13 December 2021

"There is a special magic in City Museum"


St. Louis has been my adopted hometown since 2008. People who live and visit here quickly learn to treasure the city's unique cultural assets, including the St. Louis Zoo, the Muny outdoor theater, the National Blues Museum, the Gateway Arch and of course the one and only City Museum, and the legacy of its creator, the late Bob Cassilly. 

As a journalist for the attractions industry, it's always a delight when I can make a St. Louis connection. When the Themed Entertainment Association held its annual strategic planning meeting in STL a few years back, I helped ensure that it included a team-building adventure at City Museum. And when Premier Parks acquired City Museum, it was a special pleasure to interview Kieran Burke about his vision for the future. - Judith Rubin

Excerpts from the interview with Kieran Burke, Premier Parks Chairman, President & CEO:

"My entire organization fell in love with City Museum and I fell back in love with the city of St. Louis as I became more familiar with it and with what’s going on in downtown, such as the ballpark, the redevelopment of Union Station and the improvements at the Arch grounds." 

"One of the things inherited at City Museum was Cassilly’s crew of artists that create the amazing exhibits. Most remained and have their own studios within the facility. We are very committed to maintaining that crew; the director there is sensational, nurturing artistic development."

"There is a special magic with City Museum. It is such a complex organism, hard to define. We came to the table with great respect and reverence for what we were acquiring. We’re extremely excited about its potential to be part of a renaissance in the city."  

Click here for Judith Rubin's full interview with Kieran Burke about Premier Parks and City Museum.

Image courtesy City Museum and Premier Parks.