The Hartman Rock Garden Is An Incredible Rock City Near Cincinnati

There are many unique things to do and places to visit around Cincinnati, and even more if you venture away from the city just a bit. In the small town of Springfield, located just over an hour north of downtown, you’ll find what’s considered to be one of the most unique roadside attractions in the entire state. The Hartman Rock Garden is an incredible work of art, handmade with over 250,000 stones. This little rock city near Cincinnati is a charming spot and very much worthy of the drive.

The Hartman Rock Garden was originally created by Ben Hartman in the early 20th century. After being laid off during the Great Depression, Mr. Hartman spent his downtime constructing this incredible little city of rocks, which he did completely by hand.

After Hartman's death in 1944, his wife Mary lovingly maintained the garden until she passed away in 1997. It then sat unattended until it was restored in 2008 and hosted a grand reopening 2010.

You can visit the garden 365 days a year from dawn until dusk. Admission is free, but we recommend making a donation, which is put right back into maintaining this unique and historic work of art.

The garden is a city of sorts with a large castle, smaller structures, figures, and other designs. As you look closer at each creation, you'll be amazed what Ben Hartman was able to do with these tiny stones.

Most of the garden follows themes of history, religion, and patriotism, beautifully representing the era in which Ben and his family lived. The garden has had to be rebuilt and restored in some areas, so while most of it is original, there have been a few new additions to make the garden complete.

Many of Ben Hartman's passions are displayed in the garden, including his love of coffee. You can really see the attention to detail and patience it must have took to create such incredible pieces.

Each time you visit the rock garden, you'll notice something new. It is very important to remember to follow the guidelines while visiting - especially not touching any of the rocks and staying on the designated pathways.

The rock garden city is open year-round and is especially beautiful when the flowers can bloom amongst the rocks. The charm and sense of history in this place is remarkable, making it a true hidden gem and worthy place to visit near Cincinnati.

The Hartman Rock Garden was built out of passion and love and you can feel it when you visit this incredible work of art. Did you know this historic and stunning place existed? Tag someone in the comments who would enjoy taking a little trip with you to check it out!

The Hartman Rock Garden is located at 1905 Russell Ave., Springfield, OH 45506. For more information, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here.

And while you’re in Springfield, here’s another fun-filled destination to check out, featured in a previous article here.

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The Little Rock City Near Cincinnati That's Made With Over 250,000 Stones

Andrea Limke

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