Pyramid Hill
Newfound Thrill
Published: 2/24/2021
By: Gordon Dawson
Located in Hamilton, OH, lies an amazing outdoor museum meticulously filled with beautiful sculptures. Started back in 1987, a man named Harry T. Wilks bought a small parcel of land to build his pyramid home and slowly acquired adjacent parcels to create the 300+ acre park known today as Pyramid Hill. He spent his life clearing the acreage, building roads, creating wandering hiking trails, even developing small lakes to showcase a vast collection of monumental outdoor sculptures. Harry wished to preserve the land for future generations, which inspired him, in 1997, to fashion Pyramid Hill into a non-profit cultural park accessible to the public while protecting it from private development. Stated best, Harry dreamed of "Bringing people to art in nature."
Situated on this 300+ acre of the property stands over 80 monumental outdoor sculptures. The park also features an Ancient Sculpture Museum that displays Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Syrian and Egyptian monuments dating to 1550 B.C. The park will host exhibits by local, regional, and national artists, best seen in their one-of-a-kind experience, the Art Cart. To date, Pyramid Hill is the only museum providing this type of experience, attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually and serving as the largest cultural tourist attraction in Butler County.
The stunning landscape and unique architectural elements offer ideal backdrops for weddings, corporate events, family reunions, or just finding the best spot for a picnic. However, the most sought-after tradition is driving through the park during its annual Christmas Lights display, whereby half of the estate puts on different amazement as more than a million lights delight the eyes of adults and children alike. Additionally, the Art Fair, displayed for only a weekend in September, brings together more than 60 visual artists and vendors from around the country for a weekend filled with modern and contemporary sculptures, paired with live music, family activities, and lots of food options.
From a personal stance, this place is far more than just a park. With its splendor and grandeur, you can spend an entire day walking or driving the Art Cart around this fantastic property while still seeing the sculptures differently, albeit an angle or the way the light is shining and shading. These grounds are truly a garden of shocking amazement, leaving you in disbelief that this place is in our backyard. An average travel time of 30 minutes from metro Cincinnati, exploring Pyramid Hill should be a priority for anyone with a love of art and the outdoors.
Context
Thoughts
– Have you ever visited an outdoor sculptural garden?
– Does sculptural art inspire you?
– What emotions can sculptural art stir within you?
