If you fancy yourself an outdoor explorer, there are natural treasures waiting to be discovered amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown St. Louis.  Where, you ask?  Gateway Arch National Park, of course!

Although the 91-acre Arch grounds are dominated by manicured grassy areas, tree-lined paths, and sculptured ponds, there’s a small area at the north end of the park that looks a bit wilder.  This inviting little oasis – dubbed the Explorers’ Garden – is planted with some of the trees, bushes, and perennials that Lewis and Clark found on their famed expedition to the western U.S.  And it’s just waiting to be investigated!

Between 1804 and 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the newly acquired western portion of the continent.  Their extensive journals recorded measurements and observations of the rivers and landscapes, as well as accounts of the indigenous inhabitants they encountered. They also described at least 178 species of plants that were new to science, recording their habitat, growth and use by Native Americans.  These included the cottonwood tree, slender willow, aromatic aster, prickly pear, and red columbine.

As for animals, the explorers described 122 new species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects – including the grizzly bear, bighorn sheep, black tailed deer, mountain beaver, long-tailed weasel, mountain goat, coyote and various species of rabbit, squirrel, fox and wolf.

You probably won’t find any of these animals in the Explorers’ Garden, but some of the plants that Lewis and Clark discovered are included among the variety of native plants that National Park Service staff have introduced there.  Go here to find the list of plants (click on Explorers’ Garden).  

Many of these species were used by Native Americans and were described by Lewis and Clark in their expedition journals as they traveled west.  You’re invited to act as your own explorer and see what you can find – and be sure to bring the kids. The Explorers’ Garden provides a series of landscaped pathways scaled for children’s play as well as large stones they can climb. You’ll find the garden in the far northeast corner of the park grounds, in the shadow of historic Eads Bridge, the oldest bridge over the Mississippi River.

There’s no better time to visit the Explorers’ Garden than this Saturday Sept. 23, when the park will be celebrating National Public Lands Day.  History and gardening experts will be on hand to show you around, and there will be plenty of other family-friendly activities, so come on down!

If you want to help your kids learn about the famous explorers, they’ll enjoy this fun book Lewis and Clark for Kids: Their Journey of Discovery with 21 Activities.  It’s chock full of cool stories about their three-year journey, including information about the plants and animals they discovered.  You can pick it up at The Arch Store or order it from our online store.