What began as a modest concrete fish pond in H.G. (Ben) Hartman’s back yard is now revered as a folk art masterpiece. The Hartman Rock Garden includes over 250,000 individual stones that combine a mixture of history, religion and depression-era pop culture. Among the Hartman Rock Garden’s many unique attributes, the sheer scale of the work and its contextual location in a residential neighborhood, contributes greatly to its status as an iconic “outsider” art site. Fully restored by the Kohler Foundation in 2009, the Garden is open daily from dawn to dusk with no admission charge.

The Hartman Rock Garden is open daily — for free — from dawn to dusk. Donations are accepted in the garden using the secure donation bin, and online using the button above. Most visitors explore the site using our self-guided Highlight Tour (ages 16+) or self-guided Kids Tour (ages 6-15). These printed tour books are available for free in our visitor kiosk. We also offer guided tours on occasion. Free parking is available along the street.

The Hartman Rock Garden is located at 1905 Russell Avenue in Springfield, Ohio, a short drive from Interstate 70. The garden sits on three residential lots surrounding the Hartman House (now the residence of our Facilities Manager). We recommend using a mapping program if you are visiting from out of town or are unfamiliar with the neighborhood.