The Missouri Botanical Garden, founded in 1859, stands as one of the nation's oldest botanical gardens in continuous operation and holds designation as a National Historic Landmark. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, this 79-acre urban oasis serves as a center for botanical research and science education while maintaining world-renowned horticultural displays. The Garden's mission to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment in order to preserve and enrich life drives its diverse operations, from maintaining over 27,000 plants on permanent display to conducting cutting-edge plant science and conservation research globally.
Beyond its main grounds, the Missouri Botanical Garden operates additional facilities including the 2,400-acre Shaw Nature Reserve and the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, extending its educational and conservation reach throughout the region. The Garden's research division actively engages in plant science work, with current conservation projects spanning from local Missouri ecosystems to international biodiversity efforts in places like Indonesia. Visitors can explore specialized gardens including the iconic Climatron conservatory, Japanese Garden, and Doris I. Schnuck Children's Garden, while the Plant Finder resource provides information on over 7,500 plant species cultivated throughout the institution's history.
