Self-guided Sightseeing Tour #4 in Des Moines, United States

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Tour Facts

Number of sights 5 sights
Distance 1.4 km
Ascend 0 m
Descend 0 m

Experience Des Moines in United States in a whole new way with our self-guided sightseeing tour. This site not only offers you practical information and insider tips, but also a rich variety of activities and sights you shouldn't miss. Whether you love art and culture, want to explore historical sites or simply want to experience the vibrant atmosphere of a lively city - you'll find everything you need for your personal adventure here.

Individual Sights in Des Moines

Sight 1: The Newlawn

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The New Lawn is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. This three-story, brick structure was completed in 1915. It features seven units, an U-shaped plan, a symmetrical facade with projecting wings, polychrome brick veneer, a series of quadruple ribbon windows, and a flat roof. The building is located on Sixth Avenue, which by the turn of the 20th century had become a major route utilized by vehicular traffic and streetcar lines. Its proximity to this transportation corridor illustrates the emergence of higher and denser residential use in this area of Des Moines. The apartment building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Wikipedia: The New Lawn (Des Moines, Iowa) (EN), Heritage Website

168 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 2: F.E. Haley Double House

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The F.E. Haley Double House, also known as the Gordon Apartments, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. This double house is significant as being one of the first of this kind of building type built in the Des Moines area. The double house was developed in this area starting in the Victorian era. This 2½-story, brick Colonial Revival was built in 1897 by Felix E. Haley. He managed the building, but never lived here, suggesting he had it built for rental/investment purposes. The building features a symmetrical facade, brick in several colors and textures, and a sloping flat roof. While it originally had a full-length front porch, this one is not the original. The four lunette-shaped windows in the frieze feature shield-shaped panes. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Wikipedia: F.E. Haley Double House (EN), Heritage Website

97 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 3: William W. and Elizabeth J. Ainsworth House

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The William W. and Elizabeth J. Ainsworth House, also known as the Catholic Worker House and the Dingman House, is an historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Ainsworth was a Des Moines businessman who was engaged in various professional occupations. His wife Elizabeth took title to this property in 1886, and they built this 21⁄2-story, frame, Queen Anne house in what was then the suburban community of North Des Moines. It features a hip roof, intersecting gables, a front porch, an enclosed porch in the back, and 2-story bay windows on the south and east elevations. Built as a single-family dwelling, it is now a half-way house for social services operated by the Catholic Worker Movement. The house calls attention to the increased importance of North Des Moines as a residential neighborhood for business and professional people in the late 19th-century Des Moines area. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Wikipedia: William W. and Elizabeth J. Ainsworth House (EN), Heritage Website

1012 meters / 12 minutes

Sight 4: William B. Hayes House

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The William B. Hayes House is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The house is significant for its being one of the best examples in Des Moines of the Swiss chalet style subtype of the Stick Style. It was built in 1886 as a single-family dwelling by local developer Lowry W. Goode. This 1½-story frame structure on a brick foundation features a gable-end facade that is intersected by side gables, and wide eaves that are supported by wood braces. The northern side gable extends over an enclosed front porch. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

Wikipedia: William B. Hayes House (EN), Heritage Website

119 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 5: Home of Marshall's Horseradish

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The Home of Marshall's Horseradish, also known as the Marshall House, Stish House, and Marshall's Horseradish Farm, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The historic designation is made up of three resources: the two-story frame Queen Anne house, the garage, and the remains of the root cellar. They call attention to food processing for local consumption during the late 19th and early 20th-centuries. Marshall's is said to have been established as a business in 1872, and they cultivated, manufactured, and marketed horseradish condiments. The single-family house was completed in 1886. The property includes four residential lots and at one time was also the location of a small manufacturing facility (nonextant). At one time the family owned 160 acres (65 ha) around 2nd Place. While it is possible that some of that land was used to grow the horseradish, the exact location of their fields is not known for sure and the four residential lots are not large enough. The business came to an end in 1941, and the family sold the property to the city of Des Moines who built a greenhouse on the property. George Daysons, the city florist, and his wife lived in the house. The house, garage, and root cellar were listed together on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Wikipedia: Home of Marshall's Horseradish (EN), Heritage Website

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Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.

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