The Sunken Gardens was constructed during the winter of 1930-31. It was a project for unemployed men during the depression. Parts of the land were donated to the city of Lincoln, NE by Mr. Henry H. and Mrs. Sarah H. Frey in 1906 and J.C. Seacrest in 1930. In the beginning it was called the "Rock Garden". The rocks use in the construction of the garden were harvested entirely from Lancaster County. It is the only garden in Nebraska listed in the National Geographic Guide to Public Gardens 300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada.[1]