| As is the case with most major American | | | | Now stretching over 79 acres, its |
| cities, St Louis, Missouri, underwent rapid | | | | horticultural exhibits have been constantly |
| industrialisation over the course of the | | | | updated since its initial creation. In 1882, |
| twentieth century. However, unlike many of | | | | Linnean House, which is thought to be the |
| these cities, St Louis also managed to | | | | oldest continually operated greenhouse west |
| preserve a large amount of its natural | | | | of the Mississippi River, was added. This |
| parkland: today, it is home to just under | | | | century more additions have been made: in |
| three million people, yet it houses a | | | | 1915, the Gladney Rose Garden became a new |
| staggering total of 105 open parks. These | | | | feature; in 1977, 'Seiwa-en', the largest |
| include Forrest Park, which is one of the | | | | Japanese Garden in North America, was |
| world's largest urban parks and is even | | | | established. This was joined in 1995 by the |
| larger than New York's Central Park; the | | | | Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden, |
| Saint Louis Zoological Park; and the | | | | designed by architect Yong Pan and |
| Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, a 91 | | | | characterised by gifts from the Chinese city |
| acre national park situated on the riverfront | | | | of Nanjing, St Louis' sister city. |
| along which the city was first established in | | | | |
| 1764. However, the most interesting and | | | | In recent years, the gardens have played host |
| perhaps the most widely applauded of St | | | | to a diverse cross-section of events: these |
| Louis' many parks is the Missouri Botanical | | | | include Chinese Culture Days in May, the |
| Gardens. | | | | Japanese Festival on Labour Day weekend and |
| | | | the Best of Missouri Market, which features |
| One of the oldest of its kind in the United | | | | more than 120 food producers and craftsmen |
| States, the Missouri Botanical Gardens is a | | | | from all corners of the state. These annual |
| National Historic Landmark and has continued | | | | events have helped put the Missouri Botanical |
| to live up to its mission statement - "To | | | | Garden on the map of essential places to |
| discover and share knowledge about plants and | | | | visit in St Louis, and every year more than |
| their environment, in order to preserve and | | | | three quarters of a million people flock to |
| enrich life," - since its inception in 1859. | | | | view its beautiful sights. Accommodation is |
| Founded by Henry Shaw, a nineteenth century | | | | not a problem as there are a variety of |
| botanist and philanthropist from Sheffield, | | | | hotels located in the vicinity, including the |
| England, it is often affectionately known as | | | | spacious two-room suites provider, Homewood |
| 'Shaw's Garden', and is today one of the | | | | Suites in St. Louis-Chesterfield. However, |
| leading botanical research sites in the | | | | when marvelling at the beauty of the Missouri |
| world. When Shaw built his estate, the Tower | | | | Botanical Garden, it is always important to |
| Grove House, in 1851, he saw the great | | | | keep in mind the importance of its "unseen |
| potential of turning the grounds surrounding | | | | garden", the internationally recognised |
| his estate into a botanical garden, and spent | | | | research infrastructure that has been the key |
| years planning and funding its development. | | | | to its survival all these years. |
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