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.
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.
Today, more than 900,000 visitors explore Missouri Botanical Garden annually. Forty-five thousand individuals are members of the garden.
Open all year round, the garden offers seasonal tram tours and hosts the wildly-popular Garden Glow during the Christmas season. (Featured Image)
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.
Address: Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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