The beautifully restored Spink Pavilion was built by Henry Shaw, the founder of the Missouri Botanical Garden and original proprietor of the land. Initially, the pavilion served as the entrance to the garden, and many passers-by still mistake the pavilion for an entrance. Today, the Spink Pavilion is utilized for private banquets, functions, weddings, and other events. Visitors can rent the space for relatively reasonable rates for daytime or evening events on any day of the week. Besides being a gorgeous banquet facility, the bathrooms accessible from outside can be a life saver for garden visitors. -Cathryn D. Blue