
From Smog to Sanctuary
By the start of the 20th century, rapid industrialization and a population dependent on coal resulted in continual smog over St. Louis, killing many orchids, chrysanthemums, and other plants at the Missouri Botanical Garden. It became clear that the Garden needed a location away from the city to protect its sensitive plants.
While the city's infamous air pollution reached its peak in the 1930s, the orchid collection thrived in its new temporary home in Gray Summit, 35 miles west of the city.
What began as an emergency measure to save a single collection has transformed into a lasting legacy of conservation, education, and natural beauty that continues to enrich our community a century later.