How did the Garden’s orchid collection start?

The creation of the world-class orchid collection at the Missouri Botanical Garden did not occur overnight. It is the culmination of many research trips to the tropics and donations both local and from afar. In 1876, Mrs. Henry T. Blow presented Garden founder, Henry Shaw, with a sampling of orchids collected by her husband while serving as minister to Brazil under President Grant. In 1918, Dr. D.S. Brown, a noted local orchidologist, donated his well-known collection to the Garden as well.

Abroad, the Garden began its first forays into the tropical regions of Central and South America. In 1923, horticulturist George Pring spent six months collecting plants in Panama and Columbia and returned with forty burro-loads – or some eight tons – of orchids. The Garden’s first orchid show was held the following year, attracting 8,000 visitors. Later that decade, the Garden established a tropical field station in Panama, greatly facilitating orchid collection. Today, the Garden’s annual orchid show attracts over 30,000 people.