History and fun in Des Moines, Iowa

November 3, 1:22 PMKansas City Cultural Travel ExaminerLysa Allman-Baldwin

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A picturesque view of downtown Des Moines, Iowa
Lysa Allman-Baldwin

Situated in central Iowa, within eight hours drive of numerous cities outside of the state including Chicago, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Omaha and St. Louis, the city of Des Moines has a long and interesting history.

Historical accounts as to the derivation of the city’s name vary, from believing it came from the French name for the monks who once lived at the mouth of the Des Moines River (Moines de la Trappe) to an interpretation of the Native American word for river – Moingona. Originally named Fort Des Moines, the name was changed to Des Moines and the city came into being in 1851, and in 1857, it was named as the state capitol.

Due of its location at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, Des Moines played an important role in the development of the area for early settlers, commerce, various war efforts and other historical events during its early development.

Not long after World War II, the city turned its focus to creating a good quality of life for its residents, which eventually led to its standing today as the third largest major insurance center in the world. Other major industries today encompass of course government, finance, publishing and agribusiness, among others.

Des Moines holds a variety of unique distinctions. One that Americans most recently experienced was as the site of The Iowa Caucuses, the first step in the U.S. presidential candidate nomination process.
In 2007, the city was recognized as the sixth (out of 275) best places to live by Best Life magazine, the rankings based upon things such as cultural entities, health care, quality education and a host of other factors. And in terms of economic growth, Des Moines was the only Midwestern city in the top 25 ranking—placing 25th--by the Milken Institute, and The National Bar Association was founded here in 1925.

Des Moines Today
Today, Des Moines is home to approximately 200,000 denizens, a half million in the greater metropolitan area. Because of the city’s size, it is fairly easy and quick to get around, yet there are a wealth of attractions, cultural entities, sport and recreational opportunities, shopping and dining options for both residents and visitors alike.

One of the biggest tourist attractions is the Iowa State Capitol downtown.

Whenever I visit a capital city, this is one of my favorite places to visit, as each one offers unique insights into the history of the city and state and to the people that it serves.

Regarded by some as one of the finest examples of 19th Century architecture in the country, the capitol is truly impressive. Built between 1871 and 1886, it possesses numerous outstanding interior and exterior features. The most notable is the five domes, the central dome gilded in 23-karat gold leaf and towering some 275 feet about the ground. A visit to Des Moines must include a trip to the capitol building.

Family members of all ages will enjoy The Science Center of Iowa, an impressive 110,000 square foot facility featuring a wide range of permanent and traveling hands-on learning experiences that teaches visitors about the science of everyday life, international peoples and cultures, the solar system, technology and more. The Center also has an IMAX Dome--the first in central Iowa--two theaters, a café and gift shop.

Artistic exploration in town includes the Des Moines Art Center, focusing on contemporary art from the 19th and 20th Centuries. Its sister entity is the Des Moines Art Center Downtown, billed as “an urban exhibition space and Museum Shop.”

The Heritage Gallery, located in the historic Polk County Office Building built in 1908, is a beautiful, multi-use exhibition space for artistic and historical exhibits, while impressive works of art is just the beginning of the experience at Hoyt Sherman Place. The structure is actually the former home of prominent pioneer businessman Hoyt Sherman who built it in 1877. The magnificent home also hosts numerous visual and performing arts performance and events in its historic theater, offers tours and can be booked for weddings and meetings.

For contemporary works of art representing 70 of the finest artists in the Midwest, be sure to visit the Olson-Larsen Galleries in Historic Valley Junction, or the Moberg Gallery for contemporary mixed media, paintings, sculptures, glass and other works by locally and nationally recognized artists.

Gastronomic Adventures
For a city its size, one might not thing that Des Moines has much to offer in the way of gastronomic adventures. On the contrary, there are a wide variety of dining options from mom ‘n pop establishments, to ethnic eateries, long-standing favorites, upscale restaurants and more.

A great family place is the Drake Diner for delicious comfort foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a true old-time diner setting. Speaking of old-time, be sure to check out Noah's Ark Ristorante. A true Des Moines landmark, the restaurant serves a basic, but good Italian menu with a few, oddly enough, eastern European dessert offerings, in a 1960s supper club setting; great for a date, with friends or with the family.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar serves prime beef, chicken, seafood and other entrees, and Phat Chefs is a locally owned restaurant specializing in regional cooking with French and Californian influences.

Splash Seafood Bar & Grill serves fresh-shipped seafood and steaks, Bistro Montage features fine French fare, Mediterranean, Pakistani and Indian cuisine takes center stage at Tandoor and you just couldn’t come to the Hawkeye State with eating at the Iowa Beef Steakhouse.

Shop ‘til you drop
Shopaholics will enjoy all that Des Moines has to offer, from shopping districts to boutique shops, eclectic specialty shops, traditional malls and more.

Two of the most well known shopping areas are Historic Valley Junction and Historic East Village. Valley Junction offers seasonal farmers' markets, live music, and some farmers' markets eclectic and unique restaurants. A pedestrian friendly neighborhood, East Village was one of the city’s original commerce districts. Today it is a real urban living environment encompassing restored historic properties, small businesses, one-of-a-kind retail shopping, trendy nightlife and a host of annual festivals.

Specialty shops in town include Lambert & Ewers gourmet smoked meats, Isabel Bloom sculptures, Gong Fu Tea, Jasper Winery, Sticks Gallery home furnishings and Heirlooms By Design scrapbooking, among numerous others/

There’s much more about Des Moines on the way!