About Des Moines IA
Des Moines is the capital city of the state of Iowa, and as well serves as the county seat for the Polk County. The City of Des Moines is well noted for being a key hub for the United States ‘ insurance sector, and boasts of a sizeable financial services and publishing industries. This Iowa city is now recognized as the #1 spot for the country’s insurance firms. Business Wire has gone on the rank it as the 3rd biggest insurance capital in the planet. As such the City of Des Moines is home to the headquarters of the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation. EMC Insurance Companies, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to name just but a few. At the same time, other major corporations including Wells Fargo have established extensive operations in the city and its surroundings.
Des Moines is also a key city in the United States’ presidential politics. As the state capital of Iowa, it is the site of the 1st caucuses of the country’s presidential primary cycle. To this end, numerous presidential candidates have always established their campaign headquarters in this city. The City of Des Moines traces its origins to the mid 19th century, when Captain James Allen oversaw the construction of a fort at the spot where the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River converge. This fort was constructed to regulate the Sauk and Meskwaki native Indians. The Fort of Des Moines was eventually abandoned in 1846 when the native tribes were relocated to the Indian Territory. The first settlers to arrive at the future site of the city begun to occupy the abandoned fort and its environs. In the year 1846, the state legislature made Fort Des Moines the seat for the Polk County. 5 years later, the city was officially incorporated, and its name was shortened to Des Moines
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Top attractions
The City of Des Moines is the major cultural hub in the state of Iowa. It home to a number of art as well as history museums and performing art venues and companies. One of the leading of these is the Des Moines Performing Arts Center, which regularly hosts traveling Broadway shows together with other live professional theatre companies. There is as well the Temple for Performing Arts and the Des Moines Playhouse. While the Des Moines Metro Opera is a highly respected cultural resource in this Iowa capital, which provides award winning educational and outreach programs. The Des Moines Metro Opera has the distinction of been one of the biggest performing arts organizations in the state of Iowa. There is also the Ballet Des Moines, which was founded in early 2000s. This performing arts company offers 3 major productions on an annual basis, and also offers opportunities for education and outreach.
The City of Des Moines as well boasts of the Des Moines Symphony, which performs regularly at various performing arts venues. Besides staging a grand total of 7 pairs of classical concerts, the Des Moines Symphony also entertains with its yearly New Year Eve pops along with the Yankee Doodle Pop Concert. This Iowa city is also home to the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater that is an outdoor concert venue, which is situated on the eastern shores of the Des Moines River.
Another top attraction in the City of Des Moines is, without question, the Des Moines Art Center that showcases art exhibitions and offers programs and hands-on studio art classes. This leading Des Moines attraction is as well home to a globally acclaimed collection of works of art of the 19th century to the present. The City of Des Moines is also home to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, which belongs to the Des Moines Art Center. This site features a collection of more than 20 world class sculptures that is valued to be over $40 million, and was donated by John and Mary Pappajohn.
There is as well the Salisbury House and Gardens, which is a 42 room historic house museum that is sprawled on a 10 acre parcel of land in the southern direction of Des Moines’ Grand neighborhood. The Salisbury House was constructed in the early 20th century by cosmetics businessman Carl Weeks and his wife. This City of Des Moines attraction showcases original English oak and rafters that trace their origins to the Shakespeare era. The Salisbury House also houses an internationally renowned collection of authentic works of art, tapestries, decorative arts, furniture and musical instruments. Not to mention rare books and documents. This top City of Des Moines attraction is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This Iowa capital city as well boasts of the Hoyt Sherman Place Mansion, which has the distinction of being the very first public art gallery in Des Moines. The Hoyt Sherman Place Mansion comes complete with a restored 1,250 seat theater. Yet another popular attraction in Des Moines is the Iowa State Capitol that is a popular site for sightseers. It is highly renowned for its 275 feet 23 karat gold leaf dome, which is flanked by 4 other diminutive domes. The Iowa State Capitol houses the governor’s offices, the legislature and the old Supreme Court chambers. The grounds of this popular City of Des Moines attraction feature a WWII memorial that comes complete with sculptures and the Wall of Memories. There is also the West Capitol Terrace, which offers a magnificent entrance from the West to the state of Iowa’s grandest building; the State Capitol.
Yet another key attraction in Des Moines is the Iowa Historical Museum. This is a modern granite and glass building that is situated at the foot of the State Capitol Building. The state of Iowa Historical Museum houses both permanent and temporary exhibits, which let visitors explore the people, places and events of the state’s past. The showcase for this leading Des Moines museum comprises of indigenous wildlife, Amerindian artifacts and pioneer artifacts. Not to forget a wide variety of political and military curiosities. The State of Iowa Historical Museum as well has a genealogy, an Iowa history library, a museum gift store and a cafeteria.
Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center was established in the late 1940s, and is home to an extensive collection of modern works of art, paintings and even sculptures. The structure in which it is housed was designed by Eliel Saarinen, and is a delightful blend of both art deco and art nouveau architectural styles. The permanent collection of the Des Moines Art Center consists of artworks by famous artists including Matisse, Monet, O’ Keefe, Rodin to mention just but a few. The main galleries of this City of Des Moines leading attractions are used to showcase temporary exhibits which are changed after 1 to 2 months. Besides the museum, the Des Moines Art Center comes complete with a rose garden and a number of outdoor sculptures.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
This is s 4.4 acre City of Des Moines art park, which was first opened to the general public in 2009. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park boasts of more than 20 sculptures created by globally renowned artists. The Pappajohns donated these works of art, and they currently represent the biggest donation to the Des Moines Art Center. Visitors to the Pappajohn Sculpture Park get the opportunity to participate in guided tours from the months of April up to the month of October
Blank Park Zoo
This is a zoological park, which is situated on 9th Street on the southern end of Des Moines’ downtown area. It is sprawled on a 25 acre piece of land, and was initially opened as the Des Moines Children’s Zoo in the mid 20th century. The Blank Park Zoo has the distinction of been the only accredited zoo in the state of Iowa. It showcases several big exhibits including the Discovery Center that comprises of a number of sections. Other top attractions in the Blank Park Zoo include the African Boardwalk, the Aquarium of the Discovery Center and the David Kruidenier Australia Adventure.