The History and Heritage of this Year’s Featured Mansion

This year’s Martinis at the Mansion: A Speakeasy Soirée will take place at the beautiful Compton Heights home of Larry and Sandy Koesterer—a residence with more than a century of history.

Designed by renowned St. Louis architect Ernst Preisler, the home was one of only six homes built in Compton Heights between 1902 and 1904, as much of the city’s building industry turned its attention to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

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Jenelle Ellis
Martinis at the Mansion on Great Day St. Louis! 🍸✨

Our Martinis at the Mansion Co-Chair Robert OConnor joined Great Day St. Louis today to share more about this year’s Speakeasy Soirée and what makes this beloved Tower Grove Park fundraiser so special.

Watch the interview and get a sneak peek at what’s in store for an unforgettable evening supporting the Park!

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Jenelle Ellis
🌳Tree of the Month for August 2026

Howdy, park-goers! It's time for our August 2026 Tree of the Month. This month we're highlighting the Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus).

G. dioicus is a large, deciduous tree native to central and eastern North America, including our home state of Missouri. Specimens typically reach 60–80' in height and 40–55' in canopy width; however, I have personally seen specimens over 100' tall in the wild woods of southern Missouri and Illinois. In Missouri, this species prefers low and rich woodlands, bluff bases, and areas along streams and rivers.

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Jenelle Ellis
What’s in Bloom: Scavenger Hunt for August 2026

Hi, I’m Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum)!

I’m a beautiful sunflower-like Missouri native that occurs throughout the state in open, low woods, thickets, wet meadows and prairies, stream/pond borders, and along railroad tracks in full sun. Typically grows 4-8 feet tall on tough erect stems and is easily distinguished by its square stems and pairs of cup forming leaves.  Flower heads are typically 3 inches in diameter, featuring light yellow rays and darker yellow center disks that bloom in the summer from July to September.  A large plant that needs lots of space and can be somewhat aggressive in the landscape.

Can you spot me in Tower Grove Park?

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Jenelle Ellis
August 2026 Ranger Report: Leave No Trace

Each month, hear directly from Tower Grove Park Rangers as they share practical tips to keep the park safe, healthy, and welcoming for everyone.

Each installment highlights a seasonal tip, from protecting garden beds and wildlife to navigating the Park safely and respectfully year-round.

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Jenelle Ellis
Lecture Series: Frémont’s 100 Days

On June 4, we hosted an engaging look at Frémont’s Hundred Days, the brief but consequential period when General John C. Frémont led Union forces in Missouri. The presentation was led by Gregory Wolk and highlighted Frémont’s major decisions, the controversies that followed, and the lasting impact this moment had on the state’s Civil War story.

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Jenelle Ellis