The Stoner Patriot Peace Garden of All Faiths in Panhandle, Texas, is a one-of-a-kind public art display blending a little bit of everything—interfaith messages of peace, biblical scripture, patriotic symbols, military references, famous quotes, and cannabis culture—into a visual message of lasting peace.
The park was dreamed up and created by Richard Daniel Baker, a local farmer, retired telephone repairman, and philanthropist. Scattered across the space, you’ll find an array of custom steel cutouts casting ever-changing shadows as the sun shifts overhead.
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As you make your way into the park, you’ll pass rows of metal slabs marked with laser-cut dates. While each is presented with no context, every date represents a major moment in American history:
- 12-7-1941: The attack on Pearl Harbor.
- 8-6-1945: The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan.
- 2-23-1836 – 3-6-1836: The Battle of the Alamo.
- 2-03-1959: “The Day the Music Died”—the tragic plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper.
- 11-22-1963: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
- 2-7-1964: The Beatles’ arrival in the U.S.
- 7-20-1969: Neil Armstrong’s moon landing.
- 8-15-1969 – 8-18-1969: Woodstock.
- 5-4-1970: The Kent State shootings.
- 12-8-1980: The death of John Lennon.
- 9-11-2001: The September 11 terrorist attacks.
Elsewhere in the park, metal signs combine ideas you don’t often see sharing the same space: a cannabis leaf and a “420” cutout rest near the Ten Commandments. Other signs reflect on nuclear warfare, religious diversity, John Lennon lyrics, military service, and the costs of conflict. A Peace Bench invites visitors to sit down, take a breath, and reflect on it all.
At the heart of the garden is a large peace sign with two signs on either side that read “Just Give” and “A Chance”—a tribute to the phrase “Just Give Peace a Chance,” attributed to both God and JL (John Lennon ).
It might not be obvious from the ground, but if you could look at the park from above, you’d see that the layout itself forms a giant peace sign.
You’ll find this unique roadside stop just east of Amarillo, and it fits right in with the area’s other wonderfully weird Route 66 attractions like Cadillac Ranch, the Big Legs of Amarillo, Slug Bug Ranch, the Leaning Tower of Texas, and the towering Groom Cross.
Photos of Stoner Patriot Peace Garden of All Faiths in Panhandle, Texas
