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Hartman Prehistoric Garden

Austin, Italy

Hartman Prehistoric Garden

The Hartman Prehistoric Garden is a botanical garden within the Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin, Texas, USA. In January 1992 Karen and Dr. Mike Duffin discovered dinosaur footprints in Zilker Park in an old limestone quarry which had recently been cleared for the installation of a butterfly garden

. Dr. Duffin contacted Professor Wann Langston, director emeritus of the Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory of the Texas Memorial Museum. The fossils of more than 100 preserved tracks made by six or seven prehistoric reptiles, along with the bones of an ancient turtle were discovered. Immediately they began to study the best means of preserving the tracks. They were mapped and casts were made, and then they were reburied to prevent further deterioration due to exposure to the elements. A major funding drive was undertaken by the Hartman Foundation of West Lake Hills, Texas which provided a major monetary donation, and helped organize many volunteers to develop the site and 2 acres (8,100 m2) the surrounding area as a Cretaceous habitat. Claudette Hartman organized this effort for the Hartman Foundation. The garden hardscape was designed by Larson/Burns and Smith, Inc., and their plans were...

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