Garden of Eden in Kansas: Eccentric Roadside Attraction and Visionary Art

In the early 1900s, an eccentric Civil War veteran and retired school teacher named Samuel Perry Dinsmoor from Ohio decided to move to the plains of Kansas to try his hand at farming. S.P. Dinsmoor ultimately constructed a limestone cabin in Lucas, Kansas surrounded by handcrafted concrete trees and statutes of Biblical figures such as Adam and Eve and other characters that explored religious themes, political questions of the day, and ethics.

During his lifetime, Dinsmoor’s neighbors weren’t quite sure what to make of the uncanny Garden of Eden which emerged seemingly out of nowhere on Dinsmoor’s property. The Garden of Eden attracted a constant barrage of onlookers thanks to a glowing eyeball sign near a popular train station that pointed visitors in the direction of Dinsmoor’s property. Today, S.P, Dinsmoor’s unusual abode that is straight out of a fever dream is considered a visionary art masterpiece that may very well be the oldest of its kind in the United States.

S.P. Dinsmoor began to surround his home with concrete statues of characters such as Cain and Abel, the Goddess of Liberty, and a few anonymous martyrs of the labor movement in order to entice visitors to pay a small fee to tour his property. Dinsmoor’s efforts to attract tourists were successful and he did make a slim profit from his unusual artworks in his lifetime. True to his eccentric nature, Dinsmoor would charge 25 cents to visitors who wished to see him pose in a coffin that would ultimately serve as his eternal resting place.

In the mid-20th century, the Garden of Eden was abandoned and fell into disrepair. After a major renovation funded by a grassroots arts organization in 2012, Dinsmoor’s visionary art garden was restored to its former glory. For a small fee, visitors can tour the interior and exterior of Dinsmoor’s unique abode. If you’re really brave, you can step into a mausoleum that houses S.P. Dinsmoor’s body. Unfortunately, the elements have taken a heavy toll on Dinsmoor’s remains, so don’t expect to see a perfectly preserved corpse.

For those searching for an unforgettable roadside oddity to spice up a road trip through America’s Heartland, a trip to The Garden of Eden is an absolute must. S.P. Dinsmoor’s dedication to his eccentric visionary art is truly inspiring. Viewing Dinsmoor’s creations may inspire you to spice up your front lawn with a few dozen lovingly handcrafted concrete statues.