Missouri Botanical Garden
About
Missouri Botanical Garden, established in 1859 by businessman Henry Shaw, is the oldest continuously operating botanical garden in the United States and one of the most respected centers of botanical science in the world. Its 79 acres in the Tower Grove neighborhood of St. Louis blend horticultural display, scientific research, and conservation education in a setting of exceptional beauty. The garden's most iconic structure is the Climatron, a geodesic dome conservatory built in 1960 and now home to a lush tropical rainforest ecosystem. Inside, visitors walk among orchids, bromeliads, palms, and cascading waterfalls beneath the soaring glass canopy. The Japanese Garden — one of the largest in North America at 14 acres — offers serene paths, teahouses, and a central lake that reflects the changing seasons beautifully. For younger visitors, the Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden provides a hands-on outdoor play and discovery environment with water features, vegetable beds, a woodland area, and sensory stations designed for ages 2–12. The historic Tower Grove House, Henry Shaw's Victorian residence, anchors the east end of the property and hosts educational tours. Beyond the main garden, Missouri Botanical Garden manages the Butterfly House in Chesterfield (separate admission) and the 2,400-acre Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, both excellent additions to a regional nature education circuit. The garden offers school group programs, scout programming, and free admission for children under 12.
🏠 Homeschool Programs
This institution offers dedicated programming for homeschooling families. Visit the website for details.
Subject Areas
Best For
Hours of Operation
Daily 9am–5pm (last entry 4:30pm).
Hours change seasonally — verify before visiting.
Admission
Paid admissionAdults $16 (13+), children 12 and under free. Discounted rates for St. Louis city and county residents. Members always free.
APGA Reciprocal Admissions Program
The American Public Gardens Association's Reciprocal Admissions Program allows members of participating public gardens to visit other member gardens for free or at a discount. Hundreds of botanical gardens, arboreta, and conservatories across North America participate.
Learn more →3 other places in our directory accept this membership:
