Missouri Botanical Garden Is One Of The Oldest Botanical Gardens In America
By Beth Price-Williams|Published December 08, 2022
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
A leisurely wander through the Missouri Botanical Garden just does the soul good – no matter the season. The beloved botanical garden has been a favorite of Missourians for decades, drawing visitors all year round for its many attractions, including the Japanese Garden, the Children’s Garden, and Garden Glow, a magical Christmastime event. Did you know that Missouri Botanical Garden is also one of the oldest Botanical Gardens In America? That fact alone should score it a spot on your bucket list.
Generations of Missourians have explored the 79 acres that comprise the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, the brainchild of one man – Henry Shaw.
An English entrepreneur who had such great financial success that he retired at 40, Shaw landed in St. Louis in 1819. His travels, which took him throughout Europe and the United States, helped cultivate his interest in public gardens.
Shaw would eventually purchase land in St. Louis with the goal of opening a public garden. First, however, he planted thousands of plants, flowers, and trees that lined winding pathways.
It would be remiss not to mention Shaw’s personal history. He is known to have owned an unknown number of enslaved individuals and, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, Shaw hired a bounty hunter to capture four escaped enslaved people in 1855. Prior to that in 1839, he had freed Juliette, an enslaved woman.
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Since it first opened in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden has become a beloved Missouri destination, earning National Historic Landmark status in 1971.
Visitors have a lot to explore, whether it’s a first visit or a 100th visit. The popular Missouri destination features a full menu of attractions – the Japanese Garden, the Climatron, the Sachs Museum, and the Children’s Garden.
Did you know that Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens in America? Have you been? Share your experience in the comments! Did you know that the oldest living tree in Missouri is between 300 and 400 years old? It’s certainly worth a spot on your bucket list.
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