Abstract art? Large sculptures of body parts lying around? Joseph Smith‘s head on a sphinx? Oh yeah, Gilgal Garden has it all.
And so much more.
Oh, so much more.
I’ve been driving by Gilgal Garden for years and had NO idea what type of awesomeness was tucked in a corner of downtown Salt Lake City. I mean, how would I?
Not too long ago, my friend Aly and I decided to play tourist in our current hometown and Gilgal Garden was at the top of our list (I’d been toying with the idea of paying it a visit for months, but it didn’t really seem like a place I really needed to get to, you know? Like, it’s not one of those places that I’d consider taking some time off of work to experience).
We finally had a Saturday free of obligations, trips, and snow/rain, and set out on our adventure.
Let me just point out that this place is weird. In a good way.
The entrance to Gilgal Garden is located across the street from Trolley Square on 500 South, between 700 and 800 East, tucked between a new housing development construction site and some cute, older houses. Ashlyn and I parked right by the entrance and could see magic from the street.
(Can you spot it in the above picture?)
I knew that a giant sphinx sculpture with the head of Joseph Smith was the focal point of the Garden, but nothing…I repeat…NOTHING can prepare you for the crazy weirdness/uniqueness that it is. And for the record: No, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints don’t worship Joseph Smith.
Regardless of your religious (or non-religious) affiliation, Gilgal Garden is a treat for the eyes. I mean, just look at those pants!
Thomas Child built Gilgal Garden in the mid 1900s as a way “to give physical form to his deep-felt beliefs.” There are tons of scriptures from the Bible accompanied by sculptures that Child and local artisans produced. No, this wasn’t built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This was just a way a rich old man decided to spend 18 years of his life creating.
One of the more thought-provoking displays is the plaque of dedications. Queen Victoria? Really? I guess it just adds to the…uniqueness…of it all.
My friend and I took our time strolling along the paths that criss-crossed through the Garden, trying to understand why the scripture verses were there, and how they coincided with the sculptures. Let me tell ya…it’s not that easy to do!
I’ve been struggling to put into words what best describes this “Secret Garden of Salt Lake,” but I think that this quote just about sums it up…
Gilgal provides plenty of odd visuals. Oversized human body parts are scattered down a mossy man-made hill. A towering barbed spike is topped by a wire-frame trumpeter. Near the sphinx is a man with a sword, carved into an upright slab, with his head replaced by a lumpy boulder. Mormon theology might help to explain some of this, sort of, but frankly most Mormons are as puzzled by Gilgal as everyone else. – See more at: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11817#sthash.1gahTukG.dpuf
It’s true. There are body parts everywhere. Visitor-made hoo-doos have been tucked in a corner. Scriptures everywhere.
It’s crazy. About half of the time I was there, I was calling out to Ashlyn to take a look at the weird thing I just found, only to see her head cocked to the side, trying to figure out another sculpture that I hadn’t seen. Trippy, for sure.
Don’t get too hung up on the visual. Art is the expression of the artist…and it sometimes only makes sense to them…
Is Gilgal Garden worth a visit? Heck yeah. The best part? It takes under an hour to see everything!
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