Union Station, once one of the busiest rail terminals in the world, has been beautifully restored and now features an aquarium, a towering observation wheel, and stunning architecture that tells the story of America’s railroad era.

The Missouri Botanical Garden, one of the oldest botanical institutions in the country, offers 79 acres of living plants, a tropical rainforest conservatory, and a renowned Japanese garden. For students studying botany, ecology, or environmental science, the garden is a beautiful and educational outdoor classroom. Together, these three sites add art, history, and natural science to a well-rounded St. Louis itinerary.

With more than 30 years planning educational travel, Educational Travel Adventures has helped over 20,000 educators create unforgettable student trips throughout the United States’ most dynamic destinations. St. Louis offers a rare combination of pivotal American history, hands-on science, world-class art, and unforgettable creativity, much of it free to the public. From the top of the Gateway Arch to the tunnels of the City Museum, students engage directly with the history, science, and culture that shaped the American Midwest and the nation’s westward story.

• Custom St. Louis itineraries built around your curriculum, grade level, and group goals
• End-to-end trip planning, including Gateway Arch reservations, museum programming, City Museum scheduling, lodging, and transportation
• Secure online registration and family payment portal with flexible payment options
• Proven safety and on-site support, including vetted partners, 24/7 assistance, and experienced Tour Managers throughout the St. Louis trip

Planning a St. Louis school trip means coordinating landmark attractions, multiple Forest Park museums, and unique experiences across the city. Our team handles every detail so educators can stay focused on student engagement.