Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

A Toast to Sassafras

Plants & People

— Sassafras albidum | Lauraceae | Eastern North America —

A Toast to Sassafras Marker image. Click for full size.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 26, 2023

1. A Toast to Sassafras Marker

Inscription.
What do you know about the sassafras tree? The sweet and aromatic roots and leaves have been used by humans for hundreds of years to soothe sore throats and other aches. In the early 1900s, sassafras was made into a drink called sarsaparilla. Unfortunately, in recent years more research has concluded that sassafras is dangerous if ingested and is no longer approved by the FDA. You can still taste a sweetness similar to sassafras in a popular soft drink: root beer!

Erected by Missouri Botanical Garden.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Food & Drink • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 38° 36.734′ N, 90° 15.48′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Missouri Botanical Garden. It can be reached from Shaw Boulevard west of Tower Grove Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4344 Shaw Boulevard, Saint Louis MO 63110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

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in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Victory of Science (within shouting distance of this marker); Sassafras (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of American Science (within shouting distance of this marker); Herring House (within shouting distance of this marker); Mausoleum Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The Knolls (within shouting distance of this marker); Erected by Henry Shaw in 1859 as a museum and library (within shouting distance of this marker); Golden Larch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Louis.

By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 26, 2023

2. A Toast to Sassafras Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on October 28, 2026, by Trudi Jacobson of Slingerlands, New York. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.