Shaw is named for Henry Shaw, the English merchant who opened the Missouri Botanical Garden on June 15, 1859. Shaw was born in Sheffield on July 24, 1800. He landed in St. Louis in 1819 and built a hardware and cutlery business. He bought prairie south of the city, planted a garden in the European style, and opened it to the public. He died in 1889. The garden is a National Historic Landmark. Tower Grove House, his country home, sits on the grounds.
The Climatron opened in 1960. Thomas C. Howard designed the geodesic greenhouse. It was the first geodesic dome used as a conservatory.
Flora Place and the streets that face the garden were built to sit next to that project. Tower Grove Park, also Shaw's gift, is immediately south. It was founded in 1868. Tower Grove South is the larger residential field beyond the park. The Hill is a short hop west if you want the Italian street. Botanical Heights sits west of Shaw with newer infill.
Garden memberships are common on these blocks. Event nights change parking. The Saturday farmers market in Tower Grove Park is next door. South Grand is a short walk when you want dinner.
Why people stay
- The garden is a dusk walk for people who live on Flora and the facing streets.
- Flora Place and the facing streets were built at the garden's scale.
- Tower Grove Park and the Saturday market are next door.
- You can walk to South Grand or stay on the garden side of the week.
- Brick houses here were built for this corner of the city.
Homes here
Homes for sale Shaw neighborhood St. Louis close on garden-street sales. A St. Louis realtor keeps those streets in their own column from Tower Grove and The Hill. See the city neighborhood guide.