MOBOT History

How Henry Shaw has manipulated the St. Louis Region:  

Henry Shaw, an English botanist and philanthropist, played a transformative role in shaping the cultural and environmental landscape of St. Louis, Missouri. Shaw founded the Missouri Botanical Garden in 1859. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the United States and has become one of the top botanical research institutions worldwide. He wanted the garden to serve as a space for scientific research and education. Today, it remains a key institution in the study of plant science, ecology, and conservation. Shaw’s contributions to green spaces in St. Louis extends beyond the Botanical Garden. He lobbied for the creation of Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country. Though Shaw died before the establishment of Forest Park, his advocacy for public green spaces set the foundation for St. Louis’s commitment to preserving natural areas for public enjoyment and education. 

Shaw held a substantial amount of land in what was then the outskirts of St. Louis. By donating large portions of this land and investing in its development, Shaw’s influence led to structured growth in the region. This included shaping urban and suburban expansion patterns in the late 19th century. His influence extended to infrastructure, as he supported projects that improved access to the areas surrounding his holdings. He also facilitated the growth of the Tower Grove neighborhood, a community that today reflects his values of accessible and well-designed urban spaces. 

Shaw established a trust for continued public access and scientific advancement at the Botanical Garden, ensuring its long-term sustainability. His contributions set a precedent for philanthropic support for cultural and scientific institutions in St. Louis. The Missouri Botanical Garden today serves not only as a cultural icon but also as an educational institution, hosting lectures, exhibitions, and community events that foster a connection between residents and the environment. Shaw’s legacy in St. Louis is evident in both the physical landscape he helped shape and the cultural institutions he influenced. Through his philanthropy and passion for natural sciences, he laid the groundwork for St. Louis values both conservation and education. He made lasting contributions that continue to impact the city’s development and cultural identity. 

Mr. Shaw owned an unknown number of enslaved people from 1828 until at least 1860. Existing records provide an incomplete picture of Mr. Shaw’s participation in the institution of slavery, and of those who were enslaved. However, a review of Shaw’s personal papers, tax documents, and government records provides some insight into this history. For instance, records show Mr. Shaw freed an enslaved woman named Juliette in 1839. But in 1855, Shaw hired a bounty hunter to track down four enslaved people who attempted to escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad. Those four, including a woman named Esther and her two children, were captured at a site commemorated today as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing. Archival records include the names of some of the people enslaved by Shaw: Peach, Juliette, Bridgette, Joseph, Jim, Sarah, Tabitha and her daughter Sarah, and Esther and her children.  

Source: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/about/additional-information/our-history/henry-shaw