DES MOINES Iowa State, U.S.A

DISCOVER THE SURPRISES OF THIS BEST KEPT MID-WEST CITY

by Sandra McHarris

Des Moines is the capital of the state of Iowa, U.S.A. Located at the juncture of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River in the south-central part of the state, the city is best known as a ‘flyover’ state, meaning there is not much to see. However, this is far from true!

Des Moines offers that wonderful ‘slow tourism’, with interesting things to see and do as you discover the city which is in fact an energetic Midwest hub, packed with shopping, live entertainment, visual arts and more.

The State’s name ‘Iowa’ comes from the American Indian tribe of the same name. Iowa was part of a deal of 1803 between President Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte of France called the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ that brought it under U.S control.

The city name of ‘Des Moines’ is thought to come from one of 2 theories; that ‘Moines’ refers to the Trappist monks (Moines de la Trappe) who once lived at the mouth of the Des Moines River; or ‘Moines’ is derived from ‘Moingoana,’ a native tribe that once lived along the river banks.

Up until 1855, Iowa City was the capital of the State, but it was moved to a more central location in Des Moines, where the government occupied the Old Capital Building, which is now used by the University of Iowa.

The city was once known for its cornfields but diversified to services to become the capital of insurance company HQ’s! However its farming heritage is still alive with some great farmers markets, with of the best in the whole of the US! Fresh corn and bountiful seasonal products are on offer at every one.

In a bid to become a more cultural centre for its population to experience and enjoy and to give a true identity for the city, today, it has a wealth of great cultural institutions.

The Civic Centre is home to the symphony orchestra and Ballet Company, while the Des Moines Arts Centre houses fabulous collection of 19th and 20th century paintings and sculptures including works by Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse and Georgia O'Keefe, among others.

The Science Centre of Iowa originally opened in 1970 and moved to its current location in 2005. As an awardwinning museum, it features permanent and rotating hands-on exhibits as well as being home to a planetarium and an IMAX Theatre.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a 4.4 acre area of open space located at a crossroads to downtown Des Moines. The park opened in 2009 and features artwork by many of the world’s most celebrated artists. Around the city are many Victorian-style mansions open to visitors, including Hoyt Sherman Place (1877), Terrace Hill (1869), and the Wallace House (1870s), the home of statesman Henry Wallace. Salisbury House is a replica of the Tudor-style King’s House in Salisbury, England. A must-see is the historic Hohberger Building, built in 1895 and is one of the few remaining examples of a cast-iron column structure in the city. The State Capitol Building sits on a hilltop and offers a panoramic view of the city’s downtown. Constructed between 1871 and 1886 it is the only 5-domed capitol in the country.

The historic East Village is the most vibrant and diverse district, boasting many fine shopping, dining, nightlife and commerce opportunities. Located here on the banks of the Des Moines River, the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheatre is a 2,000 capacity outdoor entertainment venue. With the city skyline as its backdrop, this stunning setting is the perfect place to see hear a live band under the stars!

The Des Moines Metro Opera has a wealth of events on throughout the year including a grand summer opera festival. It is one of the state’s largest performing arts organisations, producing over 100 performances a year in the area and surrounding region.

The Des Moines Art Festival offers a wide variety of visual art, live music, film, interactive art, and performances, echoing the spirit of Des Moines city.

Due to its location, Des Moines is at music crossroads, sat between routes 80 and 35 and as such has always been a stop-over for musicians travelling the county. The music scene in the city is therefore exciting and always changing.

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a vibrant, 10-acre public garden in the heart of downtown Des Moines, providing a wonderful experience through its design, innovative programme and stunning exhibits.

For sports lovers, a visit to any America destination must include watching a live baseball game; head to Principal Park, to catch a game, home field of the International League's Iowa Cubs. Alternatively catch a day at the races at nearby Prairie Meadows racetrack. Des Moines is an ideal destination for hiking and bike ride trails run through the city as well as out to Gray’s Lake Park. The Meredith Trail connects Gray’s Lake to Downtown Des Moines. The park has over 300 miles of trails making it a perfect place to get exercise or enjoy nature.