Missouri Botanical Garden and The Underground Railroad

The Missouri Botanical Garden is working to enhance learning opportunities around its historic connection with slavery. As one step on this journey, the Garden applied for recognition by the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The National Parks Service added the Garden’s Tower Grove House to the Network to Freedom in the fall.

Bill of sale for purchase of female enslaved person, Bridgette, by Henry Shaw in 1838. Image from Garden Archives.

The Garden’s connection to slavery

The institution of slavery is a significant part of the history of the United States and the St. Louis community. From the Missouri Compromise to the legal battle of Dred and Harriet Scott to the actions of prominent figures in St. Louis history, including Henry Shaw, slavery left a lasting mark on our state, our city, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Shaw owned an unknown number of enslaved people from 1828 until at least 1860. Existing records provide an incomplete picture of 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.

What is the underground railroad network to Freedom?

The Network to Freedom serves to honor, preserve, and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight, which continues to inspire people worldwide. The network comprises more than 750 sites across the U.S. and Canada that have a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad.

Garden receives Underground Railroad designation

In the fall, the National Park Service accepted Tower Grove House, Shaw’s historic home, as one of 23 new listings on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. 

“The designation by the Network to Freedom helps to educate and raise awareness about a significant time in American history and commemorates the brave enslaved people who risked their lives to seek freedom,” said Michelle Martin Bonner, the Garden’s Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. “It is one further step in our journey of owning our history.” 

Tower Grove House, located on Garden grounds, is open to the public. Tower Grove House is part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. The list recognizes safe houses **as well as places from which enslaved people escaped.** Photo by Cassidy Moody.

Why Tower Grove House?

The Network to Freedom includes safe houses as well as other locations connected to freedom seekers’ journeys. That includes kidnapping sites or places from which they escaped enslavement. 

Shaw’s personal papers and newspaper accounts of the time document two separate occasions when freedom seekers enslaved by Shaw escaped from Tower Grove House and sought freedom via the Underground Railroad.  The Garden’s designation recognizes these attempts from enslaved people to flee Tower Grove House and seek freedom.

What else is the Garden doing?

In January, the Garden began a partnership with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to start a project through its Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholar (CODES) program.

At the Garden, CODES students will work over a period of two years in research teams with Garden staff to explore the institution’s history of enslavement.

Additionally, the Garden is exploring ways to expand its on-site signage about Garden’s history with slavery. This will include new interpretation throughout Tower Grove House and other areas of the Garden. These stories will also be shared with the online community through the Garden’s website, blog, and social media pages. 

“All of this is a work in progress. We look forward to sharing more with the community as we learn more from our research and grow,” Martin Bonner said.