Tower Grove Park

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Tower Grove Park
Photo taken in Tower Grove Park near the Stone Shelter
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Built: 1875
Architect: Gurney,James,Sr.; George I. Barnett; et al.
Architectural style: Greek Revival, Gothic, Other
Governing body: Local
NRHP Reference#: 72001556[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP: March 17, 1972
Designated NHLD: December 20, 1989[2]

Tower Grove Park is a municipal park in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Most of its land was donated to the city by Henry Shaw in 1868. It is on 289 acres (1.17 km²) adjacent to the Missouri Botanical Garden, another of Shaw’s legacies. It extends 1.6 miles from west to east, between Kingshighway Boulevard and Grand Boulevard. It is bordered on the north by Magnolia Avenue and on the south by Arsenal Street.

The park features 11 pavilions of picturesque design, dating from the Victorian era, which provide shady rests from which visitors can enjoy the many lovely views and tables and benches for picnics. The landscape includes a lily pond and formal plantings; the Piper Palm House, the site of music and other special events; as well as tennis courts; a wading pool for small children; open expanses of green; softball diamonds and soccer fields; and tall specimen trees and a great variety of bushes. The park has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Many events, from picnics to weddings, are held in the park throughout the year. During the summer, a number of large festivals are held in the park, including ones featuring themes such as international, pagan, and Gay Pride.[3] Since 2005, from May through October, a farmers' market is held from 8:30-12:30 Saturday mornings just west of the Wading Pool Pavilion. It features local and organic farmers offering fresh produce and meats, baked goods and preserves, as well as prepared foods and drinks, teas and coffees, with stalls for craftsmen and artisans as well.

The park features nearly 400 species of trees and bushes. It is a well-known birdwatching area, particularly during the spring and fall bird migration seasons. It is part of the Mississippi Flyway and migrating birds rest in the park along their journey. Forty percent of North American songbirds and waterbirds use this route. Examples are many types of warblers, orioles, and Canadian geese.

Contents

[edit] Photos of pavilions

Photo taken in Tower Grove Park
1883 photograph of the gate at Magnolia Street and Tower Grove Avenue, looking southeast toward the Superintendent's house

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ "Tower Grove Park". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1300&ResourceType=District. Retrieved 2008-06-28. 
  3. ^ [1]

Master Plan of Tower Grove Park, 1985 by Eldridge Lovelace

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 38°36′24″N 90°15′30″W / 38.60654°N 90.25826°W / 38.60654; -90.25826

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