Next time you find yourself perusing the many shops and restaurants of Maryland Plaza in the Central West End, be sure to keep an eye out for the World's Largest Chess Piece. This giant king chess piece marks the entrance of the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) and chess campus. The king piece measures 20 feet tall and nine feet, two inches in diameter at the base—certified by Guinness World Records on April 6, 2018. Originally established in 1984, the World Chess Hall of Fame did not find its home in St. Louis until 2011, when it was moved from Miami, Florida.

The WCHOF comprises three floors of interactive exhibits and educational materials on the game's rules, the history, and the official list of inductees. The WCHOF puts on different exhibitions throughout the year. On April 11, 2024, the newest exhibit, "Crown: Celebrating Chess Champions," opened. The exhibit explores the histories of the World Chess Championship and the Women's World Chess Championship through a display of artifacts owned by the WCHOF. The WCHOF is open daily, and admission is free, but donations are encouraged to support the exhibits and educational programs.