GET READY FOR A JOURNEY THROUGH CHESS HISTORY!

Join the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, Saint Louis’s premier cultural destination, for a unique and approachable hands-on workshop and lecture. This interactive, family-friendly program is a highlight of the local calendar and a fun way to experience chess education through creative play and historical exploration.

The Program: A World of Chess Variants

Discover the Creative Side of Chess with Author Rick Knowlton

Discover the creative side of chess! Join author and historian Rick Knowlton for a dynamic lecture exploring unique and historic chess variants. As the co-author of A World of Chess, Rick brings a lifelong passion for the game’s rich global heritage to this engaging session.

After the talk, enjoy a hands-on arts activity inspired by the lecture’s themes. Attendees will explore how chess has evolved over the centuries and across civilizations in our Saint Louis art gallery. This program is perfect for chess enthusiasts, creatives, and curious minds alike.

All supplies for this activity are included, and no chess experience is required to join!

The program has a $5 entry fee, but is FREE for World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries Members! Learn more about becoming a member.

The Exhibition: Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition

The Intersection of Strategy and Culture

This fun program is offered in connection with our current interactive exhibition, Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition. This exhibition explores how cultures across continents—from ancient Persia to modern pop culture—have reshaped the game by changing boards, inventing new pieces, and imagining bold twists on the rules. This event promotes chess education by demonstrating how the game is not just a static tradition, but a landscape of endless creative possibilities.

Current Exhibitions

While visiting the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries in Saint Louis, we also invite you to explore our other current exhibitions: