Missouri Botanical 

 Garden Bulletin 



Vol. IX St. Louis, Mo., May, 1921 No. 5 



DEDICATION OF THE NEW MAIN ENTRANCE 



The dedication of the new main entrance, to replace the old 

 edifice built by Mr. Shaw in 1858, was held under the colon- 

 nade of the new gateway at one o'clock. May 10, 1921. The 

 gateway was decorated with American flags, and a platform 

 was erected on which the members of the Board of Trustees 

 were seated. Mr. Shaw's portrait, draped with flags, occupied 

 the center of the space immediately back of the platform, fac- 

 ing the audience. The attendance indicated a gratifying in- 

 terest in the ceremony. Mr. Edwards Whitaker, President of 

 the Board of Trust ees of the Missouri Botanical Garden, pre- 

 sided, and after an invocation by the Rev. Dr. John S. Bunt- 

 ing, Rector of the Church of the Ascension, made the follow- 

 ing remarks : 



"May I not venture the assertion that few within tin 1 hear- 

 ing of my voice can remember back sixty-three years when Mr. 

 Henry Shaw built an entrance on this spot (which was little 

 more than a clearing) as a main entrance to the Garden, plac- 

 ing over the gateway the inscription 'The Missouri Botanical 

 Garden' and the date '1858,' showing his vision was keen 

 and broad enough to picture what he believed this child of his 

 brain would ultimately attain. 



"During Mr. Shaw's life and for some years after, this 

 gate provided sufficient accommodations to those visiting the 

 Garden. Later with the opening of the Garden on Sundays 

 and other attractive features to the public the attendance in- 

 creased, and for some time the Board of Trustees have realized 

 that larger and better accommodations at the main entrance 

 were needed. How to provide them was a question. It re- 

 sulted in what we all at times have had to meet, a financial 

 problem. You are aware that the Garden is supported from 

 the income of the Shaw estate only, about one-fourth of the 

 income being consumed in paying licenses, taxes, etc., to the 

 city and state. In time a plan was evolved whereby with the 

 ar^proval of the circuit court a loan was secured providing 



(57) 



