Tower Grove Park Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Tower Grove Park
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District

Photo taken in Tower Grove Park near the Stone Shelter
Location in St. Louis
Location	St. Louis, Missouri
Area	289 acres (117 ha)
Built	1889 (1889)
Architect	James Gurney Sr., George I. Barnett
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Gothic
NRHP reference No.	72001556
Added to NRHP	March 17, 1972
Designated NHLD	December 20, 1989

Tower Grove Park is a large public park in St. Louis, Missouri. A kind man named Henry Shaw gave most of the land for the park to the city in 1868.

The park covers 289 acres, which is about 219 football fields! It's right next to the Missouri Botanical Garden, which was also created by Henry Shaw. The park stretches about 1.6 miles from west to east. It is located between Kingshighway Boulevard and Grand Boulevard. Magnolia Avenue is to the north, and Arsenal Street is to the south.

What You Can Do and See at Tower Grove Park
Cool Statues in the Park
Fun Events and Activities
Photos of Pavilions
See also

What You Can Do and See at Tower Grove Park

The park has 32 beautiful pavilions. Most of these were built during the Victorian era, a long time ago. These pavilions offer shady spots to relax and enjoy the park's views. They also have tables and benches for picnics.

You can find a pretty lily pond and lovely flower gardens. There's also the Piper Palm House and a bandstand. This is where music concerts and other special events happen.

For sports, the park has tennis courts, softball fields, and soccer fields. Little kids can enjoy a wading pool. There are also paths for walking, jogging, and biking. The park is filled with tall trees and many different kinds of bushes.

A man named James Gurney Sr. designed the park. It is known as a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important place in the nation's history. It is one of the best examples of a public park from the late 1800s. James Gurney Sr. used to work at Kew Gardens in London. He stayed in St. Louis to be the park's superintendent.

The park is home to almost 400 types of trees, bushes, and flowering plants. It's a great place for birdwatching, especially in spring and fall. Many birds stop here during their migration journey. This park is part of the Mississippi Flyway, a major route for birds. About 40% of North American songbirds and waterbirds use this path. You might see warblers, orioles, and Canada geese.

Cool Statues in the Park

Photo taken in Tower Grove Park

You can find several old statues from the 1800s in the middle of the park. One statue shows Alexander von Humboldt. He was a German naturalist, geographer, and explorer. Another statue is of William Shakespeare, a famous English playwright. Both of these were made in 1878 by a German sculptor named Ferdinand Freiherr von Miller.

Ferdinand von Miller also created a statue of Christopher Columbus. He was an Italian sailor and explorer. This statue was placed near the park's entrance from Grand Avenue in 1886. The Columbus statue was removed from the park in June 2020.

Around the bandstand, there are white marble statues of famous music composers. These statues are placed on tall columns. You can see Mozart and Rossini, made in 1882. There are also Beethoven and Wagner, made in 1884. Finally, you'll find Gounod and Verdi, made in 1886.

Near the Palm House, there is a smaller statue of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. He was a German military officer who helped in the American Revolution. He later became an American citizen. The current statue was placed in Tower Grove Park in 1968.

1883 photograph by Robert Benecke of the gate at Magnolia Street and Tower Grove Avenue, looking southeast toward the Superintendent's house

You can also spot two zinc statues of stags (male deer). They are lying down on pedestals and face each other. They are located west of the Piper Palm House.

Fun Events and Activities

Many different events happen in Tower Grove Park all year long. People hold picnics and even weddings here.

During the summer, the park hosts several big festivals. These include events celebrating international cultures. The park has also been a place for LGBTQ Pride festivals.

Since 2005, a farmers' market is held every Saturday morning from May to October. It's located near the Wading Pool Pavilion. At the market, you can find local and organic farmers. They sell fresh produce, meats, baked goods, and preserves. You can also buy prepared foods, drinks, teas, and coffees. There are also stalls for craftsmen and artisans.

In March 2020, Tower Grove Park hosted Niantic's Pokémon Go Safari Zone event.