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All the United States Indiana Huntington Sunken Gardens

Huntington Sunken Gardens

A former limestone quarry has found a new life as a flourishing community garden.

Huntington, Indiana

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Scott Forsythe
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Huntington Sunken Gardens   Nyttend
View of weeping willow and footbridge.   forssa / Atlas Obscura User
View across pond of bridge.   forssa / Atlas Obscura User
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Northeast Indiana once flourished as a limestone mining region during the mid-19th century, however, the industry left vast artificial chasms pockmarking the landscape. While many of the over 1,000 abandoned quarries were filled to create lakes or were simply abandoned, the city of Huntington decided to take a more intensive approach to one quarry taking up nearly two acres in the middle of its burgeoning downtown. 

Abandoned in the 1910s by the Keefer and Bailey Lime, Brick, Tile, and Cement Company, the abandoned quarry caught the eye of the city council as they sought a new location for a community park. The Sunken Gardens were inspired by a similar quarry-based sunken garden in San Antonio. It would become the second such garden in the United States. 

As the Sunken Gardens were being built throughout the 1920s, the then-radical decision was made to integrate car-friendliness into its design. The Sunken Gardens' tribute to motoring took the form of a fieldstone bridge that crosses directly over the park, providing a top-down view. 

The park has seen two major restoration projects since its creation, one in the 1960s and again in 2010. It is currently a freely accessible park, a wedding venue, and home to an annual Christmas light display that draws thousands of visitors per year. The centerpiece of the display is a giant illuminated wreath which recently had its over 3,000 light bulbs updated into LEDs. 

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History & Culture Quarries Parks

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Admission is free to the garden when it is open; free parking is available at the Memorial Park at the top.

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forssa

Published

July 21, 2023

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Sources
  • https://www.wane.com/news/flipping-the-switch-on-the-historic-wolf-and-dessauer-wreath-in-huntington/
  • https://publichistory.iupui.edu/items/show/205?tour=26&index=6
  • https://www.huntington.in.us/egov/apps/locations/facilities.egov?view=detail&id=50
  • https://igws.indiana.edu/bookstore/details.cfm?Pub_Num=CDB02
  • https://catalog.archives.gov/id/132003359
  • https://visithuntington.org/blog/sunken-gardens-a-must-see
  • https://www.wane.com/news/flipping-the-switch-on-the-historic-wolf-and-dessauer-wreath-in-huntington/
  • https://publichistory.iupui.edu/items/show/205?tour=26&index=6
  • https://catalog.archives.gov/id/132003359
  • https://igws.indiana.edu/bookstore/details.cfm?Pub_Num=CDB02
  • https://www.in.gov/history/files/35.1979.2LimeCity.pdf
Huntington Sunken Gardens
1125 W Park Dr
Huntington, Indiana, 46750
United States
40.878689, -85.505876
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

Hanging Rock National Natural Landmark

Lagro, Indiana

miles away

Fox Island Nature Preserve

Fort Wayne, Indiana

miles away

Modoc's Market

Wabash, Indiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indiana

Indiana

United States

Places 147
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Hanging Rock National Natural Landmark

Lagro, Indiana

miles away

Fox Island Nature Preserve

Fort Wayne, Indiana

miles away

Modoc's Market

Wabash, Indiana

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Indiana

Indiana

United States

Places 147
Stories 18

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