Few people have seen the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Museum Building. It’s been closed to the public since 1980 because it’s in need of renovation. As part of its 150th anniversary celebration, the doors were opened for four hours. Watch this video by staff photographer Huy Mach

To celebrate the Missouri Botanical Garden’s 150th anniversary we offer this quiz for true plant lovers. Test yourself and find out if you’re a master gardener or destined to kill your Chia Pet.

Explore the Gladney Rose Garden through Post-Dispatch photographer Huy Mach’s 3D panoramic photo.

In 1979, the Gladney Rose Garden is dedicated; formally know as the Linnean Rose Garden. Shaped in a giant wheel, this garden displays hundreds of hybrid tea and floribunda roses. Many varieties of climbing roses are featured on the formal fence and arbors enclosing the Gladney Rose Garden. Peak display lasts from early summer through autumn.

Explore the Japanese Garden through Post-Dispatch photographer Huy Mach’s 3D panoramic photo.

In 1977, the Japanese Garden is dedicated. This garden is named Seiwa-en, which means ‘the garden of pure, clear harmony and peace.’ Designed by Professor Koichi Kawana to ensure authenticity, this 14-acre garden is the largest of its type in the Western hemisphere. A four-acre lake is complemented with waterfalls, streams, and water-filled basins. Dry gravel gardens are raked into beautiful, rippling patterns. Four islands rise from the lake to form symbolic images. Several Japanese bridges link shorelines; families delight in the feeding of the giant koi (Japanese carp).

Check out the history and evolution of the Missouri Botanical Garden in an interactive map and timeline.

Explore the Kresko Victorian Garden through Post-Dispatch photographer Huy Mach’s 3D panoramic photo.

In 1997, the Kresko Victorian Garden is added. This Victorian garden is an example of the height of fashion in England at the time Henry Shaw was planting his gardens in St. Louis. The style of landscaping was introduced in the early 1800s when new varieties of flowers were coming into England from different parts of the world. Elaborate and colorful combinations of flowers, foliage, and succulents were combined in “plant tapestries,” the combination referred to as ‘carpet bedding.’

Check out the history and evolution of the Missouri Botanical Garden in an interactive map and timeline.

Explore the gateway between the Tower Grove House and Henry Shaw’s mausoleum through Post-Dispatch photographer Huy Mach’s 3D panoramic photo.

In 1849, Henry Shaw hires prominent architect George I. Barnett to design his country home. This two story Italian style villa is built on Shaw’s property southwest of St. Louis. At the time, tall grass covers this prairie with only a few trees scattered growing mainly along streambeds. One grove of sassafras trees, however, did stand on a low hill. Just to the south of these trees, Shaw builds his country home.

Shaw is buried in a mausoleum in the grove of trees.

Check out the history and evolution of the Missouri Botanical Garden in an interactive map and timeline.

Explore the Climatron through Post-Dispatch photographer Huy Mach’s 3D panoramic photo.

In 1960, the Climatron opens to the public. It marks a clean break with the past with its futuristic design based upon the architectural concepts of Buckminster Fuller who created the concept of the geodesic dome.

Check out the history and evolution of the Missouri Botanical Garden in an interactive map and timeline.