Visiting with Kids

The Hartman Rock Garden is a great place to visit as a family! Our Kids Tour is perfect for children ages 7-12, while teenagers often prefer the Highlight Tour. If this is a return visit, or you are looking for ways to extend your visit, see our list of fun family activities below.

Kids Tour

Our free self-guided Kids Tour engages a child’s creative spirit and sense of wonder in an exploration of our visionary art environment. On the tour, kids search for art objects based on shape, hunt for hidden symbols, and then sketch and write about what they find. This program is designed for kids ages 7-12. Tour book are available on site in our visitor kiosk. You can download a digital version here.

Additional Family Activities

If you are looking for additional ways to connect with Ben’s art, our curatorial team has developed some fun activities that you can do as a family or group.

I Spy: Play “I Spy” and see if your group can identify the correct object using colors or shapes… I spy with my little eye something blue.

Explore and Share: The Cathedral windows are filled with things to discover. Ask your group to describe what they see. Be sure to share what you find as well.

Off the Beaten Path: Find an object that is off the beaten path or hidden from view. What can you learn about the object just by looking at it? Share this object’s story with your group.

Story Telling: Write a short story that includes one of the objects in the garden. Is someone lost in the desert? Do the concrete animals come alive at night? Who lives in the castle?

Theme – American Landmarks: Explore the garden using the American Landmarks theme. How many can you find? What do they have in common? Here are a few of the most popular: Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, Mount Vernon, and Independence Hall.

Theme – Religion: Explore the garden using the Religion theme. How many objects reflect Ben’s Christian beliefs? Here are a few of the most popular: God’s Gift to the World, Little Church Around the Corner, and the Cathedral.