History

The Danforth Center was founded in 1998 through a $60 million gift from the Danforth Foundation, a $50 million gift from the Monsanto Fund, the donation of 40 acres of land from Monsanto Company, and $25 million in tax credits from the State of Missouri.

Named in honor of our founder William H. Danforth’s father, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a fitting tribute to this one-time leader of the Ralston Purina Company. The company, which grew rapidly under his leadership, was in his day a pillar of American agriculture, a major producer of feed for farm animals and pets, and of breakfast cereals. Today, the Danforth Center carries on a tradition of agricultural service and commitment to human health and well-being.

The Building
Designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners of London, England and Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum of St. Louis, Missouri, the Center’s state-of-the-art research building was completed in 2001. The innovative space provides research and training facilities, a modern e-library, and lecture auditorium with video-conferencing capabilities and a series of core facilities that serve scientists at the Center and across the region.