pre-historic native Americans skyscrapers skywalks
museums and botanical gardens
Des Moines
traces its origins to May 1843 with the construction of a fort on the site
where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. The fort was built to control
the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians, whom the government had
moved to the area from their traditional lands in eastern Iowa.
Native American Tribes did not fare well as the illegal whiskey trade and the destruction of
traditional life led to severe problems for their society. At least three Late
Prehistoric villages, dating from about AD 1300 to 1700, stood in or near what
developed later as downtown Des Moines. In addition, 15 to 18
prehistoric American Indian mounds were observed in this area by
early settlers. All have been destroyed during development of the city.
Archaeological Excavations have shown many fort-related structures; soldiers stationed at Fort
Des Moines opened the first coal mines in the area, mining coal from the
riverbank for the fort's blacksmith.
Present Day Des Moines changed from the 1970s to the1990s, as several new skyscrapers were
built. In the 21st century, the city has had more major construction in the
downtown area. The Principal Riverwalk features trails, pedestrian bridges
across the river, a fountain and skating plaza, and a civic garden in front of
the City Hall. Existing downtown buildings were converted to loft apartments.
A Cultural Center with Several Art and History
Museums as well as Performing Arts Groups
The Metro Opera House has been a cultural resource in Des Moines since 1973. The Opera
offers educational and outreach programs and is one of the largest performing
arts organizations in the state.
The Des Moines Art Center presents art exhibitions and educational programs as well as studio
art classes. The Center houses a collection from the 19th century to
the present. An extension of the art center is downtown in an urban museum
space, featuring several exhibitions a year.
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a collection
of 24 Sculptures
The Greater
Des Moines Botanical Garden is an indoor
conservatory of over 15,000 exotic plants. Developed by the city's Asian
community, the Gardens include a three-story Chinese pavilion, bonsai
landscaping, and granite sculptures that highlight the importance of diversity
and recognize Asian American contributions in Iowa.
The East Village begins at the river and extends about five blocks east to the State
Capitol Building, offering a blend of historic buildings, eateries, boutiques,
art galleries, and a wide variety of retail establishments and residences.
Transportation Des Moines has an
extensive skywalk system within its downtown core. With over four miles of
enclosed walkway, it is one of the largest of such systems in the United
States. The public transit system consists entirely of buses, including regular
in-city routes and express and commuter buses to outlying suburban areas.