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It is always a bonus when you finish up work early.
It is an even bigger bonus when you find an awesome little landmark.
Checking out a map of Salt Lake City’s downtown area, I caught sight of the words sculpture garden. I love art and now I had a free afternoon. Why not?
Taking the red line on Salt Lake City’s Trax light rail, I headed west, jumping off at the stop in front of Trader Joe’s. Taking a right on 700 E, I then turned left, dodging a bit of construction onto 500 S and found the entrance to the garden tucked in the middle of the block, behind houses and businesses. A strange location, but easier to find than I thought!
Not sure what I would discover here, I grabbed a brochure at the entrance and sauntered in, seeking the shade of the large trees guarding the front gates. After resting a bit, I walked in among the beds of flowers and pieces of sculpture, finding that I had the place all to myself! Flipping open the brochure, I got to work deciphering each of the amazing original designs.
The Gilgal Sculpture Garden was the brainchild of LDS businessman Thomas Battersby Child, Jr, who also designed and created the space in the mid-twentieth century. The garden contains twelve original sculptures and over seventy stones engraved with scriptures, poems and literary texts all associated with the Mormon religion.
Thomas Child, conceived the idea realizing that the world need a retreat that also paid tribute to the religious and personal beliefs that he held dear to his heart. Though not a classically trained artist, his work as a masonry contractor, assisted him in the design of each piece. Building the garden in his back yard in 1947, he worked at fulfilling his project until his death in 1963.
The garden was named after the Biblical location where Joshua ordered the Israelites to place twelve stones as a memorial and is sometimes translated to mean “circle of standing stones”. Gilgal is also the name of a city and a valley in the Book of Mormon, the sacred scripture of the Mormon religion.
Though Child knew that everyone would not appreciate his artistic vision, he hoped the unique pieces would arouse other’s curiosity and make them think.
After wandering around the garden, believe me, I did think…
Each of the pieces are a bit eccentric and unconventional. From the sphinx with the face of Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saints movement, to the sacrificial altar, to Daniel II, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. Each item requires a few moments to ponder and wonder of the extent of Child’s thought process and imagination.
Upon Thomas Child’s death, the garden’s ownership was transferred to Henry P. Fetzer, a neighbor who bought the property. The garden was only open on Sundays and was maintained by the family. Plans were soon put into place by a Canadian company to tear down the garden to make room for condominiums. A group of citizens, headed by Thomas Child’s daughter-in-law, realized the value of the garden, and stepped in to purchase the land. Negotiations with the city resulted in the Gilgal Sculpture Garden officially being named a city park.
Nestled smack dab in the middle of Salt Lake City, it might be a bit of a challenge to find. Take on that challenge. What an amazing find!
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Gilgal Sculpture Garden
- http://gilgalgarden.org/
- Address: 749 E 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
- Hours: April-September, 0800-2000, October-March, 0800-1700. Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Admission: free
- Getting There: