World Chess Hall of Fame, St. Louis, MO, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The World Chess Hall of Fame is a museum on Maryland Avenue in the Central West End of St. Louis, devoted to the history, art and culture of chess. It honors great players and shows how the game has shaped design and imagination, which makes it a good stop for chess fans and curious walkers alike.

The story behind it

The Hall of Fame moved to St. Louis in 2011 and took up residence on Maryland Avenue, directly opposite the Saint Louis Chess Club. That pairing is no accident. The city has built a strong reputation as a home for chess in the United States, and the museum acts as its public showcase.

Inside, the museum is known for changing exhibitions that treat chess as more than a board game. Sets, artworks and objects connected to the game and its players are shown alongside material about the people honored for their place in chess history. Because the displays rotate, it is worth checking what is on before you go.

What to look for

• Look at the street outside the entrance, where an oversized chess piece sculpture announces the museum to everyone passing by.
• Notice the setting of the building itself, with its brick and stone detailing, which sits comfortably among the older Central West End architecture.
• Glance across the street at the Saint Louis Chess Club, and you may see players coming and going from this centre of the local chess scene.
• Inside, pay attention to how chess sets are displayed as design objects, since materials, shapes and styles vary widely from one set to the next.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour for the museum itself, a little longer if you like reading every label or the current exhibition is a big one.
• Check current opening hours and admission details on the museum's official site before you set out.
• Pair the visit with a walk around the Central West End, where cafes, bookshops and tree-lined streets are all close by.
• The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis and the edge of Forest Park are both within reach of the neighborhood, so you can build a full day around the area.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in St. Louis, MO is a way to reach the Hall of Fame on foot as one stop on a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot for a mystery-themed walk. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape in St. Louis takes an Oz-inspired route through the city, with the World Chess Hall of Fame among the places you pass. At each stop the app explains what you are looking at and sets a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in St. Louis is another Oz-themed walk that brings you past the museum. You travel between stops on foot, hear about each place as you reach it and work out a puzzle right there. One ticket covers the whole group.