Des Moines is an important city in U.S. presidential politics; as the state's capital, it is the site of the firstcaucuses of thepresidential primary cycle. Many presidential candidates set up campaign headquarters in Des Moines. A 2007 article inThe New York Times said, "If you have any desire to witness presidential candidates in the most close-up and intimate of settings, there is arguably no better place to go than Des Moines."[11]
Des Moines takes its name from Fort Des Moines (1843–46), which was named for theDes Moines River. This was adopted from the name given byFrench colonists.Des Moines (pronounced[demwan]ⓘ; formerly[demwɛn]) translates literally to either "from the monks" or "of the monks" from French.
One popular interpretation of "Des Moines" concludes that it refers to a group of FrenchTrappist monks, who in the 17th century lived in huts built on top of what is now known as the ancientMonks Mound atCahokia, the major center ofMississippian culture, which developed in what is present-day Illinois, east of the Mississippi River and the city ofSt. Louis. This was some 200 miles (320 km) from the Des Moines River.[12]
Based on archaeological evidence, the junction of theDes Moines andRaccoon Rivers has attracted humans for at least 7,000 years. Several prehistoric occupation areas have been identified by archaeologists indowntown Des Moines. Discovered in December 2010, the "Palace" is an expansive 7,000-year-old site found during excavations prior to construction of the new wastewater treatment plant in southeast Des Moines. It contains well-preserved house deposits and numerous graves. More than 6,000 artifacts were found at this site. State of Iowa archaeologist John Doershuk was assisted byUniversity of Iowa archaeologists at this dig.[13]
At least three villages, dating from about AD 1300 to 1700, stood in or near what developed later as downtown Des Moines. In addition, 15 to 18 prehistoricNative American mounds were observed in the area by early settlers. All have been destroyed during development of the city.[14][15]
Map of Fort Des Moines sites in downtown Des Moines[16]
Des Moines traces its origins to May 1843, when CaptainJames Allen supervised the construction of a fort on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. Allen wanted to use the name Fort Raccoon; however, theU.S. War Department preferred Fort Des Moines. The fort was built to control theSauk andMeskwaki peoples, whom the government had moved to the area from their traditional lands in eastern Iowa. The fort was abandoned in 1846 after the Sauk and Meskwaki were removed from the state and shifted to theIndian Territory.[17]
The Sauk and Meskwaki did not fare well in Des Moines. The illegal whiskey trade, combined with the destruction of traditional lifeways, led to severe problems for their society. One newspaper reported:
"It is a fact that the location of Fort Des Moines among the Sac and Fox Indians (under its present commander) for the last two years, had corrupted them more and lowered them deeper in the scale of vice and degradation, than all their intercourse with the whites for the ten years previous".[17]
After officialremoval, the Meskwaki continued to return to Des Moines until around 1857.[15]
Archaeological excavations have shown that many fort-related features survived under what is nowMartin Luther King Jr. Parkway and First Street.[17][18] Soldiers stationed at Fort Des Moines opened the first coal mines in the area, mining coal from the riverbank for the fort's blacksmith.[19]
Settlers occupied the abandoned fort and nearby areas. On May 25, 1846, the state legislature designated Fort Des Moines as the seat of Polk County. Arozina Perkins, a school teacher who spent the winter of 1850–1851 in the town of Fort Des Moines, was not favorably impressed:
This is one of the strangest looking "cities" I ever saw... This town is at the juncture of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It is mostly a level prairie with a few swells or hills around it. We have a court house of "brick" and one church, a plain, framed building belonging to the Methodists. There are two taverns here, one of which has a most important little bell that rings together some fifty boarders. I cannot tell you how many dwellings there are, for I have not counted them; some are of logs, some of brick, some framed, and some are the remains of the olddragoon houses... The people support two papers and there are several dry goods shops. I have been into but four of them... Society is as varied as the buildings are. There are people from nearly every state, and Dutch, Swedes, etc.[20]
In May 1851, much of the town was destroyed during theFlood of 1851. "The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers rose to an unprecedented height, inundating the entire country east of the Des Moines River. Crops were utterly destroyed, houses and fences swept away."[21] The city started to rebuild from scratch.
The Barney Sakulin cabin, moved from Washington County, memorializes Fort Des Moines.[22]
On September 22, 1851, Des Moines was incorporated as a city; the charter was approved by voters on October 18. In 1857, the name "Fort Des Moines" was shortened to "Des Moines", and it was designated as the second state capital, previously atIowa City. Growth was slow during theCivil War period, but the city exploded in size and importance after a railroad link was completed in 1866.[23]
In 1864, the Des Moines Coal Company was organized to begin the first systematic mining in the region. Its first mine, north of town on the river's west side, was exhausted by 1873. The Black Diamond mine, near the south end of the West Seventh Street Bridge, sank a 150-foot (46 m)mine shaft to reach a 5-foot-thick (1.5 m) coal bed. By 1876, this mine employed 150 men and shipped 20 carloads of coal per day. By 1885, numerous mine shafts were within the city limits, and mining began to spread into the surrounding countryside. By 1893, 23 mines were in the region.[24] By 1908, Des Moines' coal resources were largely exhausted.[25] In 1912, Des Moines still had eight locals of theUnited Mine Workers union, representing 1,410 miners.[26] This was about 1.7% of the city's population in 1910.
By 1880, Des Moines had a population of 22,408, making it Iowa's largest city. It displaced the three Mississippi River ports: Burlington, Dubuque, and Davenport, that had alternated holding the position since the territorial period. Des Moines has remained Iowa's most populous city. In 1910, the Census Bureau reported Des Moines' population as 97.3% white and 2.7% black, reflecting its early settlement pattern primarily by ethnic Europeans.[27]
The ornate riverfront balustrades that line the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers were built by the federalCivilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s, during theGreat Depression under Democratic PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, as a project to provide local employment and improve infrastructure. The ornamental fountains that stood along the riverbank were buried in the 1950s when the city began a postindustrial decline that lasted until the late 1980s.[28][29] The city has since rebounded, transforming from a blue-collar industrial city to a white-collar professional city.
An aerial view of floodwaters, July 19, 1993
In 1907, the city adopted acity commission government known as the Des Moines Plan, comprising an elected mayor and four commissioners, all electedat-large, who were responsible for public works, public property, public safety, and finance. Considered progressive at the time, it diluted the votes of ethnic and national minorities, who generally could not command a majority to elect a candidate of their choice.
That form of government was scrapped in 1950 in favor of acouncil-manager government, with the council members elected at-large. In 1967, the city changed its government to elect four of the seven city council members fromsingle-member districts or wards, rather than at-large. This enabled a broader representation of voters. As with many major urban areas, the city core began losing population to the suburbs in the 1960s (the peak population of 208,982 was recorded in 1960), as highway construction led to new residential construction outside the city. The population was 198,682 in 2000 and grew slightly to 200,538 in 2009.[30] The growth of the outlying suburbs has continued, and the overall metropolitan-area population is over 700,000 today.
During theGreat Flood of 1993, heavy rains throughout June and early July caused the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers to rise above flood stage levels. The Des Moines Water Works was submerged by floodwaters during the early morning hours of July 11, 1993, leaving an estimated 250,000 people without running water for 12 days and without drinking water for 20 days. Des Moines suffered major flooding again in June 2008 with a majorlevee breach.[31] The Des Moines River is controlled upstream bySaylorville Reservoir. In both 1993 and 2008, the flooding river overtopped the reservoir spillway.
Today, Des Moines is a member ofICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Through ICLEI, Des Moines has implemented "The Tomorrow Plan", a regional plan focused on developing central Iowa in a sustainable fashion, centrally-planned growth, and resource consumption to manage the local population.[32]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 90.65 square miles (234.78 km2),[33] of which 88.93 square miles (230.33 km2) is land and 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2) is covered by water.[34] It is 850 feet (260 m) above sea level at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers.
In November 2005, Des Moines voters approved a measure that allowed the city to annex parcels of land in the northeast, southeast, and southern corners of Des Moines without agreement by local residents, particularly areas bordering theIowa Highway 5/U.S. 65 bypass. The annexations became official on June 26, 2009, as 5,174 acres (20.94 km2) and around 868 new residents were added to the city of Des Moines.[35] An additional 759 acres (3.07 km2) were voluntarily annexed to the city over that same period.[35]
The skyline of Des Moines changed in the 1970s and the 1980s, when several new skyscrapers were built. Additional skyscrapers were built in the 1990s, including Iowa's tallest. Before then, the 19-storyEquitable Building, from 1924, was the tallest building in the city and the tallest building in Iowa. The 25-storyFinancial Center was completed in 1973 and the 36-storyRuan Center was completed in 1974. They were later joined by the 33-storyDes Moines Marriott Hotel (1981), the 25-storyHUB Tower and 25-storyPlaza Building (1985). Iowa's tallest building,Principal Financial Group's 45-story tower at801 Grand was built in 1991, and the 19-storyEMC Insurance Building was erected in 1997.
During this time period, theCivic Center of Greater Des Moines (1979) was developed; it hosts Broadway shows and special events. Also constructed were theGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden (1979), a large city botanical garden/greenhouse on the east side of the river; thePolk County Convention Complex (1985), and the State of Iowa Historical Museum (1987). The Des Moinesskywalk also began to take shape during the 1980s. The skywalk system is 4 miles (6.4 km) long and connects many downtown buildings.[36][37]
In the early 21st century, the city has had more major construction in the downtown area. The newScience Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater and theIowa Events Center opened in 2005. The new central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, designed by renowned architectDavid Chipperfield of London, opened on April 8, 2006.
TheWorld Food Prize Foundation, which is based in Des Moines, completed adaptation and restoration of theformer Des Moines Public Library building in October 2011. The former library now serves as the home and headquarters of theNorman Borlaug/World Food Prize Hall of Laureates.
At the center of North America and far removed from large bodies of water, the Des Moines area has a hot summer typehumid continental climate (KöppenDfa), with warm to hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Summer temperatures can often climb into the 90 °F (32 °C) range, occasionally reaching 100 °F (38 °C). Humidity can be high in spring and summer, with frequent afternoonthunderstorms. Fall brings pleasant temperatures and colorfulfall foliage. Winters vary from moderately cold to bitterly cold, with low temperatures venturing below 0 °F (−18 °C) quite often. Snowfall averages 36.5 inches (93 cm) per season, and annual precipitation averages 36.55 inches (928 mm), with a peak in the warmer months. Winters are slightly colder thanChicago, but still warmer thanMinneapolis, with summer temperatures being very similar between theUpper Midwest metropolitan areas.
The2020 United States census counted 214,133 people, 87,958 households, and 48,599 families in Des Moines.[47][48] The population density was 2,428.4 per square mile (937.6/km2). There were 95,082 housing units at an average density of 1,078.3 per square mile (416.3/km2).[48][49]
The 2020 census population of the city included 252 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 2,378 people in student housing.[51]
Of the 87,958 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18; 35.5% were married couples living together; 31.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 35.3% of households consisted of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[48] The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.3.[52] The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 19.9% of the population.[53] Of the population age 25 and over, 86.7% were high school graduates or higher and 27.9% had a bachelor's degree or higher.[54]
23.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males.[48] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 104.4 males.[48]
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $54,843 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,544) and the median family income was $66,420 (+/- $1,919).[55] Males had a median income of $38,326 (+/- $1,405) versus $29,855 (+/- $1,327) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $33,699 (+/- $740).[56] Approximately, 12.1% of families and 16.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those ages 65 or over.[57][58]
Map of racial distribution in Des Moines, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people:⬤ White⬤ Black⬤ Asian⬤ Hispanic⬤ Other
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 203,433 people, 81,369 households, and 47,491 families residing in the city.[59]Population density was 2,515.6 inhabitants per square mile (971.3/km2). There were 88,729 housing units at an average density of 1,097.2 per square mile (423.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city forunincorporated areas not merged with the city proper was 66.2%White, 15.5%African Americans, 0.5%Native American, 4.0%Asian, and 2.6% fromTwo or more races. People ofHispanic orLatino origin, of any race, made up 12.1% of the population. The city's racial make up during the 2010 census was 76.4%White, 10.2%African American, 0.5%Native American, 4.4%Asian (1.2% Vietnamese, 0.9% Laotian, 0.4% Burmese, 0.3% Asian Indian, 0.3% Thai, 0.2% Chinese, 0.2% Cambodian, 0.2% Filipino, 0.1% Hmong, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Nepalese), 0.1%Pacific Islander, 5.0% fromother races, and 3.4% from two or more races. People ofHispanic orLatino origin, of any race, formed 12.0% of the population (9.4% Mexican, 0.7% Salvadoran, 0.3% Guatemalan, 0.3% Puerto Rican, 0.1% Honduran, 0.1% Ecuadorian, 0.1% Cuban, 0.1% Spaniard, 0.1% Spanish).Non-Hispanic Whites were 70.5% of the population in 2010.[44] Des Moines also has a sizeableSouth Sudanese community.[60]
There were 81,369 households, of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.11.
The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 198,682 people, 80,504 households, and 48,704 families in the city.[61] The population density was 2,621.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,012.1/km2). There were 85,067 housing units at an average density of 1,122.3 per square mile (433.3/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 82.3%white, 8.07%Black, 0.35%American Indian, 3.50% Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 3.52% fromother races, and 2.23% from two or more races. 6.61% of the population wereHispanic or Latino of any race. 20.9% were ofGerman, 10.3% Irish, 9.1% "American" and 8.0% English ancestry, according toCensus 2000.
There were 80,504 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,408, and the median income for a family was $46,590. Males had a median income of $31,712 versus $25,832 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,467. About 7.9% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those ages 65 or over.
As a center of financial and insurance services, other major corporations headquartered outside of Iowa have a presence in the Des Moines Metro area, includingWells Fargo,Voya Financial, andElectronic Data Systems (EDS). TheMeredith Corporation, a leading publishing and marketing company, was also based in Des Moines prior to its acquisition byIAC and merger withDotdash in 2021. Meredith publishedBetter Homes and Gardens, one of the most widely circulated publications in the United States. Des Moines was also the headquarters ofGolf Digest magazine.
TheBrotherhood of American Yeomen, headquartered in Des Moines, went through various mergers before it becameAmerUs, which was purchased byAviva in 2006, for $2.9 billion.[68] In 2017,Kemin Industries opened a state-of-the-art worldwide headquarters building in Des Moines.[69]
The City of Des Moines is a cultural center for Iowa and home to several art and history museums andperforming arts groups. The Des Moines Performing Arts routinely hosts touringBroadway shows and other live professional theater. The Temple for Performing Arts and Des Moines Playhouse are other venues for live theater, comedy, and performance arts.
TheDes Moines Metro Opera 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.Ballet Des Moines was established in 2002. Performing three productions each year, the Ballet also provides opportunities for education and outreach.
TheDes Moines Symphony performs frequently at different venues. In addition to performing seven pairs of classical concerts each season, the Symphony also entertains with New Year's Eve Pops and its annual Yankee Doodle Pops concerts.
Jazz in July[70] is an annual event founded in 1969 that performs free jazz shows daily at venues throughout the city during July.
TheSimon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater is an outdoor concert venue on the east bank of theDes Moines River which hosts music events such as the Alive Concert Series.
TheDes Moines Art Center, with wings designed by architectsI.M. Pei andRichard Meier, presents art exhibitions and educational programs as well as studio art classes. The Center houses a collection of artwork from the 19th century to the present. An extension of the art center is downtown in an urban museum space, featuring three or four exhibitions each year.
ThePappajohn Sculpture Park was established in 2009. It showcases a collection of 24 sculptures donated by Des Moines philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn. Nearby is the Temple for Performing Arts, a cultural center for the city. Next to the Temple is the 117,000-square-foot (10,900 m2) Central Library, designed by renowned English architectDavid Chipperfield.
Salisbury House and Gardens is a 42-room historic house museum on 10 acres (4 ha) of woodlands in the South of Grand neighborhood of Des Moines. It is named after—and loosely inspired by—King's House inSalisbury, England. Built in the 1920s by cosmetics magnate Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith, the Salisbury House contains authentic 16th-century English oak and rafters dating toShakespeare's days, numerous other architectural features re-purposed from other historic English homes, and an internationally significant collection of original fine art, tapestries, decorative art, furniture, musical instruments, and rare books and documents. The Salisbury House is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places, and has been featured on A&E'sAmerica's Castles and PBS'sAntiques Roadshow. Prominent artists in the Salisbury House collection includeJoseph Stella,Lillian Genth,Anthony van Dyck andLawrence Alma-Tadema.
Built in 1877 by prominent pioneer businessmanHoyt Sherman,Hoyt Sherman Place mansion was Des Moines' first public art gallery and houses a distinctive collection of 19th and 20th century artwork. Its restored 1,250-seat theater features an intricaterococo plaster ceiling and excellent acoustics and is used for a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.
TheIowa State Capitol, completed in 1886, is one of two state capitols to feature five domes, a central golden dome surrounded by four smaller domes. The other is theRhode Island State House.
Arising in the east and facing westward toward downtown, theIowa State Capitol building with its 275-foot (84 m), 23-karat gold leafed dome towering above the city is a favorite of sightseers. Four smaller domes flank the main dome. The Capitol houses the governor's offices, legislature, and the old Supreme Court Chambers. The ornate interior also features a grand staircase, mural "Westward", five-story law library, scale model of theUSSIowa, and collection of first lady dolls. Guided tours are available.
The Capitol grounds include a World War II memorial with sculpture and Wall of Memories, the 1894 Soldiers and Sailors Monument of theCivil War and memorials honoring those who served in theSpanish–American,Korean, andVietnam Wars.The West Capitol Terrace provides the entrance from the west to the state's grandest building, theState Capitol Building. The 10-acre (4 ha) "people's park" at the foot of the Capitol complex includes a promenade and landscaped gardens, in addition to providing public space for rallies and special events. A granite map of Iowa depicting all 99 counties rests at the base of the terrace and has become an attraction for in-state visitors, many of whom walk over the map to find their home county.
The State of Iowa Historical Museum is near the state capitol in Des Moines' East Village.
Iowa's history lives on in theState of Iowa Historical Museum. This modern granite and glass structure at the foot of the State Capitol Building houses permanent and temporary exhibits exploring the people, places, events, and issues of Iowa's past. The showcase includes native wildlife,American Indian and pioneer artifacts, and political and military items. The museum features a genealogy and Iowa history library, museum gift shop, and cafe.
Terrace Hill, a National Historic Landmark and Iowa Governor's Residence, is among the best examples of American Victorian Second Empire architecture. This opulent 1869 home was built by Iowa's first millionaire, Benjamin F. Allen, and restored to the late 19th century period. It overlooks downtown Des Moines and is situated on 8 acres (3.2 ha) with a re-created Victorian formal garden. Tours are conducted Tuesdays through Saturdays from March through December.
The 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater offers seven interactive learning areas, live programs, and hands-on activities encouraging learning and fun for all ages. Among its three theaters include the 216-seat Blank IMAX Dome Theater, 175-seatJohn Deere Adventure Theater featuring live performances, and a 50-foot (15 m) domed Star Theater.
TheGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden, an indoor conservatory of over 15,000 exotic plants, is one of the largest collections of tropical, subtropical, and desert-growing plants in the Midwest. The Center blooms with thousands of flowers year-round. Nearby are the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens and Pavilion, named in honor of the former governor whose influence helped relocate thousands of Vietnamese refugees to Iowa homes in the 1970s and 1980s. Developed by the city's Asian community, the Gardens include a three-story Chinese pavilion, bonsai landscaping, and granite sculptures to highlight the importance of diversity and recognize Asian American contributions in Iowa.
Blank Park Zoo is a landscaped 22-acre (8.9 ha) zoological park on the south side. Among the exhibits include a tropical rain forest, Australian Outback, and Africa. The Zoo offers education classes, tours, and rental facilities.
TheIowa Primate Learning Sanctuary was established as a scientific research facility with a 230-acre (93 ha) campus housing bonobos and orangutans for the noninvasive interdisciplinary study of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Locust Street looking east from 4th Street toward the Iowa State Capitol in East Village
TheEast Village, on the east side of theDes Moines River, begins at the river and extends about five blocks east to the State Capitol Building, offering an eclectic blend of historic buildings, hip eateries, boutiques, art galleries, and a wide variety of other retail establishments mixed with residences.
Adventureland Park is an amusement park in neighboringAltoona, just northeast of Des Moines. The park boasts more than 100 rides, shows, and attractions, including six rollercoasters. A hotel and campground is just outside the park. Also in Altoona isPrairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, an entertainment venue for gambling and horse racing. Open 24 hours a day, year-round, the racetrack and casino features live racing, plus over 1,750 slot machines, table games, and concert and show entertainment. The racetrack hosts twoGrade III races annually, the Iowa Oaks and the Cornhusker Handicap.
Living History Farms in suburbanUrbandale tells the story of Midwestern agriculture and rural life in a 500-acre (2.0 km2) open-air museum with interpreters dressed in period costume who recreate the daily routines of early Iowans. Open daily from May through October, the Living History Farms include a 1700 Ioway Indian village, 1850 pioneer farm, 1875 frontier town, 1900 horse-powered farm, and a modern crop center.
Wallace House was the home of the first Henry Wallace, a national leader in agriculture and conservation and the first editor ofWallaces' Farmer farm journal. This restored 1883 Italianate Victorian houses exhibits, artifacts, and information covering four generations of Henry Wallaces and other family members.
HistoricJordan House inWest Des Moines is a stately Victorian home built in 1850 and added to in 1870 by the first white settler in West Des Moines,James C. Jordan. Completely refurbished, this mansion was part of theUnderground Railroad and today houses 16 period rooms, a railroad museum, West Des Moines community history, and a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad in Iowa. In 1893 Jordan's daughter Eda was sliding down the banister when she fell off and broke her neck. She died two days later, and her ghost is reputed to haunt the house.[71]
TheChicago Tribune wrote that Iowa's capital city has "walker-friendly downtown streets and enough outdoor sculpture, sleek buildings, storefronts and cafes to delight the most jaded stroller".[72]
The 4th Street Neighborhood is within the Court Avenue Entertainment District of Downtown Des Moines.The Grand Concourse, between the Grandstand and the Varied Industries Building, during the 2006 Iowa State Fair
Des Moines plays host to a growing number of nationally acclaimed cultural events, including the annualDes Moines Arts Festival in June, Metro Arts Jazz in July,[73]Iowa State Fair in August, and the World Food & Music Festival in September.[74]
Other annual festivals and events include: Des Moines Beer Week,80/35 Music Festival, 515 Alive Music Festival, ArtFest Midwest, Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest,[75]
Sec Taylor Field at Principal Park, during a May 28, 2006,Iowa Cubs game against theNashville Sounds. The Iowa Capitol is visible beyond the center-field wall.
Des Moines hosts professional minor league teams in several sports — baseball, basketball, hockey, indoor football, and soccer — and is home to the sports teams of Drake University which play in NCAA Division I.
ThePrincipal Charity Classic, a Champions Tour golf event, is held at Wakonda Club in late May or early June. The IMTDes Moines Marathon is held throughout the city each October.
Des Moines has 76 city parks and three golf courses, as well as three family aquatic centers, five community centers and three swimming pools. The city has 45 miles (72 km) of trails. The first major park was Greenwood Park. The park commissioners purchased the land on April 21, 1894.
ThePrincipal Riverwalk is a riverwalk park district being constructed along the banks of the Des Moines River in the downtown. Primarily funded by thePrincipal Financial Group, the Riverwalk is a multi-year jointly funded project also funded by the city and state. Upon completion, it will feature a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) recreational trail connecting the east and west sides of downtown via two pedestrian bridges. A landscaped promenade along the street level is planned. The Riverwalk includes the downtown Brenton Skating Plaza, open from November through March.
Gray's Lake, part of the 167 acres (68 ha) ofGray's Lake Park, features a boat rental facility, fishing pier, floating boardwalks, and a park resource center. Located just south of the downtown, the centerpiece of the park is a lighted 1.9-mile (3.1 km) Kruidenier Trail, encircling it entirely.
Fromdowntown Des Moines primarily along the east bank of the Des Moines River, the Neil Smith and John Pat Dorrian Trails are 28.2-mile (45.4 km) paved recreational trails that connect Gray's Lake northward to the east shore ofSaylorville Lake,Big Creek State Park, and the recreational trails ofAnkeny including theHigh Trestle Trail.[78] These trails are near several recreational facilities including the Pete Crivaro Park,Principal Park, the Principal Riverwalk, theGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Union Park and its Heritage Carousel of Des Moines, Birdland Park and the Birdland Marina/Boatramp on theDes Moines River, Riverview Park, McHenry Park, and River Drive Park.[79] Although outside of Des Moines, Jester Park has 1,834 acres (742 ha) of land along the western shore of Saylorville Lake and can be reached from the Neil Smith Trail over the Saylorville Dam.
Just west of Gray's Lake are the 1,500 acres (607 ha) of the Des MoinesWater Works Park. The Water Works Park is along the banks of theRaccoon River immediately upstream from where the Raccoon River empties into the Des Moines River. The Des Moines Water Works Facility, which obtains the city's drinking water from the Raccoon River, is entirely within the Water Works Park. A bridge in the park crosses the Raccoon River. The Water Works Park recreational trails link to downtown Des Moines by travelling past Gray's Lake and back across the Raccoon River via either along the Meredith Trail near Principal Park, or along the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The Water Works Park trails connect westward toValley Junction and therecreational trails of the western suburbs:Windsor Heights,Urbandale,Clive, andWaukee. Also originating from Water Works Park, theGreat Western Trail is an 18-mile (29 km) journey southward from Des Moines toMartensdale through the Willow Creek Golf Course, Orilla, andCumming. Often, the location for summer music festivals and concerts, Water Works Park was the overnight campground for thousands of bicyclists on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, duringRAGBRAI XLI.[80]
Des Moines operates under acouncil–manager form of government. The council consists of a mayor who is elected in citywide vote, two at-large members, and four members representing each of the city's four wards. In 2014, Jonathan Gano was appointed as the new Public Works Director.[81] In 2015, Dana Wingert was appointed as Police Chief.[82] In 2018, Steven L. Naber was appointed as the new City Engineer.[83]
A plan to merge the governments of Des Moines and Polk County was rejected by voters during the November 2, 2004, election. Theconsolidated city-county government would have had a full-time mayor and a 15-member council that would have been divided among the city and its suburbs. Each suburb would still have retained its individual government but with the option to join the consolidated government at any time. Although a full merger was soundly rejected, several city and county departments and programs have been consolidated.
Non-commercial radio stations in the Des Moines area includeKDPS 88.1 FM, a station operated by theDes Moines Public Schools;KWDM 88.7 FM, a station operated byValley High School;KJMC 89.3 FM, an urban contemporary station; K213DV 90.5 FM, the contemporary Christian K-Love affiliate for the area; and KDFR 91.3 FM, operated byFamily Radio.Iowa Public Radio broadcasts several stations in the Des Moines area, all of which are owned byIowa State University and operated on campus.WOI 640 AM, the network's flagship station, andWOI-FM 90.1, the network's flagship "Studio One" station, are both based out of Ames and serve as the area'sNational Public Radio outlets. The network also operates classical stationsKICG,KICJ,KICL andKICP.[99] TheUniversity of Northwestern – St. Paul operatesContemporary Christian simulcasts ofKNWI-FM at 107.1 Osceola/Des Moines,KNWM-FM at 96.1 Madrid/Ames/Des Moines, and K264CD at 100.7 in downtown Des Moines. Low-power FM stations include KFMG-LP 99.1, a community radio station broadcasting from theHotel Fort Des Moines and also webstreamed.[98][100]
Commercial television stations serving Des Moines includeCBS affiliateKCCI channel 8,NBC affiliateWHO-DT channel 13, andFox affiliateKDSM-TV channel 17.ABC affiliateWOI-TV channel 5 andCW affiliateKCWI-TV channel 23 are both licensed toAmes and broadcast from studios in West Des Moines.KFPX-TV channel 39, the localION affiliate, is licensed to Newton. Two non-commercial stations are also licensed to Des Moines: KDIN channel 11, the localPBS member station and flagship of theIowa Public Television network, andKDMI channel 19, aTCT affiliate.Mediacom is the Des Moines area's cable television provider.[102]
The Des Moines Register is the city's primary daily newspaper. As of March 31, 2007, theRegister ranked 71st in circulation among daily newspapers in the United States according to theAudit Bureau of Circulations with 146,050 daily and 233,229 Sunday subscribers.[103] Weekly newspapers includeJuice, a publication aimed at the 25–34 demographic published by theRegister on Wednesdays;Cityview, analternative weekly published on Thursdays; and theDes Moines Business Record, a business journal published on Sundays, along with the West Des Moines Register, the Johnston Register, and the Waukee Register on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays depending on the address of the subscriber. Additionally, magazine publisherMeredith Corporation was based in Des Moines prior to its acquisition byIAC and merger withDotdash in 2021.
Des Moines is the birthplace of many famously known bands and artists today.Slipknot, a popular American heavy metal band, was founded in 1995 by percussionistShawn Crahan, former vocalistAnders Colsefni and bassistPaul Gray; the band would be also founded byJoey Jordison. The band was signed toRoadRunner Records and has become one of the biggest bands in the metal world.
Stone Sour, an American rock band, was founded in 1992 byCorey Taylor and former drummerJoel Ekman. Corey would later go on to become the lead singer forSlipknot. The band has since been on an indefinite hiatus since 2020.
Vended, an American heavy metal band, was founded in 2018[104] byGriffin Taylor andSimon Crahan, who are the sons of popularCorey Taylor andShawn "Clown" Crahan fromSlipknot. They are currently an independent band that has released one studio album in 2024[104] calledVended and several singles and one EP. The band has seen growing success in the past few years, including their 2022 Vended tour in the United States withJinjer andP.O.D.
TheEdna M. Griffin Memorial Pedestrian Bridge overInterstate 235Skywalks connecting buildings over 8th Street in downtown Des Moines
Des Moines has an extensiveskywalk 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. TheDes Moines Skywalk System has been criticized for hurting street-level business, though a recent initiative has been made to make street-level Skywalk entrances more visible.
Interstate 235 (I-235) cuts through the city, andI-35 andI-80 both pass through the Des Moines metropolitan area, as well as the city of Des Moines. On the northern side of the city of Des Moines and passing through the cities of Altoona, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines, I-35 and I-80 converge into a long concurrency while I-235 takes a direct route through Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and West Des Moines before meeting up with I-35 and I-80 on the western edge of the metro. TheDes Moines Bypass passes south and east of the city.[105] Other routes in and around the city includeUS 6,US 69,Iowa 28,Iowa 141,Iowa 163,Iowa 330,Iowa 415, andIowa 160.
Des Moines's public transit system, operated by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit), which was the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority until October 2006, consists entirely of buses, including regular in-city routes and express and commuter buses to outlying suburban areas.
Characteristics of household ownership of cars in Des Moines are similar to national averages. In 2015, 8.5 percent of Des Moines households lacked a car, and that number increased to 9.6 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Des Moines averaged 1.71 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.[106]
Although Des Moines was historically a train hub, it does not have direct passenger train service. For east–west traffic it was served at theRock Island Depot by theCorn Belt Rocket express fromOmaha to the west, toChicago in the east. The Rock Island also offered theRocky Mountain Rocket fromColorado Springs in the west, to Chicago, and theTwin Star Rocket to Minneapolis to the north and Dallas and Houston to the south. The last train was an unnamed service ending atCouncil Bluffs, and it was discontinued on May 31, 1970.[107][108] Today, this line constitutes the mainline of theIowa Interstate Railroad.
Other railroads used the East Des Moines Union Station. Northward and northwest bound, there wereChicago and North Western trains to destinations includingMinneapolis. TheWabash Railroad ran service to the southeast toSt. Louis. These lines remain in use but are now operated by Union Pacific and BNSF.
TheDes Moines International Airport (DSM), on Fleur Drive in the southern part of Des Moines, offers nonstop service to destinations within the United States. The only international service has been cargo service, but there have been discussions about adding an international terminal.
The Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission, with members from the City of Des Moines and the suburbs of Cumming, Norwalk, Windsor Heights, Johnston, Urbandale, and Ankeny, maintainssister city relationships with:[112]
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official records for Des Moines kept August 1878 to August 1939 at downtown and at Des Moines Int'l since September 1939. For more information, seeThreadex
^The total for each race includes those who reported that race alone or in combination with other races. People who reported a combination of multiple races may be counted multiple times, so the sum of all percentages will exceed 100%.
^Hispanic and Latino origins are separate from race in the U.S. Census. The Census does not distinguish between Latino origins alone or in combination. This row counts Hispanics and Latinos of any race.
^Mather, David and Ginalie Swaim (2005) "The Heart of the Best Part: Fort Des Moines No. 2 and the Archaeology of a City",Iowa Heritage Illustrated 86(1):12–21.
^Perkins, Arozina, 1851 letter in: (1984) "Teaching in Fort Des Moines, Iowa: November 13, 1850 to March 21, 1851." InWomen Teachers on the Frontier, edited by P. W. Kaufman, pp. 126–143. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.
^Mills and Company (1866)Des Moines City Directory and Business Guide. Des Moines, Iowa: Mills and Company, p. 6. Microfilm, State Historical Society Library, Iowa City.
^Brigham, Johnson (1911)Des Moines: The Pioneer of Municipal Progress and Reform of the Middle West. Volume 1. Chicago: S. J. Clarke
^James H. Lees, "History of Coal Mining in Iowa", Chapter III ofAnnual Report, 1908Archived January 17, 2016, at theWayback Machine, Iowa Geological Survey, 1909, pages 566–569.
^Henry Hinds, "The Coal Deposits of Iowa",Annual Report, 1908Archived January 16, 2016, at theWayback Machine, Iowa Geological Survey, 1909, pages 121–127, and see map on page 102.
^Dahl, Orin L. (1978)Des Moines: Capital City: A Pictorial and Entertaining Commentary on the Growth and Development of Des Moines, Iowa. Continental Heritage, Tulsa.
^Gardiner, Allen (2004)Des Moines: A History in Pictures. Heritage Media, San Marcos, California.
^"African-Americans in Iowa: 2023"(PDF).iowadatacenter.org. State Data Center of Iowa, Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans. RetrievedOctober 6, 2025.
^"Major Employer List 2023"(PDF). Greater Des Moines Partnership. May 17, 2023.Archived(PDF) from the original on February 9, 2024. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2024.
^"Our Location." (Archive)Carlisle Community Schools. Retrieved on April 3, 2013. "Carlisle Elementary School, which is immediately adjacent to the high school and the district office, serves students from pre-kindergarten to grade 3."
^"The Amtrak System"(PDF).Amtrak (Map). March 2017.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 1, 2017. RetrievedJuly 24, 2017. While this source is suggestive, it is notdefinitive: the map does not include all stations, due to the zoom (cf. the tiny print).
Friedericks, William B.Covering Iowa: The History of the Des Moines Register and Tribune Company, 1849-1985 (Iowa State University Press, 2000), 318 pp.
Henning, Barbara Beving Long & Beam, Patrice K. (2003).Des Moines and Polk County: Flag on the Prairie. Sun Valley, California: American Historical Press.ISBN1-892724-34-0.
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