Exploring the Arboretum
Section O’Fallon continues the magnolia display with species such as star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) and the lily magnolia hybrid ‘Ann’, a selection of the U.S. National Arboretum’s “Little Girl” magnolia series. If you want to learn more, follow this link to read about how this popular series of lily magnolia hybrids came to be.
This Cemetery section also holds historical significance as the resting
place of famed botanist George Engelmann. Planted nearby are Engelmann spruces
(Picea engelmannii– pictured here), named in his honor and native to the Rocky Mountains.
Together, these plantings at Bellefontaine connect botanical history with the
living landscape.
Significant Figures
Map Reference: Stop 14,
Letter hh
John O’Fallon
Railroads and Banking | Lot #66
John O’Fallon, the nephew of William Clark, became Clark’s
ward when John’s father died in 1793. O’Fallon would take part in the War of
1812 before returning to make his mark in St. Louis. He was a man of great
wealth, some of which was secured through the labor of enslaved persons.
‘Athlone’ was O’Fallon’s country estate, of which the lower 100 acres of
Bellefontaine was then a part.
Map Reference: Stop 14,
Letter ii
John A Watkins
Monumentation | Lot #5425
John Watkins chose a rather cutting-edge marker to identify
the final resting place of him, his mother, and his grandmother. Considered Art
Nouveau because of style and date of completion, the family name Watkins is
read down in the center strip of floral images. Plant material is currently
maintained by Bellefontaine Volunteers.
