Temple of Tolerance

203 South Wood Street, Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895 USA

Independent

“history coming alive!”

Jim Bowsher loves local history. He loves having it come alive for people, and not just being some stuffy thing in a book. That's part of why he built what he calls the Temple of Tolerance in his backyard. Well, actually, in three backyards that he purchased to make room for the giant glacial rocks that stand at the heart of it. Jim's also an amateur archaelogist with a penchant for finding so-called banded rocks indigenous to this part of northern Ohio - the result of volcanic actiivity a long, long time ago. He tracks down these enormous boulders, then moves them into place in the yard with levers, no power tools, and in doing so has created a stately, majestic backyard environment quite unlike any other we've seen. In and around the rocks, he's added pieces from old buildings and farmsteads around Wapakoneta. When people roam around and over the Temple of Tolerance, the energies from those structures inspire dialogue and memories. And that's how history should be taught, he believes. Jim says airplane pilots have come to his door because they couldn't believe what they saw flying over it. And oh yes, there's bluegrass music here on warm Thursday nights. You're invited.

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Reviewed by
steven

4 Reviews
5 Helpful

September 17, 2013

This place was such a surprise. From the road, it looks like just another home in the neighborhood, but when you go back, you'll see all kinds of contemporary artifacts that you can interact with. It's a very calm atmosphere and a great place to stop, stretch, and relax on a long road trip.

3 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
roadtripper183844

2 Reviews
12 Helpful

September 27, 2020

Rated 5.0

This is such a unique spot! My husband didn’t get out of the car because the address is literally a person’s house on a residential street. But I walked right into his backyard and lo and behold - a huge secret garden! It was full of paths and statues, greenery, sculptures and at the end a huge stone monument (1-2 flights of stairs). Stop by, no permission needed to enter. If you’ve ever been to Detroit’s Heidelberg Project, this is a similar concept.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
pattimark

17 Reviews
5 Helpful

August 22, 2016

Rated 5.0

Very cool place, lots of cool little areas lead from one to another. Make sure to get all the way back to the large area with the temple in it- climb up and look around, it is a very unique and beautiful place!

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
dimaline

1 Review
0 Helpful

August 04, 2023

Rated 5.0

This is an AMAZING stop. A once in a lifetime oddity that moves you. Honestly, I don’t quite know how to describe it other than to say that you have to go.

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Reviewed by
roadtripper225449

2 Reviews
0 Helpful

August 12, 2021

Rated 5.0

I was really surprised it's surprised when it seemed like we pulled up in front of somebody's house and and when you walk back The backyard went on and on it it was really breathtaking

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