Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.

The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Garden offers 79 acres of beautiful horticultural display, including a 14-acre Japanese strolling garden, historic architecture, and one of the world's largest collections of rare and endangered flora.

For over 163 years, the Garden has been an oasis in the city, a place of beauty and family fun—and also a center for education, science, and conservation.

The Missouri Botanical Garden's mission is driven by the need to protect and conserve plants and their ecosystems. We seek to inspire and educate all members of our local region about the benefits of being good environmental stewards through responsible and sustainable use of natural resources.

In fact, the Garden takes seriously the commitment to responsible and sustainable use of ALL its resources. We are accredited by the Better Business Bureau, signifying our compliance with their standards for charitable accountability in the areas of:

• Governance
• Finance
• Truth in representation
• Public disclosure

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, we are driven to be dedicated leaders in stewardship, both at home and in the world.

In addition to the 79-acre Garden in south St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden has two other properties outside the city limits.

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, located in Chesterfield's Faust Park, was established in 1995 to increase awareness of the natural habitat in which butterflies thrive. Mrs. Sachs possessed a wonder of discovery which she shared with children of all ages. The Butterfly House is named in honor of her generous spirit.

The 2400-acre Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri, was established in 1925 to protect the Missouri Botanical Garden's plant collection from the smoke pollution of the 1920’s. Although originally planned as a refuge, it has become a premier educational, research, and habitat restoration and reconstruction site.