World Chess Hall of Fame

This place is amazing and free. I was here September 16. Three floors of incredible exhibits.
Floor One: Marcel Dzama creations. I didn’t know you could create a sculpture from fruit juice boxes — and somebody calls it art. But it has occurred. There were other offerings, but those juice box sculptures kinda blew my mind.
This exhibit is here through October 18, 2015.
Floor Two: ENCORE! — Ivory chess sets from the Jon Crumiller Collection. I thought all chess sets were alike. Not so. A walrus can be a pawn. A whale can be a king. The carving. The intricacy is absolutely astounding.
This exhibit is here through October 18, 2015.
Floor Three: The Hall of Fame featuring chess during WWII and how soldiers carried chess sets around with them. That is nuts. So many ways to strap a chess board onto your uniform. They were small. But they worked.
This exhibit is here through January 17, 2016.
And The Hall of Fame was interesting. Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Ben Franklin on the walls. Probably four women, some who broke the «male» line quite early.
The reception gentleman knew everything about the museum, and told us what would be on each floor.
There was a docent on each floor who greeted us. They’ve got radio things, so they tell their co-​workers when somebody is coming up on the elevator. They open the door to the exhibit, greet you, give you information and guide you around the floor.
They change out their exhibits every six months.
They have Family Days to introduce children to chess.
I had NO idea that St. Louis was such a chess mecca.
What a treasure.

We stumbled across this place after selecting a brunch restaurant across the street. My husband is an avid chess fan and this was a really cool place to poke around in, even for this non-​chess person. Admission was free, and they have 4 floors of exhibits. We were lucky enough to catch the Chess in World War II exhibit (big fan of that historical period). Definitely a fun way to spend an hour or two if you’re in the area visiting. Their gift shop carried a wide array of items and we walked out with a commemorative chess mat and set of pieces so we can play at home.

Beautiful museum. Surprisingly interesting for a non-​chess buff.

My husband was so pumped about visiting this place, so I put my game face on. When we got there, I realized I was going to love it too. The three floors had unique and engaging exhibits. The attendants on each floor were personable, friendly, and knowledgeable. The concept of chess and hip hop culture together is not something that comes to mind right away, but was extremely interesting. There was an artist painting a mural while we were there, so we played a game of chess and watched him work. This ended up being one of the coolest things we did in St. louis!

I went for a concert here. They bring in artists once a month and have them play in this very intimate space (~40 people in attendance). For $ 10 we got a great show, appetizers and a glass of wine. You can’t be the price. Check out their concert series for upcoming events. I think the next event is Bluegrass.

This is a wonderful little gallery with 3 floors of exhibits and an awesome gift shop. The staff are cheerful and informative and the best aspect is all of the wonderful events they regularly put on. My favorite is the monthly music series. Come here on usually the 4^th Wednesday of the month for an incredible, intimate little chamber concert. They have a wide variety of musical guests come in, everything from soul singing to post-​modern music to classical trios. And on these nights, for just 5 – 10 dollars, you get free valet parking, a drink ticket, and swanky hors d’oeuvres! It’s a wonderful place.

Based on the reviews of other Unilocalers, I was expecting a great experienece… However this was awful and I’m left wanting to ask for my money back. Unlike what another Unilocaler mentioned — there’s a $ 10 entry fee — and it’s not worth it. The exhibits are tiny and barely related to chess. Currrently, floors one and two are FASHION EXHIBITS that they say are related to the concept of Queens. Pass. Enjoy the big chess piece on the front lawn and keep walking!

This is the neatest museum. They’re doing an avant garde fashion-​and-​chess exhibit called «A Queen Within», loosely connecting Carl Jung and crazy, cool dresses you’re not allowed to take pictures of. One of the most interesting museums and exhibits I’ve ever got to enjoy. Definitely worth seeing in St. Louis.

This is a great place if you’re interested in chess. The folks were very friendly. We paid $ 10/​each to do a really cool exhibit on the queen. The top floor had pictures and artifacts from some famous chess tournament. It was a neat experience.

If you are a chess player, or even interested in chess, you must come here. The details, the fun shapes, characters, the materials of each chess sets are eye opening! While you are here, don’t forget to walk across the street to the chess club. People in St. Louis are lucky to have a such elegant chess club!

So many amazing things to say about this awesome spot:
1. it is GORGEOUS, design enthusiasts should be all over this place: the layout, the collection setup, the FONTS — ugh, seriously beautiful.
2. The staff (I have been twice) are simply lovely — so helpful and engaging.
3. Chess-​boards on the second floor to sit and play a quick game! SPEED CHESS!
Really, this is an awesome spot for anyone looking for a unique experience in the world of chess/​history/​awesome-​ness.
You can also go on a walk around this equally charming area, make a day of it (I sure did).

inot only a unique landmark in the central west with the world’s largest chess piece standing in front of the museum, it’s a neat place to take anyone who appreciates chess. to tour the museum all you need to do is make a small donation. even if you are not feeling culturally inclined, stop by the gift shop. they have some cute gadgets and trinkets (lots of stocking stuffer ideas) along with chess sets of course. i did spot some stellar drinking games and nice shot glasses.

This review is specifically for the event space upstairs at the HoF. Surrounded by traveling photography exhibits by the world’s best photographers, the current exhibit covers Bobby Fischer and other popular icons (presidents, Beatles, etc.). That exhibit alone is worth a visit. The space has been designed by Susan Barrett who put her creative eye to work in designing a building that is extremely visually appealing.
The food served at our upstairs luncheon was delicious (bacon and greens salad, Caesar Salad, and mixed berries were my choices). The staff were extremely efficient, keeping everyone’s glasses filled and handling special requests for our crowd well. As a guest, I’ve no idea what the price of a special event there is BUT based on space and service, I highly recommend it!

I can review this, right? If we have a listing for the Giant Amoco Sign and San Antonio has one for their World’s Biggest Cowboy Boots, we can have a listing for a chess piece!
Dedicated May 7, 2012, the king chess piece sits outside the World Chess Hall of Fame in the Central West End. It’s 14.5 feet high and weighs 2,280 pounds. It’s been certified by the Guiness World Records as the biggest chess piece in the world.
It’s almost three times my height, but at about 21 times my weight. Thank God. Wouldn’t it be hilarious if it was a QUEEN?

First impression:
The World Chess Hall of Fame is a gorgeous new space in the heart of the Central West End. This new center, directly across the street from its sister facility, the Chess and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, is a sight to behold: it hosts three floors of chess-​related paraphernalia sure to wow newbie and International Grandmaster alike.
The first and second floors currently hold the Hall’s rotating collections, which are slated to change every three months or so. Currently, the first floor holds a variety of chess-​related art installations, including a magnificent human-​sized chessboard with costumes designed for a live chess performance by Freudian actors. A philosophically interesting piece by Yoko Ono is here too, mirrored in larger scale by a similar exhibit in the Contemporary Art Museum also here in St. Louis.
The second floor contains several dozen historic chessboards on display that take the viewer through chess’s evolution from India through Persia to Europe and the rest of Asia. The sheer variety across the boards and pieces is really incredible.
On the third floor, you’ll find the actual Hall of Fame, which features plaques dedicated to its many honorees. The Hall of Fame was situated in Florida before it made its recent move to St. Louis. A small gift shop on the ground floor contains knick knacks related to chess by varying degrees.
It’s worth going out of your way to see the World Chess Hall of Fame. The staff is friendly and outgoing, the décor and layout are aesthetically appealing, and the $ 3 suggested donation is a steal for the several hours or more you could spend in this historic Central West End building. Enjoy your visit!