Samuel P. Dinsmoor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Garden of Eden
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 Location in Kansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2nd and Kansas Ave Lucas, Kansas United States |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1905-1907 |
| Architect | Dinsmoor, Samuel, P. |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000595 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1977 |
Samuel Perry Dinsmoor (born March 8, 1843 – died July 21, 1932) was an American teacher. He became a very unique sculptor from Lucas, Kansas, in the United States. He is famous for his amazing "Garden of Eden."
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Samuel Dinsmoor's Early Life and Journey
Samuel Dinsmoor was born in Coolville, Ohio. When he was older, he joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He fought for three years and was part of many important battles. One of these was the famous Battle of Gettysburg.
After the war, Dinsmoor became a schoolteacher in Illinois for five years. Later, he decided to become a farmer. He moved to Kansas in 1888. He lived in Nebraska for a short time in 1890. But he returned to Kansas the very next year. In 1905, he retired from farming. This is when he started his second career as a sculptor.
Exploring the Garden of Eden
Dinsmoor built a log cabin in Lucas, Kansas. He called his property the Garden of Eden. The cabin is a large house with twelve rooms. Its walls are made from limestone logs. This stone was dug up near Wilson Lake.
Dinsmoor spent the rest of his life creating this special garden. It has over 200 sculptures made from concrete. These sculptures and the garden's design show Dinsmoor's beliefs. He believed in the Populist idea, which supported common people. His sculptures also showed his strong religious feelings.
Famous Sculptures in the Garden
One well-known sculpture is called Labor Crucified. It shows a worker being "crucified" or hurt. Around him are figures representing people Dinsmoor felt were causing problems. These include a doctor, a lawyer, a preacher, and a rich capitalist.
Dinsmoor's Unique Resting Place
Samuel Dinsmoor and his first wife, Frances A. Barlow Journey, are buried at the garden. Their final resting place is inside a mausoleum on the property. When visitors tour the garden, they can see Dinsmoor. He is in his concrete coffin, which is sealed behind a glass wall. Inside the mausoleum, there is also a special photo. It's a "double-exposed" picture of a living Dinsmoor looking at his own body in the coffin.
The Garden of Eden is open for everyone to visit. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Samuel Dinsmoor's Family Life
Samuel Dinsmoor married Frances A. Barlow Journey on August 24, 1870. She passed away in 1917. Later, Dinsmoor married Emilie Brozek. He was 81 years old, and she was 22 at the time. They had two children together. Their son was John William Dinsmoor (1928-2013). Their daughter was Emily Jane Dinsmoor Stevens (1924-2013). John, their son, became a Colonel in the United States Air Force. He served in the Vietnam War.
