Visitor Center

At the Visitor Center, located at the entrance, visitors will receive a map of the hiking trails and other helpful information.   Trail guides and books on natural history and other related topics are available for purchase, and seasonal displays highlighting natural events, interpretive programs and classes help introduce visitors to Shaw Nature Reserve.

While the Shaw Nature Reserve is best seen by foot, there are opportunities for everyone, from the energetic hiker to someone who requires a wheelchair.

 

Travel

The Wilderness Wagon Departs from the Visitor Center Saturday and Sunday afternoons from May – June and September - October (weather permitting) on the hour: 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00.  This is a great relaxing way to view what SNR has to offer.

The one-mile Pinetum Loop Road is open to cars daily, circling Pinetum Lake and providing easy access to the Whitmire Wildflower Garden and the Bascom House. 

The Trail House Loop Road (3 miles) gives access to the Trail House and Wetland parking areas.  It is open to cars April through October, Monday through Thursdays only (and not on holidays).

The bookstore in the Visitor Center has several hundred titles of nature and science books, for both adults and children. For adults, the subject matter runs the gamut: from the expected books on gardening and wildflowers, on Audubon and Thoreau, to books on early pioneers of mapping the earth and sky, book describing joys of beekeeping, living the rural life, birding, in depth study of the world of ants or how the Beaufort Scale for wind measurement was devised. Most of our books are sold at discount prices, so you can take a chance on titles like Season in the Desert, Caviar, Why Elephants Have Big Ears, and The Turtle and the Stars. The bottom line: nature is fascinating!

It is always a good time to get wildflower i.d. books, pond life guides, and bird books. The visitors center has a large selection of Golden Guides and laminated pocket guides to carry on your hike on topics like pond life, animal tracks, bugs & slugs, medicinal plants, etc.

Great Gifts available at the Visitor Center

Give a gift that keeps on giving.......books. 

  • We carry hardback children’s books (originally $14 - $18) for $5.00 and $6.00. This is a wonderful opportunity to stock up on lovely children’s books.
  • Greeting card prints of Denison’s paintings at $2 each or a box of 10 for $11, see attached PDF for a preview
  • Birds in Missouri, a coffee table guide to birds for $30
  • Packets of seeds, harvested here at Shaw Nature Reserve, for sale at $1.50 a packet.  Available species include Purple coneflower, Butterfly milkweed, and Blazingstar.

  • A great stocking stuffer is the Natural Events Calendar, published by the Missouri Department of Conservation. At $7.00, this beautiful calendar is the best buy in the state.  Where else can you learn, for example, “this is the week to begin looking for morel mushrooms,” or “Orioles begin building a gray woven nest”? Don’t wait to buy your calendars, we always sell out!

For more info about holiday gifts please call (636) 451-3512

We do accept credit cards now!


Book Store

The Visitor Center offers a bookstore where many items can be found for the nature lover. All books at the visitors center focus on the natural world and many are available for half the original price.  There are many hardback books for your coffee table and identification guides for your backpack.  Historical books on many subjects including Native Americans and pioneers are available.    In addition, a wide variety of children’s books can be found including the Redwall series in hardback for $6.

Everyone is invited to visit Shaw Nature Reserve! 

Visitors may come as individuals, families, with friends or as part of group tour.  No reservations are required except in the case of an organized tour and for those wishing to participate in an education program.

FAQ Page

You may contact the Visitor Center by phone at (636) 451-3512 or by email at Helen.McCallie@mobot.org

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