LASR.net Homepage




Menu

Lucas, Kansas

Being in a small prairie town in central Kansas, on a quiet residential street, a concrete Adam and Eve greet you; Eve offers an Apple of Friendship. Above them, on tall concrete pillars, are the Devil, frolicking concrete children, and two love storks. To the left, high in the air, an all-seeing concrete eye of God watches over the Garden of Eden.

Biblical scenes mingle with political messages. In the back yard, Labor is crucified while a banker, lawyer, preacher and doctor nod approvingly. On one pillar, an octopus representing monopoles and trusts grabs at the world. A soldier and a child are Adam and Evetrapped in two of its tentacles. Fear not. On the "Goddess of Liberty" tree, Ms. Liberty drives a spear through the head of another trust octopus, as free citizens cut off the limb that it rests upon.

Samuel Perry DinsmoorThe creator of this ivy-covered concrete and limestone utopia was pioneer showman Samuel Dinsmoor. Dinsmoor was a retired Civil War Veteran, patriotic American, lover of freedom, and hater of the conspiratorial trusts. At age of 64, he started building the Garden of Eden as a tourist attraction in 1907. His house is made of limestone cut to look like logs; his sculpture garden surrounds it. Having a knack for popular eccentricity (he married his first wife on horseback decades before such stunts became popular), he opened his home as a tourist attraction in 1908, even as his vision of biblical and modern man was being molded out of 113 tons of concrete.

He continued building and displaying up until his death in 1932, taking time out to marry his 20-year-old housekeeper in 1924. This relationship bore 2 children. Both are still alive. The son John is the youngest living child of a Civil War Veteran. John was born when Mr. Dinsmoor was 85.Mausoleum

Dinsmoor built this 40-foot tall limestone log mausoleum for himself and his first wife. He is laid to rest in his handmade glass-topped concrete coffin for generations of public viewing.

*National Register of Historic Places

Attractions and Upcoming Events

World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate

The Worlds Largest Souvenir Travel Plate is a 14' satellite dish painted with the history of Lucas and the Lucas area. Honoring the multiple Outsider Art environments that have flourished in Lucas since the early 1900s, the World'

Lucas, KS One Of A Kinds

Art Center Building

The Grassroots Art Center has been open since 1995 and occupies three turn-of-the century native limestone buildings on the Main Street of Lucas. The main building was a bank until the bank holiday in 1933; it did not re-open as a bank but became the town's post office;

Lucas, KS Historic Buildings

Post Rock Scenic Byway

The Post Rock Scenic Byway is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest drives in the State. It runs the 16-mile stretch along highway 232 from I-70 to K-18

Lucas, KS Scenic Drives

Garden of Isis Starclock

"Grassroots art" is a term describing art made by people with no formal artistic training . . . (usually of retirement age)using ordinary materials in an extraordinary way . . .

Lucas, KS Arts

Postrock Limestone Courtyard

A three million acre formation in central Kansas is known as post rock limestone. Cutting of this post rock grew out of the uniqueness of the land and the needs and inventiveness of early settlers. From 1870-1920, limestone was the only building material used in this area. By the mid 1880

Lucas, KS Arts

Things to do near Lucas, KS

Elk Dreamer Art Gallery

The newest attraction to Wakeeney features southwest art prints and sculptures. ...

Lincoln Art Center

The Lincoln Art Center features a public art collection as well as rotating exhibits of visual arts. A number of local artist...

Waconda Lake Trails

Hiking and bicycle riding is permitted throughout the area (except for the refuges). Horse riding is limited to open, maintai...