Self-guided Sightseeing Tour #6 in Des Moines, United States

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Tour Facts

Number of sights 12 sights
Distance 4.2 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: First United Methodist Church

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First United Methodist Church is located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984 as First Methodist Episcopal Church, which is its original name.

Wikipedia: First United Methodist Church (Des Moines, Iowa) (EN), Heritage Website

204 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 2: Hawthorn Hill Apartments

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The Methodist Deaconess Institute—Esther Hall, also known as Hawthorn Hill Apartments, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. This building has been known by a variety of titles. They include the Bible Training School, Women's Foreign Missionary Society; Women's Home Missionary Society-Bible Training School; Iowa National Esther Hall & Bidwell Deaconess Home; Hawthorn Hill; and Chestnut Hill. The Women's Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church established a Des Moines affiliate in 1896. Part of their responsibilities was to oversee the work of deaconesses of the church. At about the same time a Bible training school was established at Iowa Methodist Hospital's School of Nursing.

Wikipedia: Methodist Deaconess Institute—Esther Hall (EN), Heritage Website

502 meters / 6 minutes

Sight 3: Saint Ambrose Cathedral

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St. Ambrose Cathedral is a historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It serves as a parish church and as the seat of the Diocese of Des Moines in the Catholic Church. The cathedral, along with the adjoining rectory, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Wikipedia: St. Ambrose Cathedral (Des Moines, Iowa) (EN), Website, Heritage Website

389 meters / 5 minutes

Sight 4: Scottish Rite Consistory Building

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The Scottish Rite Consistory Building in Des Moines, Iowa was built during 1926–1927. It is a late date example of Neo-Classical style architecture, designed by Roland Harrison, a partner in the Des Moines architectural firm of Wetherell and Harrison.

Wikipedia: Scottish Rite Consistory Building (Des Moines, Iowa) (EN), Website, Heritage Website

368 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 5: Iowa Department of the Blind

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The Iowa Commission for the Blind Building is a historic building located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The building is a steel-framed structure covered in brick. It is a nine-story state government office building that rises 95 feet (29 m) above the ground.

Wikipedia: Iowa Commission for the Blind Building (EN), Heritage Website

695 meters / 8 minutes

Sight 6: Des Moines City Hall

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Des Moines City Hall The original uploader was Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Des Moines City Hall is a government building in Des Moines, Iowa, built in 1909 and 1910. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1977 as the Municipal Building, and became a contributing property in the Civic Center Historic District in 1988. The building serves as the seat for the government of the city of Des Moines. Beginning April 7, 2016, City Hall offices were temporarily relocated while the building underwent renovation. The construction was necessary to install modern heating, cooling, and sprinkler systems while preserving the historic character of the building. The project was expected to take 18–24 months. During that time, City Hall was closed to the public, and City offices moved to other nearby locations. Between February 26, 2018 and April 9, 2018, city offices moved back to City Hall.

Wikipedia: Des Moines City Hall (EN), Heritage Website

475 meters / 6 minutes

Sight 7: Elliott Furniture Company

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Elliott Furniture Company is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was built in 1891 in the Italianate style for Gustav Newlen, who was an undertaker and cabinet maker. Eight years later the Elliott family acquired the building and combined the two storefronts into a unified façade for the Elliott Anderson Furniture Company. The building was extensively renovated in 1936 with the installation of large display windows on both floors, undoing the 1899 renovations. Four years later saw another renovation with the addition of glazed brick and fluted Terra Cotta pilasters. This gave the building an Art Moderne appearance. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

Wikipedia: Elliott Furniture Company (EN), Heritage Website

89 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 8: Syndicate Block

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The Syndicate Block, also known as the McCoy Building, is a historic building located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. In 2019 the building was included as a contributing property in the East Des Moines Commercial Historic District.

Wikipedia: Syndicate Block (Des Moines, Iowa) (EN), Heritage Website

50 meters / 1 minutes

Sight 9: Teachout Building

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The Teachout Building is a historic building located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. In 2019 the building was included as a contributing property in the East Des Moines Commercial Historic District.

Wikipedia: Teachout Building (EN), Heritage Website

35 meters / 0 minutes

Sight 10: Hohberger Building

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The Hohberger Building is a historic building located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The building was built in 1895 and is one of the few remaining examples of a cast-iron column structure in the city. A dry goods store named Dockstader & Co. was the first retail establishment to occupy the building (1899–1915). The building stood empty for several years until it was renovated in 1999. The ground level of the building remains retail space and the upper floors are occupied by offices. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.In 2019 it was included as a contributing property in the East Des Moines Commercial Historic District.

Wikipedia: Hohberger Building (EN), Heritage Website

228 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 11: Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block

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The Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block is a historic building located in the East Village of Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The eastern two-thirds of the block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 as the Studio Building. The western one-third was added to the National Register in 2008, and its name was changed at that time. In 2019 the entire building was included as a contributing property in the East Des Moines Commercial Historic District.

Wikipedia: Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block (EN), Heritage Website

1148 meters / 14 minutes

Sight 12: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden

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Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Iowahwyman (Talk / contribs) / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a 17-acre (7-hectare) botanical garden located near downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States, on the east bank of the Des Moines River and north of I-235.

Wikipedia: Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (EN), 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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