3 Best Landmarks in Des Moines, IA

“Iowa State Capitol Building is a 23-karat golden dome towering above the town and is a favorite of sightseers, with four smaller domes flanking the central dome. The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886 and is the only five-domed capitol in the country. Iowa State Capitol Building houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, and Secretary of State. The Iowa State Capitol Building also includes a chamber for the Iowa Supreme Court, although court activities usually occur in the neighboring Iowa Supreme Court building. The building features an array of majesty, including various types and colors of marble, works of art, fixtures, and carvings in stone and wood.”

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“Salisbury House & Gardens is a 42-room architectural wonder built between 1923 and 1928 by cosmetics pioneer Carl Weeks. The house is modeled after the King's House in Salisbury, England, and is primarily a historic house museum. The Salisbury House Foundation owns and operates the house, which is open to the public for tours, private rentals, and public events. The historic site contains authentic 16th-century English oak woodwork, English flint work, and rafters that date back to the time of Shakespeare. The site aims to preserve, protect, and share the legacy, culture, and collections of Salisbury House. The house is a beautiful estate, and its diverse collections of literature, art, and worldly treasures are free to the public for tours. Salisbury House & Gardens also offers guided tours.”

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“Terrace Hill was built as a private home in 1869 in the developing, fast-growing community of Des Moines. The building is also known as Hubbell Mansion, Benjamin F. Allen House, or the Iowa Governor's Mansion and is the official residence of the governor of Iowa. The 18,000-square-foot building serves the dual mission of serving as the official governor's residence. The building's steeply pitched open verandas, mansard roof, long and narrow, frequently paired windows, and bracketed eaves give this house an irreplaceable design. The guided tours of the first two floors and historic gardens take guests back to the Victorian lifestyle of the cultured 1880s. The journeys last about an hour and start at the Carriage House, which once included horse stalls and carriages and has been renovated into a visitor center. Free admission for children under age of 5.”

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