Let’s Talk About Character: Why Hero Quest Is More Than Just Fun!
September 24, 2025
Hero Quest is officially open and if you’ve visited The Magic House recently, you’ve probably seen the excitement firsthand. From kids racing to complete their Hero Quest Passports to families gathered in the Hero Quest Gallery sharing stories about their own heroes, the energy is contagious. But beneath all the fun and adventure, there’s something deeper happening. Something powerful.
Hero Quest isn’t just a scavenger hunt or a collection of life-size books (though those are pretty amazing). It’s a call to reflect. To connect. To grow.
Based on the best-selling book series Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer and illustrator Chris Eliopoulos, this exhibit was born from a simple but profound idea: that character matters. That the traits we nurture in our children, kindness, courage, curiosity, shape not only who they become, but the kind of world they help create. Thanks to support from Lilly Endowment Inc. and our partnership with CharacterPlus, Hero Quest is part of a national initiative to foster character development through children’s museums. And we’re proud to be leading the charge right here in St. Louis.
As families explore the Museum, they meet real-life heroes like Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, and Dolly Parton. But instead of focusing on fame or accomplishments, Hero Quest highlights the character traits that made these individuals extraordinary. Kids don’t just learn about history, they learn how to be brave, how to ask questions, how to care.
And the best part? These lessons don’t end when the scavenger hunt does.
In the Hero Quest Gallery, families are invited to sit down and talk. To share stories. To ask questions like, “What kind of person do you want to be when you grow up?” or “Who is a hero in our family?” These conversations are the heart of Hero Quest and they’re exactly what we hoped for when we dreamed up this exhibit.
As a museum, we’re taking a stand: character education is essential. And we believe that play, storytelling, and shared experiences are some of the best ways to nurture it.
So, if you haven’t visited Hero Quest yet, we hope you will. And if you have, we hope you’ll keep the conversation going. Ask your child what kindness means to them. Talk about courage. Celebrate curiosity. Because every child has the power to change the world and every family has the power to help them see it.
Hero Quest is here. The journey has begun. Let’s find the hero within.
