Temple Of Tolerance

This is a place I have been frequenting since my youth. It's a sanctuary for many kids who just need a place to hang out and it's a great place for all ages to just check out. It costs you nothing to check it out and if you happen to stumble across the awesome owner, Jim, then you are in for an even bigger treat. Jim is such a great guy and such a good storyteller! If his yard doesn't tell you enough then he will. I've known Jim for a while and he's such an eccentric, animated, and all-around nice guy. My advice...don't just stop at the Temple of Tolerance once, make many visits, or heck become a regular here. It's hard to believe this is in Wapakoneta, Ohio but I'm glad it is. The Memorial to Ohio War Dead is a memorial he created to show how many Ohioans have been killed in battle since the War of 1812 and it was moving to me to see his dedication to such a memorial.

If you ever get a chance to hear Jim speak (if you can't find him in the Temple you can sometimes find him giving speeches elsewhere) you must go. I've been to a couple of his talks at the library in his town and he just sucks you in with his words. He gives you a lot to think about and I wish more people were like Jim!

There is a donation box on his front porch so be sure to leave a little if you stop by and have a look at the Temple. The money helps with upkeep and such for it all.

The first time I went to this place, I absolutely fell in love with it. I've gone back several times, and felt just as amazed every time. I had played tag with some friends the first time I went, and then just hung out after that. It's a really peaceful place to go, and I haven't run into anyone I didn't come with any of the times I've gone, so it's not really busy. Perfect for photos, either of people (you and/or friends), or of the place itself. This is my favorite place to go in Wapak. It's really peaceful most of the time, and also a really neat place in general, with the structures and history of the place, as well as the reason the man started it. It's completely free as well.

Dogs welcome. Bring your own poop bags. If you are lucky, you will meet Mr. Bowsher. We are bringing our camping club back next month. Admission is free but there is a donation box on the front porch. Well worth a visit.

Considering this is just an average home that turned into something bizarre and unique, please do go see it. It may seem weird just walking around into a backyard, but you will get over that. It would have been enlightening to meet the builder before he passed away, but it is really cool it is still there to be experienced.
It is part zen garden, shrine, military memorial and social commentary.

If you're in the mood for adventure and find yourself in Ohio near Wapakoneta on I-75, find the above address, a fascinating looking abode on a residential street. Drive around the nearest little alley and search out the back of the place. You'll see a most intriguing gate...park nearby, open it, and go inside. This is the Temple Of Tolerance.

We slipped inside this gate and giddily began to explore, suddenly lost in a wonderland of stone structures. I immediately spotted the Temple's creator, Jim Bowsher, reclining on a boulder, engrossed in a book. I sheepishly crept up to say hi and he invited us to sit on a nearby rock like an old friend. For the next hour, we sat spellbound as we listened to the single most inspirational, most amazing story and truth-teller I had ever heard. He got to know us, asking us questions and sharing stories from his life including his work as a writing teacher in prisons. He discussed in detail why these men end up incarcerated, what is wrong with the system and what can be done to help bring about change.

We were on the edge of our rock as he told us about a man who was brought into his classroom in chains and shackled to the floor, surprising everyone by being a great writer. The final project he gives the inmates is an assignment to write about the crimes they committed from the viewpoint of their victims. Intense! Jim offered me total encouragement and inspiration to do some outreach work I was about to begin, then went inside to eat a sandwich, leaving us to explore. To say the man is a gifted philosopher, artist, visionary, humanitarian, and teacher is the understatement of my life. I have never met a more charismatic human who is out to do genuine good in the world.

Apparently this included purchasing several backyards behind his house and erecting numerous large stone monuments, altars, and the large Temple itself in this expanse, all in the name of tolerance. You'll find old gravestones, millstones, statuary and relics from all over the world, many having historic significance. The sun was setting as we walked back through that gate uplifted and inspired, pulling onto I-75 with a kind of electric silence between us from having experienced this magical place.

Wapakenneta, a town about hour-and-a-half northwest of Columbus, is mainly known as the birthplace of Neil Armstrong if little else. But among its sleepy little houses on the glacial plains, the former Shawnee territory in NW Ohio is a growing roadstop novelty-- the Temple of Tolerence.

Built on a plot the size of four backyards, TOT is rich in history, both naturalist and human, and fabulous folk artwork. Called a rock garden, it was built by Jim Bowser, an archeologist, geologist, historian, and keeper of the oral tradition; if you have the fortune of meeting him, he may share some of his wonderful stories collected from people he has met since his youth.

To get there you park on the curb outside Jim's house in a common residential area ( you will know which it is from the rocks and items adorning the front garden.) Just help yourself through the iron gate; it may feel like your trespassing someone private residency, but Jim has a soul of a Native American poet, and a hippies stance on property; the TOT is a museum and all are welcome at any time of the day or night, as long as they respect the one ground rule--Tolerence.

Following a gothic like trail to the back will take you to a fantastic dream of rock and iron folk art: Small shrines, items if historic and historical importance, Native American millstones, newspaper article on windows, a large tipsy-turvy drum like shed, a Vietnam War Memorial, a statue tree of life, several oxidized gates, rocks in piles or heaps or rows, headstones, and scattered folk-Irish items; in center of the is the temple proper, a 15-foot high structure made of large glacially-left-boulders, and steps that carry you up. The pictures may make it look erry, Druid like, somewhere the thuggee goes to pull-out sacrificial hearts, but in truth the garden has a supreme peaceful feel. If there are spirits running about, they are benevolent ones.

The Temple of Tolerance is an amazing place, a showcase of what man can do, an escape from the Wal-Martinization of bland society. If you ever find yourself in Walpak, or need a trip to experience something unique, rare, a little eccentric--check it out!

On a normal looking street behind a normal looking house is the Temple Of Tolerance. There is street parking & it's a self guided tour with a donation request on the front porch. This is a must see if you love rocks, nature and or art. It has several turns and paths and can take anywhere from 15min. to an hour depending on how much you want to explore and appreciate the placement of each stone. Some things seemed odd and made you wonder what the heck??? Others were breathtaking. If you enjoy this, you may also want to check out Hartman Rock Garden.

I first heard of Jim Bowsher when he guest lectured a college class in 1986. His name re-entered my life when I became fascinated with the Weird Ohio book. A visit to this back yard was fascinating. I took my children and they were very intrigued. It is a must visit for our family....I hope my children can someday meet Mr. Bowsher. He is most fascinating!!

****while in town stop at Azteca Mexican Restaurant--just off I-75***

Thank you so much, Jim, for the amazing experience. What you have done is nothing less than amazing. Everyone should see this site!!! God bless you all!!!

Some coworkers and I were in town for the week and finished up early, so we thought we would check out some of the highlights of Wapakoneta. It was suggested to us to check this place out. We pulled onto the street in this residential neighborhood and it was pretty obvious which house you were looking for! It didn't look like anyone was home. I managed to find a phone number for the house and only got an answering machine. We then knocked on the door, and no answer. At this point, we weren't sure if we should simply start walking thru this guy's backyard, but we decided to go ahead and do it anyway. The gate to the backyard was open and off we went. Hey, it's billed as a rock garden so there were lots of rocks, along with foliage. Upon entry, we also saw his cat resting peacefully in a rocking chair. We started walking through the yard admiring all the different rocks and rock formations and was simply amazed by what we were seeing. Throughout the place were areas where you could just sit and relax, which my pregnant coworker did a few times! We kept thinking we would reach the end of the backyard, but nope, it just kept going and going and going (just like the Energizer bunny I suppose)! I couldn't believe the amount of rocks that had to be back there. You'll even find the door from the jail cell of members of John Dillinger's gang. Once you do finally reach the back part of the yard, it's like an open field with this big beautiful rock hill that you can climb to the top of. Simply stunning. I do wish the owner was there as I had a bunch of questions for him like "How many rocks are there?", "How does he get them all back there?", "How long has he been doing this?", and "Is he still continuing to expand it?". If you are in the area, stop by and spend 30 minutes or so walking thru his backyard. You'll be amazed!!