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