National Mississippi River Museum Aquarium

Great way to spend the day! Our group all had fun (kids aged 3, 6 15 adults) with plenty to explore in each area. The aquarium tanks in both buildings were the favorite of all. The STEM labs had truly engaging fun activities and the water table was a nice play break.The space is beautifully designed and easy indoor outdoor transition- seemed very wheelchair/stroller friendly.Don’t miss checking out what’s on board the William M. Black ?️ we had fun talking about what life on a boat would be likePleasantly surprised at cafe offering and gift shop ?️ The entire staff was kind and welcoming and the space was clean. Despite going on a Summer Saturday and it was busy, it didn’t feel crowded.We will be back again!

Good points: interactive exhibits, especially for young kids (e.g. touch pool, stingray feeding, arts&crafts room, etc… , engaging 4D theater experience (Deepo short film , an outdoor area with larger boat displays, interpretive signage that was easy-to-read and not overwhelming, and many of the aquarium glass is at waist/knee level so littles could see easily.Areas to improve: campus map is too small and not clear, volunteers are interested in personal conversations rather than helping direct new visitors, layout and direction of exhibits seems arbitrary. Though the aquarium exhibits of water life in other parts of the world are interesting, there is little direction on the focus of the facility: the Mississippi River. Of course, it seemed overpriced, but considering the times in which we live, it’s expected that inflation touches the creation, maintenance, and payroll needed for a 14-acre attraction.Overall, it was an enjoyable and educational experience for my 5-year-old son and a welcome distraction from the late summer heat.

The River Museum was not only very educational but all very interactive. As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by the nice attendants in the front. They inform you where certain exhibits are located and what’s located in the other building (as this place is HUGE) . For any pressed penny collectors out there , there is one machine in the main building and one in the second. The second building contains all the salt water fish along with the child play area. My favorite was the otter and the sting rays. On their website they have a live camera to view the otter from 8am- 5 pm alongwith a live camera to view the Mississippi River. Definitely recommend for all to visit.

One of the best museums I've ever been to. Beautiful location with great views. This is a 2 day experience for sure but it's OK because the ticket is good for two days. We came from Texas and we loved it!

Always a favorite for my family. Ages 17-3 had fun with the interactive traveling exhibits. Clean, friendly atmosphere with so much to do. Expect this visit to take several hours. They have a Cafe, a movie theater, lots of animals, and river history