Vander Veer Botanical Park
Botanical garden in Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Vander Veer Botanical Park is a 33-acre (130,000 m2) botanical garden in the Vander Veer Park Historic District of Davenport, Iowa. It is believed to be one of the first botanical parks west of the Mississippi River. The park was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on August 4, 1993.[2]
| Vander Veer Botanical Park | |
|---|---|
The lagoon at Vander Veer Park | |
 Interactive map of Vander Veer Botanical Park | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Davenport, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°32′37.68″N 90°34′30.72″W |
| Area | 33-acre (0.13 km2) |
| Created | 1885 |
| Operator | Davenport Parks and Recreation |
| Open | All year |
Public transit |  Davenport CitiBus |
| Designated | April 9, 1985 |
| Reference no. | 85000784[1] |
| Designated | August 4, 1993 |
| Reference no. | 14[2] |
History
Vander Veer Park was established in 1885. The city of Davenport purchased the land for $13,000 ($465,833 in 2025).[3][4] The park was built on the old Scott County Fairgrounds land and modeled after New York City’s Central Park.[4] Vander Veer was originally named Central Park. In 1912 the park was renamed after the first secretary of the Davenport Park Board of Commissioners, A.W. Vander Veer.[4] A conservatory, music pavilion, and decorative fountains were added after World War I.[4]
The park is currently maintained by the Davenport Parks and Recreation Horticulture team and supported by a nonprofit organization, The Friends of Vander Veer.
Gallery
Conservatory
Rose Garden
Grand Allee
Fountain
