Hartman Prehistoric Garden

The Hartman Prehistoric Garden is a botanical garden within Zilker Botanical Garden in Austin, Texas. It was created after the discovery of dinosaur footprints in 1992 at an old limestone quarry. The fossils of over 100 tracks from prehistoric reptiles and an ancient turtle were preserved, mapped, and reburied to protect them. The site was developed into a Cretaceous habitat with support from the Hartman Foundation, featuring plants believed to have existed 70 million years ago. Visitors can explore a landscape filled with ferns, horsetails, cycads, ginkgos, magnolias, and palms—over 100 species in all. A life-size bronze sculpture of an Ornithomimus, the dinosaur thought to have left the tracks, stands on an island in the main pond. This garden offers a unique blend of paleontology and botany, perfect for learning about prehistoric life while enjoying a peaceful outdoor setting.