The Garden Of Eden: Artsy Wonder Of Kansas

At first glance, there’s nothing special about the small town of Lucas. With 500 residents, this peaceful location has nothing out of the ordinary, except for one thing.

Since 1907, Lucas has been home to what artist Samuel Perry Dinsmoor liked to call his own vision of the Paradise. The Garden of Eden is a cabin built entirely by Dinsmoor, using 27-foot timbers carved from limestone. Without a doubt this self-built cabin is a work of art, that needed plenty of effort to be completed. The property also features self-built furniture, which included secret desks, where then 62 year old artist kept all of his savings.

The construction of the house lasted only for two years. The sculptor proudly welcomed people to visit his greatest creation so far. But, that was only the beginning of his Eden.The next 22 years, Dinsmoor added up to 150 sculptures inside and around the house, which supposedly represented his political and cultural views. At the same time, the artist designed mammoth insects, U.S. flag, angels and children sculptures that required no less than 113 tons of concrete.

During the past few years of his life, the sculptor focused mostly on designing a concrete mausoleum on the same property. His final wish was to be buried in a glass coffin in the mausoleum. Apparently, he was the last art piece. This seen may give chills to some visitors, but his outstandingly detailed artwork is definitely a must see destination in Kansas.

Location: 305 E 2nd St, Lucas, KS 67648

UnusualPlaces Field Notes

Location

S. P. Dinsmoor’s Garden of Eden, 305 East Second Street, Lucas, Kansas, USA

Coordinates

39.059167, -98.534444

Access

Guided tours cover the Cabin Home interior and mausoleum. The exterior sculptures are visible from the street without a ticket. Contact the site about large-group or off-hours visits.

Admission

Adults and visitors 12+: US$9; seniors, military and groups of 10+: US$8 each; ages 5–11: US$4; under 5: free.

Time needed

Allow roughly 1–1½ hours for the guided house/mausoleum visit and outdoor sculptures, based on recent visitor guidance. The venue does not publish a standard visit duration; actual time depends on tour timing and how long you view the exterior.

Best season

The venue does not name a preferred season. Street-side sculptures are visible year-round; indoor tours run daily March–October and Thursday–Sunday November–February, with shorter winter hours.

Opening hours

Guided tours: March–April daily 11:00–16:00; May–October daily 10:00–17:00; November–February Thursday–Sunday 13:00–16:00. Exterior sculptures remain visible from the street. Call 785-525-6395 for groups or off-hours arrangements.

Location checked

2026-09-24

Facts checked

2026-10-13

Location

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