Tower Grove Park — Attraction in St. Louis

Tower Grove Park is the single best park in the entire world. I have spent a large portion of my life living close to or around this park. It is a classic Victorian walking Park and houses the largest collection of original Victorian era gazebos in the world. Yes in the world. Really all those gazebos that the victorians built, they tore most of those down. To the point where I think the next place with the second most Victorian gazebos is home to exactly two of them. So in that way we are doubly blessed. I have spent so much time in this park and around this Park that it would be impossible for me to really say what my favorite part of the park is. All I have to tell you is you need to go and be in the park to experience the park. Put your phone down. I know you're reading this on Google. Wondering if you should go to the park. This park in specific, especially if you're from out of town. Well you should. And you should put your phone on airplane mode and only take pictures of things that are truly pretty. The park is full of them. Originally, the park was a gift to the city from Henry Shaw of the botanical gardens. As such, the park is home to more varieties of tree bush and plant including non-native and invasive species, of which there is a section of the park dedicated to invasive species. Where? I believe they keep Japanese honeysuckle which is incredibly impressive considering it's usually considered a horrible thing to plant. You will find cypresses, magnolia trees, ginkgo trees, oak, just about any kind of tree you want. There is the piper Palm house where they serve brunch every Sunday. Or they used to. Reservations are suggested. And there is a section of Lily pons on the North East side of the center circle. Next to the Lily ponds there is a shallow artificial lake. In the middle of the lake there is a rocky outcropping with a fountain. On the Northwest side of the artificial lake is an example of faux classical ruins. To make it look like something had been there for a very long time. I used to get drunk behind those a lot when I was younger in the park at night. Dodging the few rangers that they had at that point. Go team. They have recently planted several new palms in the Lily garden. The playground at center circle on the west side is contemporary, which is to say it's not nearly as easy to hurt yourself on it as it was when I was a child. Which is also to say you know, it's less likely to kill your kids. There are more than one trails that go all the way around the park. An outer trail, an inner trail and then an inner inner trail. There is also a horse stable where they used to keep the horses they would use for carriage rides in the park. And there is a public tennis court. There are five statues of secular figures in the park because Henry Shaw was part of the enlightenment. He believed that by putting secular figures as statues in his Park instead of religious ones, it would inspire people. It is worth noting that one of the statues no longer exists, Christopher Columbus having been taken down several years ago with good reason if you ask me. He was at the East entrance of the park anyway and I like the place that you can sit on where he used to exist so that's not a big deal. Every year the park is host to multiple large events, including the pagan picnic, South Grand pride, and the ubiquitous and ever growing festival of Nations. I remember when the festival of Nations was roughly 15 vendors for goods and 15 places to get food. I believe last year, because every year is the biggest year for the festival of Nations. A quarter of a million people came through the park over that weekend. I would also like to point out that if you plan on going to the festival of Nations you should know that no matter what. The actual forecast says the festival of Nations happens on the exact hottest days of the year. Exacerbate this by a city heat dome combined with a heat dome over the park itself from having so many people in it and you may want to get in, get your meat on a stick and get out....

I lived across from TGP for several years .... it's kind of hard to explain why I've always loved it so much. It's a St. Louis gem for sure ...... the layout is amazing..... Here's a brief history

In "1866, a 66-year-old retired St. Louis merchant—Henry Shaw—approached St. Louis mayor James S. Thomas with a proposition. Shaw, who had already established the Missouri Botanical Garden on part of the estate surrounding his country villa, wanted to donate a still larger tract to the city of St. Louis as a pleasure ground for the citizenry. According to a contemporary, Shaw believed that parks were important "not only as ornaments to a great city, but as conducive to the health and happiness of its inhabitants and to the advancement of refinement and culture."

Tower Grove Park was thus founded on October 20, 1868, as a gift from Shaw to the city of St. Louis. At that time, there were only 11 parks in the city. The only conditions Shaw imposed on his gift were 1) that it "shall be used as a park forever," and 2) that an "annual appropriation" be made by the city "for its maintenance." Today, as per Shaw’s estate, Tower Grove Park is the only public city park in the City of St. Louis to be managed by an independent Board of Commissioners and staff.  Shaw’s particular interest in the classics and European travel are reflected today in the Victorian architecture of the Park’s...

Tower Grove Park is, without question, one of the crown jewels of St. Louis. Nestled just south of the Missouri Botanical Garden, this Victorian-era park offers a rare and captivating blend of natural beauty, historic charm, and vibrant community life.

Whether you’re seeking quiet morning walks beneath towering oak and ginkgo trees, a peaceful place to picnic with family, or a lively backdrop for a weekend farmers market or festival, Tower Grove delivers. The park is immaculately maintained, with winding paths, ornate pavilions, bubbling fountains, and an impressive array of plant life that changes with the seasons—each turn offering something new to appreciate.

It’s also a hub of activity and inclusivity. On any given day, you’ll find yoga classes in the grass, musicians playing under the trees, kids laughing near the playgrounds, and local sports teams competing on the fields. The energy is always welcoming, never overwhelming.

As one of the few parks in the region that balances serenity with activity, history with modern relevance, and nature with neighborhood, Tower Grove Park isn’t just a place to visit—it’s a place to return to, time and time again.

If you live in St. Louis and haven’t spent time here, you’re missing out. And if you’re visiting the city, do yourself a favor and make it a priority. It’s the heartbeat of...