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About
Saint Louis
Country : United
States of America
State : Missouri
County : City
of St.Louis
Population:348.189
(census
2000)
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St Louis
was founded in on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1764 by the Frenchmen
Pierre Laclede and August Choteau. It was named after King Louis IX of
France. In its early years, it functioned as a fur trading station. The
early population was largely French with some African slaves and American
Indians.
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The music pavilion
is located in Tower Grove Park .
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The town
became a part of the United States in 1804. It had a population of 1100
people then. By 1850, it was a major steamboat port and organizing
point for travelers moving into the American West. It had a population
of nearly 80,000 people at that time. So many people traveled this route
that the city became known as the “Gateway to the West.” It is now part
of the state of Missouri. The city and the surrounding region have a combined
population of over two million people.
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Tower
Grove Park
The park
and the music pavilion were created by Mr. Henry Shaw.
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Henry
Shaw was a merchant who prospered in the early years of St Louis.
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He
moved to St Louis from England in 1819. He sold cutlery and hardware products
to St Louisans and to Americans on their way West. In addition to his city
home, he acquired land in the outskirts of the city and built a country
home. Inspired by English gardens, he sold his business in 1839 and dedicated
the rest of his life to creating and developing a botanical garden and
a park on his property around his country home.
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The botanical
garden that he created formed the basis for what is now the beautiful Missouri
Botanical Gardens The park became Tower Grove Park . At 289 acres,
it is the second largest park in the city of St Louis.
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Tower Grove
Park includes many colorful, picturesque pavilions to give visitors a shady
place to rest during their visit.
Mr. Shaw built
some of these.
Others have
been added since his death.
All of them
have imaginative names such as the “Carriage Pavilion”, “Chinese Pavilion”,
“Cypress Pavilions”, “Lily Pond Pavilion.”
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In addition,
Mr. Shaw included the music pavilion. It was one of his favorite places.
He surrounded it with busts of his favorite musicians—Mozart, Rossini,
Beethoven, Wagner, Gounod and Verdi.
In the 1800’s, the music pavilion was used for Sunday afternoon concerts.
The music pavilion is still the site of popular summer concerts. It is
also a popular place to hold weddings!
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