Top 7 Must-Visit Des Moines Landmarks

Des Moines, Iowa, we’re more than just insurance and corn. Whether you’re an outdoor aficionado, an art connoisseur, or a history buff, there’s something for everyone. Don't miss these 7 iconic Des Moines landmarks!

Iowa State Capitol Building, 1007 E Grand Ave

An iconic member of Des Moines’ skyline, the  Iowa State Capitol Building stands a breathtaking 275 feet tall. Schedule a tour of the Governor’s office, both houses of the state legislature, the old supreme court room, the  State Law Library or even reach the lookout point at the top of the main dome. 

Completed in 1886, the initial budget was supposed to remain under $1.5 million, but ended up costing $2.9 million. That equates to over $96 million in 2024.

Iowa is the only state capitol building to have five domes. On top of each is a layer of 23.75 karat gold lead that is only 250,000th of an inch thick.

While you’re there, be sure to check out the  collection of dolls representing each of Iowa’s First Spouses.

Des Moines Botanical Garden,  909 Robert D. Ray Dr

Des Moines’ own tropical get-away, the  Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden offers 12-acres of luscious greenery, one-of-a-kind plants and plenty of photo opportunities. Check out all its offerings like  youth and  adult programming, the  Trellis Café and events year round like  Music in the Garden,  Dome After Dark and  Botanical Blues. 

Plans for Des Moines’ first public garden began in 1929, but fell through due to the Great Depression. In 1969, a new non-profit group called the  Friends Chapter revived the plans. The garden first opened its doors in December 1979, following over two years of construction. 

In the beginning, the city of  Des Moines Parks and Recreation operated the garden until 2004. It has been said that if  Des Moines Water Works did not take over, the city would have likely torn the garden apart. The garden established its own non-profit and took over in 2008.

Since then, there have been multiple expansions including the addition of the  Gardeners Show House and  seven acres of outdoor gardens.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park, 1330 Grand Ave

Looking for an outdoor, accessible and FREE way to spend an afternoon in the heart of  Downtown Des Moines? Look no further than the  John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. 

This 4.4 acre park offers trails, greenspace and art from some of the world’s most renowned artists. Since 2009, the  city of Des Moines has maintained the park and the  Des Moines Art Center has maintained the art. 

One of the park’s most iconic pieces is  Jaume Plensa’s Nomade. Like many of his works, Nomade uses letters from the Latin alphabet to depict a human figure crouching.  

Another famous piece found in the Pappajohn Sculpture park is  Keith Haring’s untitled (Three Dancing Figures, version C). Haring, a traditionally trained artist, often veered away from standard techniques. Instead he took inspiration from graffiti, basic lines and bright colors. His Untitled piece in Des Moines depicts three intertwined dancers, one blue, one yellow and one red.

Traveler’s Umbrella, 429 Grand Ave

If you’re driving west on I-235 towards Des Moines, you might catch a glimpse of a peculiar neon red sign. That is Des Moines’ iconic Travelers Umbrella. Yes, like  Travelers Insurance. No, they are no longer in Des Moines. 

This 50 foot-wide, over 40 foot tall sign adds an extra four stories to the 10-story tall Insurance Exchange Building at the corner of Fifth and Grand. It took the Iowa Neon Sign Co. a month and a half to bend 1,277 feet of tubing before the sign’s debut on November 1, 1963. 

In the mid-90s, Travelers Insurance was looking to rid of the sign due to expensive repairs. Instead, George Milligan of the Graham Group, who occupied the same building, offered to buy the sign for $1. 

Des Moines Art Center,  4700 Grand Ave

The  Des Moines Art Center has a wide variety of modern and contemporary art. They offer both permanent and temporary exhibitions. And best of all, its FREE.

In the 1980s, the art center’s collection continued to grow and so did the need to expand. The art center invited five architects to design the newest building. They decided on  Richard Meier’s design. The building is made up of three parts: an exterior pavilion visible from Grand Avenue, a courtyard restaurant and a service area on the west side. The exterior porcelain coated metal panels are meant to endure Iowa’s harshest weather conditions.

Outside the Richard Meier building is  Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture entitled “Three Way Piece No. 1: Points.”  Principal Financial Group gifted the piece to the Art Center to celebrate their 50th anniversary in 1998. The pieces started as large plaster maquettes, but scaled up for the final bronze version. It stands over six feet tall and weighs 1600 lbs. 

Gray’s Lake Bridge, 2102 Fleur Drive

For Des Moines residents and visitors needing a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown, head over to  Gray’s Lake. Before the city turned the land into a 167-acre park, it was a former gravel and sand excavation site. Nowadays, the park offers a wide array of outdoor recreation activities. Rent a paddle boat, have a picnic or bike the two mile trail loop. 

When the park was in early planning stages, philanthropists David and Elizabeth Kruidenier pledged $1.5 million to develop the land. David Kruidenier was actively involved in the park’s design and asked architect Cal Lewis to design  a new bridge. 

During the day, it might appear as just any other pedestrian bridge. But at night, it turns into a beautiful path of color. Multi-colored glass panels installed into the bridge’s guardrails illuminate the bridge with all the colors of the rainbow. 

Robert D. Ray Asian Garden + Women of Achievement Bridge, Robert D. Ray Dr

Just a hop, skip and jump from the botanical garden is the  Robert D. Ray Asian Garden. Named after the  former four term governor, the two acre garden features Asian sculptures, architecture and landscaping in the heart of downtown. 

As Governor from 1969-1983, Ray was one of the most outspoken supporters of resettling Southeast Asian refugees during the Vietnam War. As governor, Ray welcomed thousands of Tai Dam refugees from Laos to Iowa. 

After a stop at the gardens, walk less than five minutes to reach the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge. This $10 million pedestrian bridge connects one end of the  Principal Riverwalk to the trails east of the  Des Moines River. 

The bridge opened in 2010, but was initially dedicated to four Iowa women in 2013.  Carrie Chapman Catt was a women’s suffrage leader who campaigned for the nineteenth amendment.  Louise Noun was a philanthropist, feminist and civil activist.  Sister Bernadine Pieper was a well-known scientist and educator. Finally,  Gertrude Elzora Durden Rush was the first African American Woman to practice law in the state. 

The Landmarks of Des Moines Print is Available Now!