Scott Family Amazeum Takes Visitors on Trips to India by way of Newest Cultural Exhibit
Namaste India Opens to the Public Sunday, September 28, 2025
From Bollywood to the Taj Mahal, and from riding a tuk tuk to enjoying the unique scents of popular Indian spices, visitors at the Scott Family Amazeum will soon have the opportunity to experience the wonders of India, a country rich in colorful traditions with a focus on the future. The Museum’s newest cultural exhibit, Namaste India, opens for a member preview Saturday, September 27th, and open to the public on Sunday, September 28th. Exhibit is included with admission.
While encouraging global awareness and cultural appreciation, Namaste India features the vibrant art, food and traditions of the timeless Indian culture. With the goal to inspire visitors to compare the similarities and differences between their lives and those of children in the country of India, the exhibit features a variety of immersive environments including a dhaba (restaurant), marketplace, tuk tuk (or motorized rickshaw), home and school as well as iconic spaces like the Taj Mahal and Bollywood.
To provide authenticity and cultural accuracy, Namaste India was created by The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum in partnership with the St. Louis Indian community. The Magic House formed the Namaste India advisory committee, made up of 32 professionals from around the St. Louis area, all of Indian heritage. Formed with input from the St. Louis Mosaic Project, the committee played a critical role in the exhibit creation process.
Namaste India is made possible thanks to generous donors, including lead gifts from the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Bal Vihar of St. Louis, Bayer Fund, CEdge, Daugherty Business Solutions, Mastercard, Tim and Elizabeth Swank and Linda and Jesse Hunter as well as additional generous individual donors. The exhibit is scheduled for a member preview Saturday, September 27th, and open to the public on Sunday, September 28th and will remain at Amazeum through January 15, 2026. Namaste India is included with admission to the Museum.
Featured Namaste India Experiences:
Bollywood
• Families can walk a red carpet and pose for a glamorous photo op dressed in colorful sarees and other traditional clothing.
• Visitors can watch clips from famous Bollywood movies and learn more about the biggest film industry in the World.
Tuk Tuk
• Guests will take a simulated ride in a three-wheeled tuk tuk, a motorized rickshaw found throughout India.
• Families can pay for their ride using QR code payment technology, just like they do in India.
Cricket
• Visitors will learn about the popular game of cricket, the second most popular sport in India and the world.
• Children can don the jerseys from India’s national team and practice “bowling” or throwing a ball at a wicket target.
School
• Families will learn about a traditional school day for children in India.
• Students will study the geography and diversity of India as well as learn Hindi words and numbers.
• Children will create their own Republic of India flag and a tiger mask, the national animal of India.
Family Home
• Visitors will explore a traditional home featuring an entrance decorated with a rangoli and filled with other traditional Indian art forms.
• Children can pack a lunch for school in a tiffin box, a unique metal stackable lunch box used throughout India
• Children can harvest vegetables and practice yoga in the home’s backyard
Marketplace
• At the Spice Market, children will test their senses by smelling popular spices like turmeric, cumin and cloves.
• At the Sweet Shop, families can arrange a mithai box, a display of traditional Indian sweets.
• At the Fabric Market, visitors will try their hand at block printing, a traditional Indian art form still practiced today.
• At the Street Food Cart, children can use QR code technology to purchase a healthy treat.
Dhaba
• At this roadside restaurant, families will prepare roti, a traditional flatbread cooked in a clay tandoor over.
• Children will serve tandoori chicken and other traditional dishes to guests at a unique table.
About Scott Family Amazeum
The Scott Family Amazeum, an interactive museum for families, is dedicated to creating immersive learning experiences integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). With an emphasis on fostering curiosity and creativity, the museum encourages a community of exploration and inquiry. Featuring 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, the Amazeum showcases permanent experiences like the 3M Tinkering Hub, Hershey’s Lab, Walmart-sponsored Market, General Mills Lift, Load & Haul, Nature Valley Water Amazements, Pampers-sponsored Studio Grow, and various exhibits catering to children of all ages. Additionally, the Amazeum provides an acre of outdoor space for free-range play, welcoming over 250,000 curious and creative guests annually. The Amazeum operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
