The Polk County Administration Building was one of several buildings erected by the federal government in Des Moines in the early 1900s. It was originally home to the U.S. Post Office which vacated it in 1971. An excellent example of Romanesque architecture, it features Corinthian columns and pilasters, pedimented doorways, arched windows, and decorative stonework. It also represents the authority of the federal government in Des Moines. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is also a contributing property of the Civic Center Historic District, which is listed on the National Register as well. The building also houses the Polk County Heritage Gallery, which displays art and historical exhibits.
Iowa carries the proud role of being one of the greatest food suppliers and innovators in the United States and abroad, and in 1986, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Normal Borlaug conceived the idea of the World Food Prize to emphasize the importance of innovation and creation in the fields of agriculture and food supply. Professor M. S. Swaminathan from India was the first World Food Prize laureate in 1987 for his creation of high-yielding wheat and rice varieties that led to India’s Green Revolution. Since then, many acclaimed individuals have received recognition for their world-changing work, and visitors looking to explore the World Food Prize and the state of agriculture in the world can travel to the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines. Located on the Des Moines River in the century-old Des Moines Public Library building, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates serves as a world-class museum recognizing achievements in agriculture and fighting hunger as well as an education facility that features interactive displays on food security and hunger.
The Iowa Homestead served as one of the most significant agricultural newspapers in the Midwest, serving farmers in Iowa and surrounding states for more than seventy years. The building served as the paper's headquarters and was constructed in two phases in 1893 and 1905. The building offers a window into understanding the history of Des Moines as a center of agriculture as it housed the Iowa Homestead and several other rural-targeted publications. The local firm of Smith & Gage designed the Homestead Building using many features of the Richardson Romanesque style of architecture.
Completed in 1919, the Savery Hotel was the tallest of Des Moines' downtown hotels for a time and characterized the growth of the city in the early 1900s. The Army used the building as an induction center, classrooms, and barracks for over seventy thousand members of the Women's Army Corps who trained here during World War II.The hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and thoroughly renovated in the following two years. It is now part of the Mariott chain.
Constructed at the start of the Great Depression, this historic Des Moines bank building is a landmark of Art Deco architectural design. the building served as the headquarters of the Iowa-Des Moines National Bank from the 1930s through the early 1970s. Plans for the construction of this building began in 1929 following the merger of Des Moines National Bank with the Iowa National Bank and the Des Moines Savings Bank and Trust Company. The original plans called for the construction of a twenty-one story skyscraper. The banking collapse and the Great Depression led to a scaling bank of these plans. The building was completed in 1932 and was five stories high owing to a recognition that there would no longer be the same opportunity to receive reliable monthly revenue by leasing floor space to various companies as was common in other office towers owned by banks. This bank building was unique in that it rented space to retailers on the lowest floor and placed the bank offices on higher floors. The building is now home to the main Des Moines branch of US Bank.
The Hippee Building emerged in 1913 at a time when Des Moines experienced as modest building boom in the city's downtown region, including a few skyscraper construction projects. The Hippee Building derives its name from George B. Hippee, a prominent banker and railroad entrepreneur. His father also enjoys fame as one of the city's pioneers and first successful business people in Des Moines.
The Fleming Building towers over 6th Avenue and Walnut Street in the Central Business District at 11 stories tall. Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of the well-known Daniel Burnham, the building was completed in 1909. The Fleming Building is an example of the Commercial style of architecture, with some Beaux Arts elements. It is notable as one of the earliest steel framed structures in all of Iowa. The Fleming building has been converted into studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments. The first two floors are reserved for restaurant, retail, and office space. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
The Younkers Brothers Department Store building was built by the company in 1899. The firm began in Keokuk, Iowa in 1856. The building featured a Tea Room after 1913, which was replaced in 1927. The "electric stairs" installed in 1939 was the first escalator in Iowa. The company left the structure in 2005. The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. The building was being renovated in 2014 into retail space and 120 apartments when a fire almost destroyed the structure. The eastern part of the structure (the 1899 portion) was demolished, but the western portion along Walnut St. (1909) has been rebuilt into commercial space on the ground floor, including the Tea Room. The 60 new apartments above are now known as the Wilkins Building.
Construction of the first three stories of Des Moines' Flynn-Griffin Building was completed in 1885, and the top three stories were added in 1906. The building was the site of a significant civil rights protest and is also significant for its association with entrepreneur Martin Flynn. Flynn's wealth came through finance, and his bank served as the building's main occupant for decades. As a result, the structure became known as "Flynn's Block," and its combination of office spaces and retail outlets on the first floor proved highly influential in the development of Des Moines' commercial success. In 1930, the bank left, and Katz Drug Store moved into the first floor. Although the state of Iowa passed civil rights laws in the late 19th century, they were largely ignored. In 1948, civil rights activist Edna Griffin and her friends sat down at the white-only Katz counter and requested service. They were denied, and Griffin sued the company for violating the law. The incident eventually resulted in Katz ending their policy of racial discrimination after the authorities and courts continually ruled to uphold the state civil rights law thanks to the perseverance of Edna Griffin and other African Americans. The building today functions as an apartment complex, and a new drug store is planning to occupy the lower level of the building.
St. Ambrose Cathedral is a historic Catholic church built in 1891. It is a fine example of Romanesque Revival architecture and features a tower that stands 120 feet tall. Designed by architect James Egan, the church is the third building for the St. Ambrose congregation, which was the first Catholic congregation in the city. The building also features stained glass windows depicting the arrival of Catholicism in Iowa and in the U.S.; this is unusual for Catholic Church as stained glass windows typically portray biblical themes. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, St. Paul's Episcopal Church was built in 1885. The church, which is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture, is the last of seven original churches located in the immediate area. Together, they were known as "Piety Hill" and included Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Christian, churches; there was also a Jewish temple.
Hotel Fort Des Moines has been a Des Moines landmark since it was built in 1919. Local architect firm Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson designed it and its construction was financed by a number of notable businessmen. The hotel is eleven stories tall, reaching a height of 140 feet, and is in the shape of an "H". At the time of its completion, the hotel was the largest in Iowa. It temporarily closed in 2015 so that an extensive $50 million dollar renovation project could begin. As of April 2019, it is unclear when work will be completed. Several presidents and celebrities have stayed at the hotel including Harry Truman, George H.W. Bush, Charles Lindbergh, Elvis Presley, and even Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev. The large ballrooms were used for caucuses and political rallies. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Between the early 1900s and World War II, Des Moines was home to numerous automobile manufactures, assembly lines, and other industries associated with the automotive industry. By 1920, the section of Locust Street that stretched from 9th street to 15th street was known as "Auto Row." Future Iowa Governor and US Senator Clyde L. Herring operated one of those automobile manufacturing companies, the Herring Motor Car Company, at this location. The building was constructed in 1912. Within three years, the building was expanded from four stories to six stories. Herring was fortunate to have become a close business associate of Henry Ford, acquiring an exclusive deal with the burgeoning industrialist. Herring's company sold and even assembled Ford vehicles at this location. By 1915, the Herring Motor Company was assembling as many as 30 cars per day. Herring attempted to enter politics during the 1920s before his successful campaign for the governorship of Iowa in 1932.
The Des Moines Social Club is an arts and entertainment center designed to be a creative hub for the city of Des Moines. It provides space for artists of all types (musicians, visual artists, dancers, writers, etc.) to practice their craft and commune with one another and with the general community.
The Polk County Courthouse was built in 1906 and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Des Moines. Designed by the prominent architecture firm Proudfoot & Bird, the courthouse is a notable example of the Beaux-Arts style. The building is the third courthouse to serve Polk County; it replaced the second one built in 1862. The courthouse features countless design elements including arches, Corinthian columns, pavilions, and an enormous tower that has clocks on all four sides. Inside, the building features a domed rotunda and several murals painted by Charles A. Cummings and Edwdard Simmons. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Built in 1896, Earle & LeBosquet Block replaced a previous three-story structure that had been built two decades prior and was home to the offices of some of the city's leading firms. The DDes Moines structure was one of the city's first Chicago Commercial Style structures, and it was designed by the locally-renowned architect, Charles E. Eastman. The building held office space and reflects a time when the nation was recovering from the Panic of 1893. At the turn-of-the-century, Des Moines enjoyed substantial economic growth related to its role as a regional hub for business and trade made possible by the expansion of the railways and the centrality of Iowa's farms and businesses to the larger economy.
The Youngerman Block building is significant for its unique architecture and association with its builder and namesake, Conrad Youngerman (1833-1901), and the architect who designed it, William Foster (1842-1909). Youngerman was a German immigrant who became a leading building contractor in the city in the 1800s. He built the Youngerman Block in 1876 and it is one of the earliest buildings he constructed that is still standing. Foster designed many buildings in Iowa including courthouses, churches, and commercial buildings. In terms of architecture, the Youngerman Block combines the Italianate and Art Deco styles. Italianate features include the tall, narrow windows, the decorative window surrounds with keystones, and the bracketed cornice. The Art Deco storefront was added in 1935. It features red, green, and Black ceramic tiles and chevron patterns. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
The Hawkeye Insurance Company was the first successful casualty insurance company in Des Moines. Founded in 1865, it was housed in this building from its original construction in 1869 until the early 1900s. Local architect William Foster designed it as well as many other buildings in the city, including the Youngerman Building across the street, and throughout Iowa. The Hawkeye Insurance building is a fine example of Italianate architecture. It features an elaborate bracketed cornice, tall and thin hooded windows, and decorative terra cotta and brickwork.
Built by businessman Jacob Rubelmann in 1884, the Des Moines Saddlery Company Building is an historic building situated in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. It is the oldest and most intact example of commercial Italianate architecture in the city. It is now the home of the Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Warfield, Pratt and Howell Company Warehouse occupied this location on Court and Water streets in 1884, They had this warehouse built in 1900-1901 for their wholesale grocery company. The Warfield and Pratt partners had moved the business to Iowa in 1880; Pratt became a partner in 1897. The six-story brick building reaches about 80 feet in height. A matching addition was added to the structure about six years after completion, resulting in two public facades, with the new façade on Water Street. After 1935, other businesses were housed in the building. It was listed in the National Register in 1985 and is now leased for office space.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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Starting at the first street west of the river at a renovated warehouse, this loop through downtown Des Moines includes museums, churches, hotels, and several historic buildings such as the Savory Hotel, St. Ambrose Cathedral, and the Polk County Courthouse.
