#21 – How has this building been used?

Stop at Tower Grove House Tower Grove House is the country home of the Garden’s founder, Henry Shaw. Shaw opened the Garden around his country home in 1859 and oversaw its first 30 years. After 100 years of use as a private home, school, dormitory, and office building, the Tower Grove House underwent meticulous renovation. Furniture and materials once belonging to Shaw were located and returned. It opened to the public in 1953. Tower Grove House was rededicated on October 29, 2005 after another period of extensive restoration. The house has been restored to reflect how it looked when Shaw resided here. Today, staff and volunteers encourage visitors to take a step back in time and experience the country home of Henry Shaw. Many of the 19th century furnishings belonged to Shaw; others are of the same era. Timelines help visitors discover how Tower Grove House was used after 1889. Voices from the past tell stories of those who helped build Shaw’s Garden. The Garden has grown over the last 150 years. Come inside and see where it all began.