Henry Shaw, a prominent businessman and horticulturist, gave Tower Grove Park to the City of St. Louis and personally developed its exceptional landscape architecture before opening to the public in 1872. Tower Grove Park is considered the best and most complete example of 19^th century urban park design remaining in the United States. Tower Grove Park is one of only seven National Historic Landmark public parks in the nation, along with New York Central Park and Boston Common, and features a collection of Victorian pavilions unique in the world.

Residing in the middle of the city, Tower Grove Park provides important recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities for 2.6 million visitors each year. Currently there are over 8,000 trees and woody plants of over 400 taxa including two Missouri state champion trees – swamp privet (Forestiera accuminata) and bigtooth aspen (Populus tremuloides). The Park also encompasses brilliant floral designs throughout, ponds lush with lilies, native prairies, and a wooded resting place for over 200 species of migratory birds traveling along the Mississippi Flyway.