Hartman Rock Garden

You owe it to yourself to investigate this renowned — yet almost secret — folk art icon. Located in one of Springfield’s old working class neighborhoods it is a true outsider art masterpiece. A completely unique world of pop culture and history. Totally free and great for both adults & children.

Let me join the chorus and tell you how great this hidden gem is! If you haven’t been here, you TRULY haven’t been to Springfield (and it’s been two years since I moved here and it took an ‘outta towner’ to lead the way!!) It’s unique, quirky, and takes itself soooooo seriously you just HAVE to laugh, and admire its SPUNK!
I’d pay a million bucks to meet Mr. Harry Hartman and his wife Mary, the Depression era couple that built this monument to kitsch! In today’s world of «modern convenience,» where instant gratification translates to EXTREMELY short attention spans and very little attention to detail, the work that went into creating this masterpiece is just mind-​boggling! VERY interesting background story here, check out the website:
, and be sure to leave a donation so it’s around for many more years to come…

This place is really amazing to see. To think of the time taken to put it together just boggles my mind. I have lived in Springfield, OH for many years and didn’t know this place existed until a couple of years ago. We decided to go check it out a couple of weeks ago and am so glad we did. I am already planning to take my neice and her family when they come for a visit.

This tiny folk art treasure is hidden amongst the old time backstreets of Springfield. Blink and you could possibly miss this backyard, stony oasis.
Ok, so before you go all crazy thinking this is some sort of massive stone castle a man has created in his backyard. I must bring you back down to reality.
It’s cool… it does involve a stone castle, but let’s think on a smaller scale.
This place would be an absolute delight for children. Let the Barbie dolls and GI Joe’s go crazy!
Hartman is inspiring… being created from a time where people kept their minds and hands at work despite there not being any work to begin with, which is the creator’s story. After being let go from his work in a concrete factory during the Great Depression he decided to keep himself busy by working on a concrete pond, then building castles, to whole villages and holy grottos. Looking at this artist’s work will definitely bring you back to his era from the old metal World War I soldiers, and small metal crosses in a piece he has labeled «Flander’s Field» after the prominent WWI battlefield.
While it can just come off as a bunch of cemented rocks… if you look a little bit deeper into some of the pieces you might be able to discover more of the humor and more of the love within Hartman’s creations.
It really is folk art at it’s finest and it’s nice to have this in Ohio. Kitschy can sometimes be cool and if you’re into photography, then this place is sure to tantalize and inspire great perspectives and interesting shots.
The small group that keeps this up and running has been trying and making efforts to maintain this place by painting the small statues, and fixing any missing stones. They are doing a great job and I commend them!
An interesting waste of time if you are in the Springfield area.

I love this place! Super creative and fun! Def worth checking it out :)

Fascinating folk art exhibit. it’s history is equally fascinating.

Hartman Rock Garden is a folk art exhibit that was created by a man who was out of work during the great depression. There is really no way to accurately describe Hartman… you need to see the pictures or go visit. To simplify, this folk art attraction is a display of decorative rock creations. Recently restoration funded by the Kohler Foundation has wrought a miracle out of a long-​neglected site. Please visit the webpage and see how gorgeous and unique this garden is. It is the result of one man’s creative and singular mind. I bring all my out-​of-​town friends and family to visit… especially in the summertime when the flowers are in full bloom.