Turtle Sculpture Garden

In the mid-1990s, Bob Cassilly, founder of the City Museum, created the Turtle Sculpture Garden as a public art installation in Forest Park. Seven distinct types of turtles native to Missouri are represented, including a red-eared slider, a snapping turtle, a soft-shelled turtle, three box turtles, and a Mississippi map turtle. Some of the turtles are so large that it is possible for children to climb on their backs. Located on the southern border of Forest Park close to the St. Louis Zoo, the Sculpture Garden opened to the public in 1996. The landscape elements were designed by the architect Richard Claybour, and the project was funded by Sonya "Sally" Glassberg for the children of St. Louis.

Opened to the public in 1996, the Turtle Sculpture Garden was created by Bob Cassilly, founder of the St. Louis-based City Museum. With sculptures that vary in size from seven feet in length to forty feet, several of the turtles are large enough for children to walk on. Made of sturdy concrete, their broad shells were designed to make climbing on the backs of the turtles feasible.

The sculpture garden features seven turtles (and one long snake) that are native to Missouri. The types of turtles that are represented include a soft-shelled turtle, a red-eared slider, a snapping turtle, three box turtles, and a Mississippi map turtle, as well as a stinkpot turtle. Also in the sculpture garden are three baby hatching turtles which appear to be emerging from a group of seven turtle eggs. Some of the turtles are situated on grassy knolls, while others are placed directly along the edges of the walking path.

A documentary produced in 2005 highlights the history of the Turtle Sculpture Garden and features interviews with those who created the site. Although it is located on the south side of I-64/US 40, which cuts across the southern part of Forest Park, the Sculpture Garden can be easily accessed via the overpass on Tamm Avenue. This leads directly into Forest Park. The Sculpture Garden is close to the St. Louis Zoo, also located in Forest Park, where visitors can view living turtles.

There are plaques embedded at the site to acknowledge the contributions of those who worked to create this unique artistic space.The layout and landscape elements were designed by the architect Richard Claybour. The project was funded by Sonya "Sunny" Glassberg, who decided to name each of the turtles after her grandchildren. When the project was completed and opened to the public, she stated:

“I wanted to give children a place where they could be happy, where they could feel inspired. Because I feel that that sort of thing is contagious.”

At Glassberg's request, the Turtle Sculpture Garden was dedicated to the children of St. Louis.

Turtle Playground, FOREST PARK STATUES & MONUMENTS. Accessed May 6th 2022. http://www.forestparkstatues.org/turtle-playground.

The Turtle Park Story, imdb. Accessed May 6th 2022. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1453447/plotsummary.

Turtle Park, STL News. Accessed May 6th 2022. https://www.stl.news/turtle-park/.