Powell Gardens

Powell Gardens is a botanical garden covering 970 acres in Kingsville, Missouri, displaying more than 6,000 plant varieties across 225,000 specimens. The grounds are divided into multiple themed sections featuring rotating seasonal displays and different garden styles throughout the year.

The property started as a dairy farm and became a Boy Scout camp in 1969 before opening as a botanical garden in 1988. This transformation marks the shift from farming to horticultural education on the same land.

The Heartland Harvest Garden demonstrates how food grows and connects to daily meals through plantings of vegetables, herbs, and fruits arranged in large, working beds. Walking through this section, visitors see how agriculture shapes the landscape and feeds communities.

The Visitor Center serves as the main starting point and offers information about current plantings and seasonal displays throughout the grounds. The paths are designed for walking, with shaded areas and rest spots to make exploring comfortable during your visit.

The Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel is a striking wooden and glass structure that blends into the surrounding garden environment. The building demonstrates how architecture can sit naturally within the landscape rather than standing apart from it.