The little town of Wapakoneta, Ohio, lies in the middle of cornfields and is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of busy cities. Most people have never heard of it, (if they have, it’s because Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, was from here) but the citizens of Wapak hold a lot of pride for the small town anyway. There might not be a whole lot to do, but there are a few small town treasures, including the Temple of Tolerance, known to locals as the “Rock Garden.”
If you were just driving around, you would never find the Temple of Tolerance. It is literally hidden in a man’s backyard, behind his house, completely out of sight from anyone passing by, but once you walk down the driveway, it’s a whole new place. Jim Bowsher, owner and builder of the Rock Garden, spent 18 years creating the incredible “sculptures” in his backyard and now welcomes anyone to step foot on his property to experience the serenity of it all. He is always willing to meet with and talk to those who stop by to visit and are interested in learning more about why and how he built the Rock Garden.
Breathtaking, astonishing, unbelievable, and awe-inspiring are just a few words I would use to describe the absolutely incredible place that the Rock Garden is. It truly makes you take a step back and say “wow.” When you walk around and look at all the different stones, buildings, and other structures in the Rock Garden, you realize just how amazing this world and the people in it are. To think that a man had the dream and inspiration to do this and just went after it to create such an impressive, yet peaceful place, is completely remarkable. Nothing that I put in this article will do the Temple of Tolerance justice. In order to understand the immense awe that the Rock Garden brings, you just have to visit it. People go to it all the time to wander, meditate, find peace, play games, hang out, take pictures, listen to and play music, and much more. It truly is magnificence. People from across the country have made pit stops in Wapakoneta because they have heard of the Temple of Tolerance and want to experience it, including several famous individuals including Johnny Depp and John Mellencamp.
The Rock Garden sits at the address of 203 South Wood Street and is open all the time, no matter the day, weather, or time, and to no cost for anyone, but with just one condition, and that is to always be open, accepting, and tolerant of all those who are visiting no matter their race, religion, philosophies, and views. In the world that we live in today, this is such a valuable lesson that should be instilled in everyone, everywhere, and not just at a certain place or a special time.
