The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is a free contemporary art museum in the Grand Center Arts District of St. Louis, Missouri. This US art museum is housed in a purpose-built building designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. It presents exhibitions of modern and contemporary art alongside permanent works from its collection. This guide covers opening hours, admission, parking, transport, what to see, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Last updated: June 2026. Note that the Pulitzer is open only four days a week — Thursday through Sunday — and is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Many first-time visitors arriving on a weekday find it shut.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 3716 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108 |
| Opening hours | Thu–Sat: 10am–5pm; Fri: 10am–8pm; Sun: 10am–5pm; closed Mon–Wed |
| Entry price | Free |
| Parking | Free in the lot adjacent to the museum |
| Nearest transit | MetroLink: Grand Station (Blue/Red Line); MetroBus 70 Grand (Grand & Lindell stop) or 97 Delmar (Delmar & Grand stop) |
| Typical visit length | 1–2 hours |
Pulitzer Arts Foundation opening hours
The museum is open Thursday through Sunday only:
- Thursday: 10am–5pm
- Friday: 10am–8pm
- Saturday: 10am–5pm
- Sunday: 10am–5pm
It is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The museum closes on Juneteenth, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, with limited hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
The outdoor campus — including Park-Like (across the street), the Spring Church, and the Tree Grove — is open daily from sunrise to sunset. Private events and rentals are not permitted on the outdoor campus.
Hours and admission were checked on the official Pulitzer Arts Foundation website and last updated in June 2026.
5 great St Louis experiences to book
- 🌆 Take a small group tour of the Gateway Arch – including tickets to the top.
- 🚢 Combine a visit to the Gateway Arch with a river cruise.
- 📸 At the Museum of Illusions, get reels of cool social media photos.
- 👻 Discover the dark side of St Louis on an evening ghost tour.
- 🍽️ On a food and history walking tour, learn about the flavours and stories of St Louis.
Pulitzer Arts Foundation ticket prices
Admission is free. No tickets or booking are required for general visits. The museum is not included in any commercial city pass scheme.
How to get to Pulitzer Arts Foundation
By car: The museum is at 3716 Washington Boulevard in the Grand Center Arts District, roughly 2 miles northwest of downtown St. Louis.
By MetroLink: Take the Blue or Red Line to Grand Station. The museum is a short walk from the station.
By MetroBus: Route 70 Grand stops at Grand and Lindell. Route 97 Delmar stops at Delmar and Grand. Both are a short walk from the museum.
By bike: Washington Boulevard and Olive Street are low-traffic roads recommended for cycling. Bike racks are located on Washington Boulevard to the west of the museum.
Parking at Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Free parking is available in the lot directly adjacent to the museum. Park-Like, the Pulitzer’s outdoor campus, is located across the street at 3713 Washington Boulevard. The Spring Church is at 620 N Spring Avenue. Accessible parking spaces are in the main lot.
How long to spend at Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Allow 1 to 2 hours. The museum is intimate in scale — a deliberate choice by Tadao Ando — and its exhibitions are typically focused and curated rather than comprehensive. Many visitors also spend time in the outdoor campus areas. The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis is immediately next door and can be combined for a longer visit.
Friday evenings until 8pm are quieter than weekend afternoons and worth considering if flexibility allows.
Accessibility at Pulitzer Arts Foundation
All levels of the museum are accessible via an elevator in the northeast corner. Visitors may borrow a standard manual wheelchair during their visit. Accessible parking spaces are in the lot adjacent to the museum.
The outdoor campus locations (Park-Like, Spring Church, Tree Grove) have both stair and ramp entrances. Ramps meet ADA incline standards and are made of crushed gravel, grass, and wood.
A Digital Guide with audio tours and closed-captioned videos is available on the Bloomberg Connects App and is accessible to screen readers. ASL interpretation at public events is available free with advance notice — email [email protected]. Gallery stools are available on request. Single-occupancy, all-gender restrooms and baby changing stations are also available.
What to see at Pulitzer Arts Foundation
The building
The Pulitzer’s building, completed in 2001, was designed by Tadao Ando, best known for his use of raw concrete, water, and natural light. The building is considered one of his most significant works in the United States. The interplay between the interior concrete surfaces, the reflecting pool, and changing natural light is central to the experience. The building itself is as much a reason to visit as any exhibition.
Permanent collection
The Pulitzer holds works by major artists including Ellsworth Kelly, Richard Serra, Jeff Wall, and Gerhard Richter, among others. The collection is integrated into the architecture — several large-scale works were commissioned specifically for the building and cannot easily be reproduced elsewhere. Kelly’s Blue Black panel paintings in the main gallery are among the most significant site-specific works in any St. Louis institution.
Outdoor campus
The Pulitzer’s outdoor campus extends across the street and around the neighbourhood. Park-Like (3713 Washington Boulevard) is a landscaped outdoor space with sculpture and seating. The Spring Church and Tree Grove are additional outdoor spaces that are part of the Pulitzer’s broader campus. All are open daily from sunrise to sunset, free, and do not require museum entry.
Digital Guide
A free Digital Guide on the Bloomberg Connects App covers the museum, exhibitions, and collection with audio tours and videos. Download it in advance if you plan to explore independently.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The museum is only open Thursday–Sunday | Many visitors arrive Monday–Wednesday and find it closed. Check before you travel. |
| Friday evenings are the best time for a quiet visit | The museum stays open until 8pm on Fridays and tends to be less busy than weekend afternoons. |
| The outdoor campus is always open | Park-Like, the Spring Church, and the Tree Grove are open daily, sunrise to sunset, even when the museum is closed. |
| The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis is next door | CAM STL is a free contemporary art space immediately adjacent to the Pulitzer at 3750 Washington Boulevard. Both can be visited in a single trip. |
| Download the Digital Guide before visiting | The Bloomberg Connects App provides audio tours and exhibition information. Downloading in advance avoids any connectivity issues on site. |
Frequently asked questions about Pulitzer Arts Foundation
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Pulitzer Arts Foundation free? | Yes, fully free. No tickets, no booking required. |
| Is it open on Sundays? | Yes, 10am–5pm on Sundays. Closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. |
| Is parking free? | Yes, free parking in the adjacent lot. |
| Is the building wheelchair accessible? | Yes, all levels are accessible via elevator. Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow. Outdoor campus areas have accessible ramps but surfaces include gravel and grass. |
| Can I visit the outdoor campus when the museum is closed? | Yes. The outdoor campus (Park-Like, Spring Church, Tree Grove) is open daily, sunrise to sunset, regardless of museum hours. |
Things to do near Pulitzer Arts Foundation
- Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (adjacent, 3750 Washington Blvd) — A free contemporary art space immediately next door, presenting major exhibitions of international contemporary art.
- Powell Symphony Hall (~0.5 miles east) — Home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, one of the finest orchestras in the United States.
- The Fabulous Fox Theatre (~0.5 miles east) — A lavish 1929 atmospheric movie palace now operating as a Broadway touring venue.
- Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries (~0.5 miles east) — A 1912 concert hall and free art gallery space on Washington Boulevard in the Grand Center district.
- Saint Louis Art Museum (Forest Park, ~2 miles south) — One of the leading encyclopedic art museums in the US, with a free permanent collection and free special exhibitions on Fridays.
What to visit tomorrow: similar contemporary art spaces
- Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis (~1 mile east, Washington University) — A free university art museum with a strong modern and contemporary collection, open Wednesday–Monday.
- Laumeier Sculpture Park, Sunset Hills (~30 minutes southwest) — 105 acres of free outdoor sculpture park with over 70 large-scale permanent works.
