History

Des Moines Skyline

The city of Des Moines started with the building of Fort Des Moines in 1843; a military garrison to protect the rights of Sak and Fox tribes. The city derived its name from “De Moyen,” meaning “middle,” was understood as a reference to the Des Moines River being the middle distance between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The local area was opened to new settlers in 1845 and a year later Iowa gained statehood in 1846.

The city charter was adopted in 1857 and Des Moines officially became the state capital in January 1858.Des Moines played an active role in the Civil War. In May 1864 Des Moines women signed a petition pledging to replace working men to free them to fight for the Union cause, but enough male recruits were found to fill the quotas. After the Civil War, in 1875, Des Moines was the site of a nationally significant speech by President Ulysses S. Grant to a reunion of the Army of Tennessee, wherein he reiterated a commitment to universal equality. During the last quarter of the nineteenth century, wood-frame buildings in Des Moines underwent extensive construction and renovation. The impressive state capitol building, situated on an 80-acre park and featuring a gold-gilded central dome of the revived classical Roman style, was completed in 1884. In the 1880s and 1890s, local businessmen built mansions and the city’s cultural life continued to flourish.

In the spring of 1894 Charles T. Kelly led Kelly’s Army, 1,000 unemployed men on their way to Washington, D.C. and arrived in the city. Citizens greeted them with hospitality to prevent trouble. When Kelly’s Army seemed reluctant to leave, however, the townspeople bought lumber to construct an “industrial fleet” of 150 flatboats, under local union direction, to transport the men out of the city. Each man was issued a small American flag, and the waving of the flags was the last sight of Kelly’s Army. Among them was the American writer Jack London. The Des Moines Plan streamlined municipal government and charted development, taking into consideration the city’s natural setting. Fort Des Moines, dedicated as a calvary post in 1903, became the first training center for the Women’s Army Corps, which gained national attention. The economic base of Des Moines was substantially expanded when the city became a national insurance and publishing center. In 1949, Des Moines was named an All-America City by the National Municipal League. The honor was repeated in 1971, then again in 1981 after Des Moines had addressed urban renewal issues by committing $313 million to the restoration of the historic districts of Court Avenue and Sherman Hills. The city of Des Moines saw major flood in the summer of 1993 by Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. The state of Iowa was declared a national disaster area, and preliminary estimates indicated the city alone suffered more than $253 million in damages. In the year 2000 several construction activities started in Des Moines including a new science museum, new main library branch, and new conference venues. In 2003 Des Moines was again named an All-America City by the National Municipal League.

Economy

Economy of the small but capital city of Des Moines started with Agriculture and Mines but now it has a diverse economy. A part from several government agencies; Des Moines is the center for the insurance industry, sizable financial services and publishing business base. Manufacturing has a significant impact on the area economy. Manufacturing firms buy many of their supplies locally, generating more secondary jobs than any other industry. In addition, most of the goods produced are shipped outside the metropolitan area, and approximately 10 percent of manufacturing production is exported, thus contributing to the development of the local shipping industry. With the headquarters of nearly 70 insurance companies and the regional offices of 100 other firms located in the metropolitan area, Des Moines is a major insurance center. Business Wire credited Des Moines with the “number one spot for U.S. insurance companies”. The city is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies, and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other major corporations such as Wells Fargo, ING Group, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Marsh, and Pioneer Hi-Bred have large operations in or near the metro area. Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines as the fourth “Best Place for Business” in 2007. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 2008 Best Cities List featured Des Moines as number nine. An emerging industry in the Greater Des Moines area is fiber optics telecommunications, which is expected to replace conventional communications systems. Residents today appreciate the small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities afforded them in Des Moines in addition to the city’s educational and cultural amenities and well-recognized quality of life.

Attractions

Image from Adventure land.

Iowa State Capitol

It was built between 1871 and 1886; the magnificent building is one of the nation’s finest examples of 19th century architecture. Its dome, constructed of steel and brick, is externally gilded with 23 karat gold leaf.

Blank Park Zoo

The 49-acre Blank Park Zoo is the only zoo in Iowa to be accredited by the American Zoo & Aquarium Association (AZA). The Blank Park Zoo features 104 different animal species and 1,484 animal specimens. It also boasts one of the largest botanical collections in Iowa.

Mathias Ham House

This Italian Villa-style Victorian mansion was designed by John F. Rague, architect of the Old State Capitols of Illinois and Iowa. It has been skillfully restored and authentically furnished. Owned by the Dubuque County Historical Society, the Mathias Ham House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Des Moines Botanical Center

This is located on 14 acres along the east bank of the Des Moines River, near downtown Des Moines. The Des Moines Botanical Center is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Iowa. Providing educational, recreational and community resources to thousands each year, the Des Moines Botanical Center is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.

Des Moines Art Center

The Des Moines Art Center presents exhibitions, educational programs, as well as hands-on studio art classes. With a major emphasis on contemporary art, the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collection includes art from the 19th century to the present. The Museum Shop offers a large selection of contemporary art books, cards, jewelry and accessories, pottery, calendars, folk art, educational children’s books, toys and unique gifts.