Des Moines, Iowa skyline: the 43 most iconic buildings and best views in Des Moines

The Iowa State Capitol was stunning from the start, its gold dome gleaming proudly above Des Moines. Inside, friendly security officers greeted us with smiles and a touch of humor, setting the tone for a great visit. The intricate tile mosaics were breathtaking, and the library was a true gem, filled with charm and small spiral staircases leading to its upper levels, making it one of the most beautiful spaces in any Capitol we’ve visited.

We went on a tour with Karen, who was a great tour guide. It is worth finding out if you can go on a guided tour instead if a self tour. She pointed out things we would never have seen and we got to go to the dome. Great tour, lovely building.

We got a guided tour and it was incredible! Julie was extremely knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. The history, the architecture, the art, it is all rich and intriguing. I can not thank Julie enough for how amazing she was at informing us of the beauty of the Capitol. Iowa, for all the times people call you an ugly state, your capitol is one of the most beautiful I have had the pleasure of being in!

This is a must see if your visit Des Moines! It is free to visit with free parking. Beautiful building and amazing architecture. Amazing this was built in the 1800s. Visitors tour guide book is only $1 and no tax.

This is the most beautiful state capitol I have ever seen. We had a wonderful tour and enjoyed it immensely. Its beauty reminds me of many buildings I have seen in Europe!

Great place!! Very beautiful inside and great architecture. It's free to visit. And they even offer a tour (free maybe) to go further up in the building. We didn't get to do this, but I would definitely recommend getting this booked ahead of time if you want to.

Went on a Sunday 😣but enjoyed the outside sculpture. The view from the capital is amazing , there is a section on the front entry on the ground they have the map with all the counties , Al the outdoor benches are named after every governor. That is a nice gesture.

Wonderful mini-retreat in this lovely garden. Spring is slowly waiting and leaves gently unfold and blooms blossom in their own time. The rose garden is so demure in April; although, a well staged reprieve from the winter’s stagnancy. Andy Goldsworthy’s the Three Cairns keenly sits at the hill’s top. The landscape is both a photographer’s and a bird watcher’s dream.

Highly recommend visiting this art museum! It is so quiet, clean, and spacious. There are many different exhibits with unique art pieces. We spent a few hours here, but you can easily spend longer depending on how much time you take. There are different sections with floors or elevators to access. The staff are friendly and helpful. I also love and recommend checking out the gift shop inside, which includes so many fun, unique, and interesting items for anyone’s taste and style. I bought this fair trade chocolate bar and a greeting card. Overall, a great experience and I would return. Admission is free.

what a lovely art center with quality contemporary, modern, impressionistic, & abstract artwork. the admission is free, but don’t forget to checkout the shop… amazing gifts of all kinds! and the staff… so friendly, energetic, & bring the experience to the next level!

Loved this experience!! There are activity sheets for the youth and those of us that are less focused. I deeply appreciate the education throughout the museum. There is also a bakery/ coffee shop

The Des Moines Art Center is truly a gem. Every corner of the museum feels like an aesthetic experience, from the stunning architecture by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier, to the outdoor sculptures, rose garden, and reflecting pool that surrounds the building. Admission is free, which makes it even more remarkable. We especially enjoyed the current exhibition by Firelei Báez, an incredible Dominican Republic–born artist whose work is vibrant, thought-provoking, and beautifully displayed in the main gallery. The restaurant is a highlight with delicious food, warm service, and a gorgeous view that makes it a perfect stop during a visit. The art shop is equally impressive, offering thoughtful, high-quality gifts and creative finds you won’t see in typical museum shops. The staff throughout the center are welcoming and knowledgeable, and the workshops, lectures, and film programs make this a lively hub for art and culture in the community. We highly recommend the Des Moines Art Center. whether you’re coming for the rotating exhibitions, the architecture, the restaurant, or simply the peaceful grounds, it’s an unforgettable experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Truly Satisfying Art Experience! *Free admission ​Even with the main gallery closed, my visit to the Des Moines Art Center was an absolute delight and still earned a 5-star rating from me! They have an incredible collection featuring works from lots of artists. ​I was completely mesmerized by one of the paintings in particular—seeing a piece from the 1800s up close was a truly satisfying and unforgettable experience. The quality and variety of art on display were fantastic. ​Don't let a partial closure deter you; there is still so much to see and appreciate here. I can't wait to go back once the main gallery reopens!

The building is beyond beautiful, lighting is amazing, they accept donations but no money is required to view the art. I love this place.

I wish it was a bit more interactive. Only one sculpture didn’t say “no touching” some of them were cool and creepy all at once. A nice place to stop if you have some time to waste on a beautiful day.

8.18.25 I came across this place while visiting Des Moines for work. It says that this park is named after John and Mary Pappajohn, who are renowned art collectors. They donated the initial collection of sculptures—28 pieces valued at an estimated $40 million—to the city of Des Moines. Free to walk around and explore.

Nice area, we saw a family having a picnic there yesterday. It would be awesome if there was a drinking fountain and a small restroom available. I would like to see more art eventually as well or if they could bring in some seasonal sculptures on occasion that would be cool too.

Five year old loved it. He really liked finding the actual pieces of art in person of the map of the park they have available at random spots through out. All in all we had fun.

Is an absolute beautiful day lots of people just walking around taking pictures to some really nice quiet place

Nice park for walking through and looking at a few sculptures. It was a hot day. Some shade was helpful. Saw a few people using their lunch time to stroll around the park. Enjoyable park to slow the pace of the day.

Nice walk in the garden and there area some neat statues! Nice free attraction, but just make sure to pay for parking on the side.

We were really looking forward to visiting the science centre and had kept it for a cold winters day. The experience was super disappointing. I was expecting more things for adults I guess, and a little more excitement. I enjoy a planetarium and when they said there was a show we made sure to go. Our planetarium back home in South Africa is a far better experience. There is no talking, the seats are comfortable and go back, and you are able to take it all in. Here there was chatter, you sat on plastic chairs, and in order to experience it all, you have to sit with your head back for half an hour - a rather painful experience. Been there, done that.

While the Science Center is a fun place to explore and learn...I feel like the experience has been downgraded in recent years. I remember there being a lot more to do when you where there...from seeing the pendulum that kept time by the IMax theater, to seeing Channel 13 weather broadcasted if you were lucky to be there during a time they were there. And I also remember there being a lot more hands on activities too... Now the pendulum is apparently shut down(?) as is the cafe that was there..And everything seemed largely scaled back. I remember when the Science Center has something there for everyone of all ages, now it seems to be just a glorified children's museum and very dumbed down. I don't know if and when I will be back. I was disappointed that so much was either closed or just blocked off. Definitely not worth the price in my opinion. But I do enjoy the nature area. It always is my favorite area to visit here. I'm glad to see it has gotten such a glow up in recently years. And the space show was cool too.

This is such a fun place for all ages. We loved the time we spent and there was fun things for toddlers, teens, and adults.

Our family of 4 (kids 5 &3) spent ~5 hours here, but we could have easily spent more! It was our first time here and I was very impressed with the enthusiasm of the staff as well as the cleanliness and condition of of the facilities. We couldn’t pick a favorite room, we loved the variety in the rooms and were impressed with multiple. We will definitely plan another trip in the future and look forward to seeing their new exhibit that was being renovated while we were there!

If you haven't done the sensory hours at the science center, you are missing out. My daughters and myself are very sensitive to sound so once a month they offer a sensory friendly night. It literally felt like we had the place to ourselves. Of course we didn't but only 10 or so families were there tonight spread all out the science center. We always love the activity room on the second floor with the rockets and water table, and the little play room on the first floor off to the left. My girls are 4. They had a great lego display on the first floor off to the back left and the kids loved picking corn, apples and gathering chicken eggs in the play room.

What a great family experience! There are activities for all ages. All of the exhibits are interactive. It has activities that helped my child want to try all them all. Love the rocket building and launching, the big ball wall, and of course the Lego room. Had fun building something in the make it area. Overall, great experience for everyone in my family. Many fun times at the Science Center!!

Fun for the whole family. We could have spent a couple days here without the kids getting bored. After 6 hours they were asking when we could come back. As a parent I was disappointed that several of the exhibits were closed when we visited (June 2024), but it didn’t bother the kids. My kids were bummed that some of the (I’m guessing older exhibits) were missing parts and dysfunctional/inoperable. But overall, definitely worth spending a day there with the kiddos. Also, you can save $2 per person if you buy tickets in advance online.

I LOVED this place! This was a spur of the moment, ordered tickets online. Very easy to do. $10 plus tax, total was $22 plus change. Used gps directions. Beautiful inside and out. Well manicured and tended garden and lawn in early September. Indoor had AC throughout. Main floor and 2nd floor was open to walk in and look around after showing my ticket pass. If we had any questions a VERY knowledgeable person at the entrance was available or I could scan a QR code at the entrance that would answer questions. I chose to run back to the person when I had questions. The next time I will choose a guided tour. There is so much to see. Who knew such a gem was right here in Des Moines? I will be back, more than once! I highly recommend everyone see this.

Incredible 1923 Gothic/Tudor styled mansion with features imported from England, including the White Cliffs of Dover, 1600s German statuary, English wood beams, stone fireplace, and stones from Greece. The 28,000 foot mansion is home to art and historical pieces such as: suit of armor, tapestries, European paintings, religious art, sculptures, a Buddha statue, Native American art, original furniture, a vase from Cyprus dating to 1000 BCE. Gorgeous gardens. Interesting history on the Weeks family wealth and the Armand cosmetic business that they started. Impressive art collection that symbolizes Edith Weeks’ vast knowledge of history and art. Beautiful old growth woods, outdoor spaces for music festivals. Knowledgeable docents that can answer all of your questions. It was definitely worth the trip and we spent 2 hours touring the mansion and the grounds.

Very interesting and informative. David Ross was our tour guide and very involved with the restoration and preservation of the house. Definitely was worth having a tour guide.

Salisbury House made for a lovely afternoon visit! The docents are knowledgeable and the home is certainly a hidden gem here in Des Moines. The architecture alone is worth the visit but also learning the story of the family that once called the property home is well worth it. Definitely recommend and an easy visit - recommend about 1.5 hours to read and do everything on an initial visit.

While in Des Moines visiting my mother we heard about a local house tour near her in Urbandale. So glad we looked it up and went for the tour. Dick was our tour guide and was fabulous!! He went into great detail and made the entire tour a great one. Mom is elderly-90, and she was using her walker-he was very kind and helpful when we needed it in the elevator and small steps throughout the house-it was very doable. We enjoyed our talk so much that at the end of the tour Dick helped Mom into our car. Thanks for a lovely day. The house inside and out is a treasure.

Our wedding at the Salisbury House was absolutely magical! The venue’s historic charm, lush gardens, and stunning architecture created the perfect backdrop for our day. The staff was incredibly helpful and professional, making the planning and day-of experience seamless. Every guest commented on how breathtaking and unique the setting was — truly a five-star experience from start to finish!

This place is so beautiful and has such an interesting history in the heart of Des Moines. Getting a guided tour is well worth it. We've been here a handful of times and David is the best tour guide we've ever had. He is so immensely knowledgeable and passionate. There are many events, but you have to act fast if you want tickets. We bring anyone who visits us in Des Moines to tour the Salisbury, because it's just such an amazing European castle feel in the middle of the city

This is our second show (Queen, Beatles) with Fever/Candlelight and they were both over the top! You might want to spend.the.extra $$$ and.sit it section A. But, you do t have to because the music engulfs you know matter where you sit. But the front row is outstanding also!

Beautiful building and nice landscaping, with different flowers.

Went to the Queen tribute and it was amazing. The musicians shared background of the music, played a dozen Queen songs, PLUS pieces from operas and classical selections. Venue was beautiful with the candlelight. Beverages available for purchase. Comfy chairs. Could see and hear from everywhere. I sat in the way back and could see and hear everything well. I went early and enjoyed the gardens surrounding the World Food Prize building it was hosted at in Des Moines IA. Cost was $50 for an hour and a half a glorious entertainment. Awesome!

Amazing!! If you ever get a chance to see a candlelight tribute, GO!!! We saw Queen and it was truly amazing. The setting is beautiful with all the candles and the music…wow.

Stunning building, very informative tour. Not the most exciting experience, but if you like educational tours this one is worth taking.

Wonderful experience! Setting was much more intimate than expected. Quite lovely. The musicians were phenomenal & fun making the evening exceptionally enjoyable. Could not help but to move to the music! Outstanding choice & delivery of music for the Halloween season. I would recommend sitting in section A for the very best experience. If you want to take video or photos at the end when they allow it, you’ll want to be in the first two rows. We were in the third row, section A and it was difficult to obtain any video or photos without them being unobstructed. We are so happy that we have already purchased tickets for the Taylor Swift candlelight with our friends after last nights experience!! This type of event would be a wonderful gift for anyone I believe. So grateful we were able to be there for the first one in Des Moines! Thank you to the musicians, again they were magnificent!!

Unique, boutique Candlelight Concert series w/ songs by Coldplay & Imagine Dragons at this venue was a once in a lifetime event experience. Highly recommend the quartet, the historic building and the overall ambience and vibe. Support local musicians while being awed and entertained. Great for families, dates and celebrations.

Great day of baseball. No bad seats in the place, but only shade in the early afternoon is upper level behind home plate or 1st base lines. Sit higher for breeze on windy days otherwise fairly stagnant and hot. Splash pad in right field for kids. Great food and beer options.

Wow, we watched the baseball game against the Omaha Storm Chasers July 3rd. The Cubs bats were a burning. A hot night, that's baseball! Everyone had a great time, four adults and five kids. What a wonderful event to have in the heart of our great state. I'd be remiss if I did not mention the fireworks display. What a extravaganza! An enjoyable venue for a reasonably priced 2.5 to 3.0 hours of entertainment. Thank you Cubbies, looking forward to a few more games this season.

A great way to spend a summer night. I’d highly recommend buying a ticket pack in the spring. The splash pad and jungle gym were lifesavers for my antsy nephew, definitely family friendly!

Been to quite a few minor league stadiums at this point, and Iowa has one of the better ones. They did a good job on stats on the pitcher being visible at all times, with hitters only slightly lesser so. Seats in the upper deck had a good view and the price was reasonable. Was nice to be able to get a pork tenderloin sandwich in a state known for it too. Still wish the Cubs let their minor league teams have their own identities, but Iowa did a good job of making it feel like their own outside of the Chicago win song at the end. Certainly better than South Bend did. Iowa has a good thing here for sure.

Dad and I went to see the I Cubs play against Omaha September 2 (12-0 W!; also a Chicago Cubs fan so love seeing both teams win). Due to a couple previous health circumstances causing him to struggle sometimes with long walking distances and preferring easier to access seats, we were looking to switch from our ticketed seats to something working to better suit that preference; hadn't been here before so wasn't aware the initial seats weren't gonna work great for that. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful to try and assist with that effort and ultimately we found an excellent spot. Combining reasonable ticket prices, great staff and easy ballpark access, worth 5 stars

I'm not a die-hard baseball fan but I enjoy watching it live from time-to-time. It's all about the full experience, right? I've enjoyed every game I've seen here. I think it's great how they interact with the fans in the stands, all of the cool guests that are featured on occasion, the food is actually pretty decent, and yes, the fireworks at the end of the games are always spectacular! Ticket prices aren't insane and the grounds are meticulously maintained. I've even enjoyed an 18-hole miniature golf course here when they do Putt-Putt @ The Park. Great place!

We randomly decided to go to a Iowa Cubs game it was a lot of fun and the way baseball should be it was also very inexpensive and we all had a great time

Wonderful venue with so much history to see a concert in. Great seating - beautiful stage. Burton Cummings of the Guess Who & his band were great.

Went and saw Nurse Blake! Beautiful place, the bathrooms were nice. There was a bar area but we didnt use it. They also had valet parking which was great!

Great place for a comedy show. I saw Jeff Arcuri and he was amazing! I went by myself, and was lucky to sit next to and meet an amazing woman named Erica who was there with a friend. We vibed during the show and parted ways afterwards, creating a memory I will never forget.

Pros: Love the old historical beauty of this place. Bren there twice this year for shows. Great view of stage no matter where you sit. Cons: Because its an older building bathrooms are small. Seats do not accommodate tall or larger people. Knees were into the chair in front of me all night. Metal frame of chairs hurt to sit narrow seats.

Our second concert here. Love it! At 6'3 and 5'9 both with new knees sitting down in low rise seats is a comical sight. Other than that it's a great venue.

The place is stunning inside. They have to do better on the bathrooms. You'd think after all these years and all the shows and profits, they could add a couple more bathrooms. It's like a maze to find the one, no matter how many times you have been there. The worst bathroom set up I think I have seen in a place like this.

Cool to see, yet the seats are SO close together & it makes it very hard to move around. Went as I’ve wanted to see Michael W. Smith live since I was a teen! Great concert, very friendly employees, & not hard to leave like at many concert venues when it’s over. Would go again, for the right artist.

Such a fun place to go to pass time — The building is large & admission is free! I really appreciated how interactive the exhibits were. Some sections had educational videos, music videos, and the animals had nature sounds! We also took home some free books that they had available near the entrance.

Took my teen boys. I not be in years not lot has changed . They had some new things . A lot of open space . It took us 2 hrs go through it . There is lot of neat things to see and read. It real cool building. If looking for something fun to do as a family kill few hrs it's worth checking out. It's free u can donate it u like .

A very nice and interesting place to visit the entrance is free.

I went to see the American Revolution Traveling Exhibit and had sine extra time so my husband and I toured the first floor exhibit. It was well done, glad they switched up the displays a bit since the last time I was there.

My 1st impression was "Where is everything?" as the main floor was empty except for the mammoth and visitor desk. Seemed like lost potential there. Some of the rooms didn't pertain to Iowa. Takes about acouple hrs or less to walk through, depending on if you read everything. Kids enjoyed it, plus it's free. Nice area as it is also close to the state capital to tour.

This museum is awesome! Tons and tons of artifacts and really cool information. They definitely put time and effort into making this museum worth your while!

Wide variety of exhibits, from war memorabilia, to movies filmed in the state and more modern events, as well as history on the states expansion and development. Lots of history and items relating to the civil war, including personal effects of generals and soldiers who were from Iowa. Admission to the museum is free and there is a cafe located on the third floor.

Loud because it is right next to the interstate and a dam in the river, which takes away from the peacefulness of it. there was also a lot of bugs, and the path is not very handicap friendly. Looks cool from a far though.

Was easy to find and tons of parking to walk around and see everything the garden has to offer.

I recently visited the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden while in Des Moines for a former friend’s wedding and was completely charmed. Nestled along the Des Moines River, this peaceful garden feels like a hidden sanctuary right in the middle of downtown, an ideal spot to relax between wedding festivities. From the graceful koi pond to meandering pathways and its iconic red bridge, every corner feels artfully designed and thoughtfully maintained. I found myself unwinding on a bench just before the rehearsal dinner, soaking in the tranquil ambience, the gentle trickling of water, lush plantings, and seasonal blooms creating a perfect urban escape. Whether you’re pausing for wedding-day photos, casually strolling, or simply taking a breather before or after an event, the garden offers a moment of calm and reflection. The volunteers and staff keep the space impeccably clean and welcoming, and its central location makes it easy to pair a quick visit with a walk or bike ride to nearby reception venues. I absolutely loved how this garden adds a picturesque and meaningful backdrop to a wedding weekend in Des Moines. It elevated my experience, between ceremony, dinner, and dancing, it was the perfect escape. If you’re in town for a wedding or just need a tranquil spot to unwind and enjoy nature, the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden is an absolute must, highly recommend!

8.18.25 Clean, peaceful, beautiful views, a place to visit, sit, walk around. And it's free.

A very quick sight seeing spot. And nice walk along the lake.

Perfect place to take a nice relaxing slow walk and snap some photos!

I had no idea the information I’d discover here. I do wish people would just admire more instead of leaving their tags… can’t we just enjoy other cultures?!

I would label this a must-do if you are in the Des Moines area. The mansion is beautiful and there’s actually quite a bit to see here. The tour is super affordable ($5) and our docent was very knowledgeable. The history behind the house is really cool and it’s very pretty.

Toured with a small group and found the docent to be very knowledgeable and helpful and willing to look up info on questions she didn't know offhand. The home is beautiful and although the tour is short, it's well worth it. Lots of unique history behind this governor's mansion!

Great informative tour. Tour gives a very detailed history of this majestic historic home and it is beautifully maintained.

The house was beautiful and Greg did an amazing job with the tour. Definitely a must see in Des Moines!

Kent was a great tour guide. This is a must-do tour in Des Moines! Kent was so knowledgeable and made our visit feel like we were watching the historic events themselves unfold in real time. Highly recommend, and also book your tickets in advance!

Very beautiful home from the 1860's, saved from calls to be torn down, and fully restored. Ironically, the third floor now functions as the residence for the Governor of Iowa.

Tour guide had great stories. The history of how the house became a governor's mansion is interesting.

Really great event location. Not a bad seat in the house. This building is used for a variety of events from Graduations to full concerts. Very well run and organized. Lots of very helpful staff. Loading docks out back are easy to get in and out of. Plenty of parking located within walking distance. Entrance is usually limited to the south side for shows. Bathrooms are clean and tidy. Seats are dated but very comfortable. Plenty of room for your knees when seated unless someone needs to get past. Very nice Venue regardless.

My hubby and I enjoyed our first visit to the Des Moines Civic Center last night to see a wonderful 50 year celebration of Air Supply. It was pouring and dark outside but inside was bright and cozy. It seemed everyone had a great seat. What I enjoyed most about the Civic Center was the staffing they had. There were many on duty and each one seemed friendly and welcoming, rolling out the red carpet of customer service. One person in particular named Susie was so kind to bring us water after we were discussing how dehydrated my husband and I were. She brought it right to our seats, which was so thoughtful. From the ticket window, to the refreshment stand and all the ushers and staff in between, it was clear that each employee was handpicked for their wonderful customer service. We felt so welcomed and truly enjoyed a night of love songs. Everyone was smiling or singing or both. It was a true house of love <3. Thank you, your efforts were very much appreciated.

Small, but very nice place to go and see plays and shows. Location is a bit awful for parking. Basically, there is no adjacent parking or underground parking. But once you are there it is fairly easy to move around.

What a treat. Kudos to team that organized the Hamilton show💯 The show was sold out and the venue was all packed but it was pretty easy to get to our seats. The acoustics of the theater are pretty good too. Looking forward to coming back for the amazing line up if shows they have coming up. Be sure to book well in advance though!!!

This is a wonderful space to experience the arts! I've seen two shows here since January and regardless of the craft everything has been enjoyable. Yes, due to the acts themselves but I believe in the way the auditorium was built as well. The building is handicap-accessible. There are multiple entry points. And the concession stand has alcohol that you can bring in to the performances so long as you purchase the $3 souvenir cup. This place is so well-organized with ushers everywhere that it's impossible to get lost.

I absolutely love the Civic Center! I've been to multiple shows here and always have a great experience. The seating is excellent and the sound quality is consistently good. While the restrooms can have lines, they move quickly thanks to plenty of stalls. If you attend multiple shows, I highly recommend buying the souvenir cup—it’s the only cup allowed in the theater, and you can bring it back for future shows. Overall, a fantastic venue!

If I could could zero stars I would. Went to see the Hamilton show and were told to leave before our tickets were even scanned all because I had my infant with me. We walk in the door and immediately employees are pointing at me and gesturing to each other about my infant being there. We approach the employees that were scanning tickets and we get stopped and told "She (my infant) can't be here but she is cute)." One employee then proceeds to check with the manager and the manager comes to tell me the same thing and then goes on to "(the RECOMMENDED age is 5 and over. Your child must be 5 or over and have a ticket to attend the show)" She then says the same thing the first employee says "so she can't be here but she's such a cutie". I wonder if they even know or care enough to know that plenty of other parents there brought children younger than 5 and lied about their age just to buy a ticket to avoid getting a sitter or even didn't have a sitter. Mind you, my sitter lives an hour away. I also have a friend who works stage crew who has told me that there have been countless times where she has seen mothers and their INFANTS at these shows and many other shows. Will never be going back.

I highly recommend this tour of the Jordan house on the undergroundrailroad! We learned so much from Dee. A must when you have an hour to spend. The basement amazes me.

Great piece of history! It was so neat to see how well taken care of the house is and our docent was very knowledgeable and kind. We had so many questions and there wasn’t one she couldn’t answer. Highly recommend! We’re lucky we were able to get a tour as we hadn’t realized it was better to get the tickets online to ensure a docent was on the premises. If you plan a visit, make sure you get your tickets online!

It was a fascinating tour of a historical home. The people who lived there and the fact that the home still exists are what's important here & of interest. The tour is very interesting and the guide I had was very knowledgeable. I'd recommend checking it out if you have time. Just try not to draw comparisons to Salisbury House or Terrace Hill.

An awesome house that helped with the Underground Railroad,

Erin gave us a wonderful tour today. She was so enthusiastic, had lots of historical knowledge of both the house and its part in the Underground Railroad, knew so many stories and details about items in the house, and engaged all of us. She was especially great with the three children in the group.

Gale was an excellent tour guide and the tour was very informative. My 10 year old was entertained, and we all learned so much.

This was just an amazing experience, it’s so much history in one house, I took a 1 hour tour and I do not regret it. The tour guide was so kind and nice. Would totally recommend going if you live close by.

Drake University was the best choice our kids could have made for their college education. Their alumni mentorship program gives students an upper hand in the work force.

5 stars but I'm pretty biased as it's the best and most highlighted part of my life.

It's a great place for an education

Good leadership in the environment and sustainability programs

Beautiful campus. Go Bulldogs!

It is a beautifully kept campus

My band director graduated from here and graciously offered to give me a tour of all the places where he got hit by a car on campus. Also we saw like 20 emergency vehicles so 5/5 for keeping us safe! Go bulldogs!

By far, the most creative and cozy cocktail bar in Des Moines! Hello, Marjorie has the best vibe with incredible attention to detail—from the moody lighting to the décor. The cocktails are consistently delicious and unique, and the entire atmosphere is perfect for a night out with friends. This is a must-stop for anyone looking for great drinks and even better memories. Highly recommend for those searching for an elevated and welcoming Des Moines cocktail bar.

We are from out of town and it was a Sunday evening that we were looking for a cocktail and were seeking out the "speakeasies" we've heard about. We found this place and it is everything we were hoping to find! Discreet entrance...eclectic atmosphere, great service from Madison (who also could answer all our questions about the decor and history) as well as delivering the best dirty martini I've had in a LONG time! Makes me wish I lived here :-)

I had heard about this bar but never been. We left Winefest's Sips in the City event in search of air conditioning on June 14, 2025 and this place did not disappoint. My friend got the Betty Blanco because she likes tequila and said it was great. Our server Kelsey was amazing. We had a great experience. It is a pretty dark bar, so bring your readers and get your phone flashlight ready.

We stumbled on this little place while staying at the Marriott downtown. It was a Monday night and our server Desi was a great addition to our little trip. The drinks were exceptional and the atmosphere made you feel warm and fuzzy.

Hands down one of the best cocktail bars Des Moines has to offer! Not only are the drinks absolutely incredible and their menu is always well curated and diverse to cater to everyone’s taste, but the atmosphere, music, and staff are just as divine as the drinks! Always treated like family when I go in with my friends. I feel welcome whether I’m dressed to the nines or in leggings and a Tshirt. It feels fancy and upscale without the pretentiousness that some high-end cocktail bars might have. Fair prices too!! And the speakeasy in the back is a MUST visit! 10/10 no notes. 🥂

Used to be my go-to spot for nice cocktails in Des Moines, but my last visit left something to be desired. The drinks look nice but the Prosecco on tap was gross tasting that night and my partner got a hugo spritz and it was basically purely elderflower liqueur. It was so gross, he couldn’t even drink it. We were never checked on after this and had to flag someone down for the check. Anyway, I probably won’t visit again when I’m back in town.

Our group of 4 had a splendid time at Hello Marjorie. We just had a couple cocktails later on a Saturday night. Two people had non alcoholic beverages that they said were quite tasty. I had the old fashioned which was very good and I don’t remember what my other friend got. Service was fantastic. My wife had to ask if the virgin margarita was actually virgin because it tasted so real and they brought out the bottle to show her. Really cool spot downtown Des Moines for a drink!

This is a nice place to visit if your around the area. Good place to take your kids for a place to play. Which is what we did today. I asked the girl there to fill the bubble machine they got. My son likes watching the bubbles float. Well he kept opening their little doors in the room which is their supply area I believe and she got snooty about him opening the doors and told him to stop doing that now in a rude way. Will you stop doing that and I thanked her for filling the bubbles and she didn’t say a word or acknowledge me. The whole time she was glued to her phone anyway and not even observing other people in the room. I didn’t even feel welcome there after she was rude to my son so we just ended up leaving. If yall don’t want little kids opening your doors then put some locks on there. They sell many of them. Shop Amazon. No need to be rude to patrons. Besides your working around kids. Smile once in awhile and just be nice to people.

The staff was kind. The facilities are clean and modern. The experience of going to this library was deplorable. I looked for two books that were said to be on the shelf for 35 minutes, due to bad organization of books. Also, this library is clearly not a place to enjoy a book. It is more like a homeless shelter in its function, and the staff do what they can, but the city of Des Moines clearly doesn’t give a rat’s back end about security for the staff and the patrons who are there for THE BOOKS. I hated going to this library and will not consider it in the future for a literary pastime.

Decent space for quiet work in the common areas but if you want privacy and quiet in the meeting rooms forget it. People reserve the rooms then blast there music and socialize loudly. So if you are hoping to run a meeting without background noise you won't get that here.

I thought I would start coming here to do work first thing in the morning because it's such an amazing building. The security guard assumed I was homeless and told me I needed to wait outside before I could enter the library during normal business hours... so if you want to go somewhere where they automatically treat you like your homeless great place. It's more of a shelter than a library. The lady security guard is more like a intimidation tactic than anything the day prior I watched her kick somebody out for sleeping (more power to her) but than because I was watching her and what was going on she purposely walked out of her way to come near me while I was working and said good morning and not in a friendly way. If you feel the need to walk around and do that to normal tax paying patrons maybe you should find a different job.

Very cute! Has a kid area that I love. The families and staff we encounter are always incredibly kind! Specifically, I love seeing Minsu when we come! She is so friendly to the kids and I enjoy seeing her interact and connect to her community.

Having recently moved to Des Moines, I absolutely love this Library. The variety of subject matters, genres, languages and cultural origins of the reading materials and of the audiovisual materials is as broad and resource-filled as a library back East. The extremely well-educated staff, who are able to guide you to resources connected with the library, or connected with area University libraries, are extremely knowledgeable and helpful and I'm glad to spend much of my time here at the Central Library.

Got my new library card very simple to obtain. Computers are available and if need be there is help for you. Underground parking it's also a cooling center.

This was our first visit since moving to Des Moines last July. They have a very nice Farmers’ Market in Historic Valley Junction every Thursday at 4:00 with plenty of breathing room and lots of friendly vendors.

Absolutely love coming on the Thursday farmers market and free live music! It has become a tradition during the season. It's really great place to find some terrific food, chill, listen to talented artists, and people watch! Drinks are also available on site! Arrive early for good parking!

Cute little shops. Fun restaurants. Great Farmer's Market on Thursday evenings in the summer. If you're at the market be sure to grab a gyro from Los Primos. They alone are worth the trip!

I visited Vallely Junction for the Henry Gregor Felsen car show that was hosted by the ISRA. I was very impressed with all of the shops that were open; it definitely kept that old time vibe alive.

Fantastic farmers market on Thursday night with a very popular live music area and activities for kids.

Great atmosphere, but you pay for it in the shops. I went to two shops that sold hand made candles. Very few options under $30.

Hands down the best spot in the state for local shopping and dining!! Adorable boutique stores with clothing, gifts, Iowa treasures, and more! Absolutely charming during the winter holidays, right out of a Hallmark movie, and bustling during the Summer with live music, entertainment, and Farmers Markets every Thursday!

Beautiful historically important cemetery in Des Moines. Hilly and covered in old majestic oak trees.

Always love to visit historical cemetery, another way of learning the locals. The best part of this one, may grand grand sons and daughters of Des Moines first generation narate the history. Definitely use your phone to scan these QR codes next to the tombstones. They will led me to many history telling videos to listen while I was just wondering in this hilly place. After the walk, go cross the street and stop by the Gateway market, a bit like trader Joe's, friendly staff and lovely fresh food. Love their sushi session. You can also sit down in their cafe to enjoy a quick bite.

I love to visit cemeteries. This one was very nicely kept. I found the scan keys to be a nice "guide".

We did the self guided walking tour. It was interesting to learn the history of people important to the city. It also appeared to be well taken care of.

Believe it or not...every cemetary in the city and all 3 of my BM's. Taught my son to ride his bike at one. Reflected. Whatever, but all three and some strange! Not inappropriate just no heart..

This very large cemetery is located in the heart of Des Moines. It is filled with some of the most beautiful markers you'll ever find. The burials date as far back as the late 1800s, around the time of Des Moines's incorporation. There is a smaller cemetery, Saint Ambrose, just to the north, which forms a part of the greater cemetery area.

Lots of extended kin on the Atwell and Collins side of the Family. Beautiful Cemetery not too far from a Scottish Rite Retirement home

We went to Malo for the first time. We had a nice experience. We were there during happy hour so our margaritas were well priced. I had the trio of tacos and opted for the lettuce leaves. All 3 were meat options and all really nicely flavoured. My favourite was the Beef Barbacoa, which was most like brisket. We did start with chips and salsa (which meant there was a LOT of food). The salsas were very tasty too. We need to learn to share, didn’t finish everything and definitely left feeling fuller than I would have liked!

Had a really, incredibly delicious vegan burrito here. Opted not to add $7 vegan chorizo in because that cost was just hard to justify, luckily is was great without it. Chips and salsa were fresh and my waitress was really friendly and polite. My issue however was with the hostess, who gave an attitude when I asked to sit in the shade outside instead of in the direct 5:30pm summer sunlight. She seated me at the very back corner of the patio next to the alley at a 4 top even after passing numerous seats with umbrellas that could have been opened up. When the waitress came out to take my order, she didn’t even see me at first because of where I had been seated. Rude, college age hostess who I guess thought she was being funny? Hardly. Everything else was great but that behavior really rubbed me the wrong way. Even the waitress was surprised to see where I had been seated.

Nice upscale place for Mexican food. We got queso and guacamole, both very good. I got the mix and match street tacos; mahi mahi, carne asada, and beef tenderloin, all were delicious. They have a nice drink menu as well. They also have an outdoor patio, though we sat inside, plenty of seating options. Lighting inside could be better, dark spots and spotlights in your face at the same table. Overall the food would bring me back!

We hosted our son's wedding rehearsal dinner here on June 27, 2025. We had 50 people, including children in attendance. We opted for the taco bar buffet with bowls of guacamole and platters of the seafood nachos, drunken nachos and grilled veggies. The entire experience, from the first booking through check-ins and then the night of the dinner, was completely outstanding. We couldn't have been more pleased with the beautiful space, extremely tasty food, and the excellent service all throughout. If it was possible to give more stars I would.

Went to Malo for the first time and had a pretty decent time. We were seated on the patio and it was cute. The service was nothing special, and the food was ok! I’m not much of a drinker, but I liked my passion fruit margarita a lot (I even finished it!) I think in the future, I would come to this establishment for drinks and skip on the food. They were really light with the onions which was disappointing. I spent $25.28 for everything. PS. look at that HUGE fork.

Love the vegan burrito with the vegan chorizo. I have dreams about this burrito. You can tell everything is made from scratch. Drinks are mostly good. The margaritas kind of lack in flavor. Service is mostly good. The atmosphere is good, but kind of loud if you're trying to have a conversation.

This is very close to the Hotel Fort DesMoines we were staying at. It had good reviews, so we decided to try it. It was an excellent choice. Nice atmosphere. Great service. Try one of the taco trios. It’s a great value. Everything coming out to the neighboring tables looked delicious. There were margarita specials too!

All around outstanding. Great food, great service and great atmosphere. My apologies for no pic of the Steak De Burgo, I ate it too quickly!

We had a great birthday party for my step mom there last night and served great food and the staff was absolutely amazing. We had a whole dinner buffet spread including chicken wings, meat balls, bruschetta, meat and veggie trays, stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, and few other! We had approximately 70+ people show up and had a great night!! Thanks for making it memorable Christopher’s and for all your hard work!!!

Food was amazing and our waitress was great. I recommend the lasagna. Their house dressing is really good. My husband had the Prime Rib it was tender and really tasty. One of our favorites. Make a reservation as they fill up fast.

We visited Christopher's for the first time on a Friday evening. There was four of us and we had made a reservation. We got seated right away and the waitress was outstanding. Jennifer was the perfect amount of friendly and talkative but gave us our space when we needed it. She gave us lots of recommendations And let us take our time in making our choices. She went above and beyond with every interaction with us and even brought us a phenomenal dessert when she found out it was our first time. Will definitely be back to Christopher's and can't recommend this place enough.

Let me just say, it is not what we were hoping for. We, like many others had heard the buzz around Christopher's for many years, so last night we finally decided to try it. Service was good, drinks were great, food was the real weak point. Nothing we had was amazing, it was all about average or below.

We had such wonderful service and also really great food, we will definitely be back!

Taste of the food is pretty bland and this is what you get when you pay $9 to add chicken to a Caesar salad. Overall, I paid $21 for this measley rip off of a salad

Very nice waitress, very quick food, food was 4/5 but I was maybe expecting more chili than coney sauce for some reason. Still definitely would recommend trying once as it was a good quick bite!

The place was old fun and unique. We had the cheeseburger and chili dog and I have to say we enjoyed it. The lady was friendly and talked to us and made small talk. If you want a good old greasy burger and solid chili dog this is the place for you . We sat at the counter and had a good time. I would definitely come back and try the chili and tenderloin and maybe a shake... the prices were also fair and not expensive in my opinion... I️ recommend George’s chili king if this is what your looking for !

Flavortown once again missed the boat. So glad they gave me a sample of the AWFUL chili. It looked like slop and tasted along the same lines (I imagine, as I have never tasted slop). The chili had practically no meat, no beans, and no seasoning. The onion rings were actually the highlight of the night. The chicken sandwich, hamburger, and shakes were pretty average. Nothing to see here.

I've been coming here for years and I am never disappointed. come hungry because the portion sizes are big for the price and everything on the menu is delicious. I live 2 hours away and I would gladly make a trip down for the fat man special. the experience of still being able to get carhop service is lovely and the staff is friendly. anyone who doesn't understand the atmosphere of George's is obviously a noob.

Was excited to eat at another Triple D restaurant. The food was good but the service was bad. The signs say turn lights on for car hop, no one ever came out. Backed up by the door and someone finally came out but still no car hop option. I went in and ordered at the counter. Place isn't clean but what do you expect from a dive. George himself came out and finished my order and apologized for the service. The tenderloins where good. They weren't hammered paper thin like a lot of places, just the right thickness. Chili fries were good too.

I've been living in Florida for the past 7 years and when I hit town the first place I wanted to go was George the Chili King

The name says it all. The chili is second to none. Tenderloin and burgers are great. I suggest getting fries with chili and cheese! It's a smaller venue, but you can get service directly to your vehicle. My family enjoyed everything, including the shakes. The lady next to me suggested chili on the tenderloin. I may try that on my next visit.

8.18.25 my 1st time in IA and as I was strolling on the Riverwalk I came across this beautiful pedestrian bridge. The area was very clean. Not too many people. The views from the bridge are spectacular. A lovely way to explore the area.

Very cool bridge, and lit up beautifully at night. DO NOT PARK in front of the condos on the end opposite of the sports arena. We didn't notice the no parking sign, and returned from an 8 minute stroll to find our vehicle already loaded on a tow truck. Expensive lesson, and a miraculously quick turnaround for the towing company. Must be a resident who makes it a hobby to snitch on unsuspecting tourists?

This is such an iconic location in downtown Des Moines. It is beautiful and monumental. It is perfect for all occasions and we always bring guest from out of town here all year round. It’s such a neat setting and the views are spectacular.

Definitely a cool bridge to walk during night time as it has numerous colored lights throughout it. It helps connect both sides of the Riverwalk park. I think it is cool they also honor the contributions of historic Iowa women with this bridge. Glad we had time to walk it and visit the area when we were in Des Moines recently!

Beautiful little bridge over the river with a gorgeous river walk path that leads to a skate park one way or the botanical gardens the other.

This is a must visit in Des Moines! Great views of the city, & a good exercise! A+

This bridge is always featured in picture of downtown Des Moines. Absolutely gorgeous bridge both day and night. I've only recently discovered that there is actually a name to this bridge, and I love it even more now learning that it commemorates high achieving women of Iowa. The women's names can be found at the center of bridge. The bridge has a cool feature that the center cross-over section of the bridge is made out of glass, and you can see the Des Moines River through the glass.

Absolute worst service I have ever received. Came for a private party in the back room and had to set up tables and chairs ourselves. They were also very dusty so we had to ask for a rag to wipe them down and none of the staff offered to help. Bartender seemed to just disappear randomly and I was left waiting at the empty bar for 10 minutes to place an order. Ordered 1 bacon cheeseburger and 2 sides. Asked for no tomato and received not 1 but 2 burgers with tomato. On top of all that they charged the wrong tab and another member of our party was charged for my food (half of which I didn’t order). Went back to the bar to resolve the issue and was told that they needed person who took the order to fix it and that he wouldn’t be back for 30-40 minutes. Burger was also overcooked and dry. Definitely will not be coming back and I would advise anyone else to avoid this place altogether.

Very bad experience. It was our first time there and there was no instruction or direction. You seat yourself apparently but they didn’t even take the time to post that like most restaurants do. You scan to order, half the menu was out of stock, a Pepsi is $4 to fill yourself, once your food is done they place it on a counter where everyone is walking by and checking for their order and sometimes touching the wrong food, there was no service or help besides the bartender who was overly busy. All the people who were there for the bar were blocking the way to the self serve Pepsi station. Tables were dirty. Food sucked. Will never go again.

Go here! Visited February 4th, had the Brussels sprouts and truffle fries! So good I have tried the manhattan and oh my so good! Great place and there were lots of families with kids! We also tried a lot of free beer samples which is so fun!

Great beer selection. Love the open beer hall setup. Good amount of outdoor space as well. Decent selection of food options. They make it easy to order food and drink via mobile device. We typically visit on a Saturday afternoon post kids sports games and there are quite a few families there as well.

Really enjoyed our meal here. It was our first time ordering from our phone at the table, but it went seamlessly. There was plenty of room to spread out from other groups. Service and food was fast and easy, while the environment was relaxed and comfortable. (Note for families: the music playing is un-edited, occasional language)

This place fantastic. I have 2 Pro Tips... 1) The beer menu is on a giant screen above the bar and takes forever to read the whole list. Their website has a live beer menu on it and you can review at your own pace. 2) Download their app to order food. Seriously, I wish this technology was everywhere. Ordered and modified food feom the food trucks from my seat. Your name goes on a big screen when thwy are cooking it and then lets you know when it is ready.

Had not been here before and had a function for work. Nice meeting area, but a but noisy if you are looking for that atmosphere. It worked well for our needs and any places with beer can't be all bad right? Great selection of beers as well. Looking forward to returning later in the spring so we can sit outside and enjoy a cold one after coming off the bike trail.

I was visiting the burial sites of my brother, grandparents, and great grandparents. The crew of David, Luke, and Gabe went way above in the help of locating and assisting in making the vase accessible. They made my trip worth everything! Kudos

I cannot say enough good things about McLarens Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary. They were professional while also making us feel genuinely comfortable in such a difficult time. They kept things light and positive, even sharing laughter with us when it was needed most. Their understanding and compassion came through in every interaction. Hands down, this was the most human and down-to-earth experience I’ve ever had with a funeral home – and unfortunately, I’ve had far too much experience in that realm. McLarens is truly exceptional.

Today I went to see my grandma. The first time in a year and a half. I use to see her once a week and clean her plot but life happened and it took me a bit to get back. I couldn’t find her stone. I thought I remembered but I was not finding it. A site worker came to ask if I was ok. I began to cry and said I couldn’t find my grandma. He said “well let me help you”. Before I knew it, I had 3 of their yard workers assisting in the search for my grandma. Once she was found, they raised her stone and my Aunts stone whose laid to rest one plot over. They gave me flowers for her before we left and said they’d be sure to take care of her. I don’t remember all of their names. Rest Haven, you have some great men working for you. Please ask the one who goes by “big foot” who those other 2 men were because they deserve the recognition!

My family and I were extremely pleased with the service provided by McLaren‘s Resthaven. I worked with Mates Rounds and he was patient and professional. Everything was perfect.

I was a little nervous at first but Tiffany made me feel relaxed and comfortable talking about planning a funeral/burial, especially my own. She was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions and concerns, even when I called back a few days later with further questions. I know I can call her at any time in the future. I would recommend McLaren's Resthaven to my family, friends, strangers. It has been apart of the West Des Moines community for as long as I can remember.

When the love of my life passed away I remembered to contact McLaren's. They have served our families for generations and have always performed very very well. Our experience was just as perfect as the ones to which I can attest; those of my mother and several of her family. From laying out suggestions for the service, to the performance of it, and the burial itself the process went smoothly. Ryan and Paige were indispensable and always there to answer questions and effect performances. Thank you McLaren's

I recently visited Resthaven Cemetery to find my grandmother’s grave, and I was fortunate enough to meet a truly wonderful and helpful gentleman named Clark. He went above and beyond to assist me, and in just a short time he guided me exactly where I needed to be. On top of that, he was such a joy to talk with. Not only is Resthaven a beautiful and peaceful resting place for loved ones, but with staff like Clark, it’s clear the cemetery is cared for by people who are truly dedicated and compassionate.

The Varsity’s remodel looks fantastic — they’ve done a great job keeping its charm while updating the space. I’ve had some awesome experiences here, and their popcorn really is top-tier. They also host unique events, like a recent audio-described showing of Barbie for the visually impaired, which was such a thoughtful touch. The place was super clean (even the bathrooms), and the sound and picture were solid. The main auditorium is spacious, though only the back section has stadium-style seating. Seats were comfy enough, and overall, it’s just a cool spot to catch a movie.

I am amending the two star review I gave a few months ago. I initially really disliked the loft theater, but management had good suggestions for seats that allow a little more room to move which is what I wanted as the other seats were too close together. I found the right seat for me so I’m good with the loft theater. I’ve also seen a show in the main auditorium since then and it was great. The staff is so nice and the popcorn is the best in town. Lastly, I’m so thankful for places like the Varsity that bring in amazing smaller films that otherwise wouldn’t get released here. Because of that I was able to see the extraordinary Sorry, Baby twice and have it become one of the best films I’ve ever seen and the best I’ve seen this year. Thank you, Varsity! You’ve got a new regular customer. Keep up the great work!

Small, independent theater. 2 screens. One of which is smaller and provides a unique viewing experience. Makes going to the movies fun again. Tough going back to a big corporate theater once you’ve been here. And the popcorn is great!

I wish I could go 50/50 and give 2.5 stars. The main screening room is really nice! The loft however is very cringe, especially if you e never there, and are a first timer. Very tight squeeze, in uncomfortable seats. Good prices, good popcorn, just stick to the main screen.

Really cool independent theater. I visited for the first time earlier this week, to see the Local H Lifers movie. Presentation was great - beautiful screen, perfect framing and focus, and powerful sound. The main screening room is very clean and comfortable, with nice seats (and good spacing between the rows).

There's construction on the building next to them. I didn't see a parking lot, but we found a spot on the street near by. This is an older building with only 2 theatres I believe, but it's clean/updated and the seats were very comfortable. Sound system great and concession stand and workers were A plus!

Such an aesthetically appeal theatre! Seats are so comfortable. And I love the film choices on offer.

Great library with a convient location. The staff are professional and extremely helpful. Bathrooms are always well kept. Quiet reading sections throughout, with comfortable seating. Limited amount of p.c.'s available for on-line use. Printers are available (0.25 per page). Huge supply of reading materials. There is a drive up window for drop-off and pick-up with limited hours. Plenty of handicap parking, and handicap access. It would be nice if they could extend their hours to 9pm. Large children's area, with several presentations available. I recommend using this location. (Groovy Meter: 7/10)

The childrens place is so comfy to seat around while you watch your children play. Restrooms are close by. Books are arranged on easy to see and choose for kids. Besides books they have great movies to take home for free, games, and hot spot. We spend two hours every time we go there and kids still want more time.

This is a very cozy library. It has a very good selection of books and a very kind staff.

Love all of the services available here. It is a beautiful facility. Great place for kids of all ages 0 to 82.

We visit at least 3 times a week! Everyone is friendly and the programs are all so good

I love this place and their propagation library. I heard it was empty though so I'll stop by soon to add more cuttings.

Felt comfortable inside. Was easy to locate books and staff felt welcoming.

When I toured the DM building I was very impressed with the modern and industrial look. Some things to take into consideration. 1) The windows in the apartment do not open. 2) The rooftop space is breathtaking! And hardly ever used so it felt like a personal oasis. The pigeons were a source of entertainment and the sunrises were amazingly beautiful! 3) Unfortunately, I did have cockroaches in my apartment. I don’t know how effective their pest control is. 4) I had multiple “mishaps” with office staff that resulted in me renting another parking garage after being locked out of the one I was renting from them. Which resulted in me paying downtown parking prices for a week. 5) HVAC issues. 6) Maintenance personnel were also very responsive to any needs. Renting an apartment here was an experience in downtown living. Not for me but if you thrive on night life I would give the DMB a try.

I moved downtown in April, choose the Des Monies building because it was close to work. I am glad I did, Emily in the leasing office has been so helpful, apartments are nice, view from the rooftop is amazing. Everyone I have met in the elevators are friendly and nice, Even their pets, lol,, and I’m not a pet person myself. I would definitely recommend The Des Moines Building to my friends.

I was only at this building for a few months so I can’t comment much but here was my experience. Upon walk through, it was apparent that management did not do a walk through to make sure it was move in ready. They had just painted the countertops and the smell was nauseating. It was inconvenient as I had to rent a hotel room for the weekend and move in the following Monday. The front loading washing machine seal was caked with black mold. This was the first thing I put a work order in for And it was resolved within a week. The bathroom vent was also full of dust and dirt. I handled this one with my vacuum. There was caulk dripped all along the tub. It took me a week to scrape it all off. Looking past all of that, the building itself was awesome! I think it used to be a bank and they kept some of the original nostalgic feel. My apartment was sleek and modern. I did notice dead cockroaches every so often but I think it must have correlated with their pest control efforts. Being smack downtown, this does not surprise me. The rooftop is amazing and the view is spectacular. I didn’t spend much time up there but I did watch the fireworks last July. Awesome for sure! I did ask to be let out of my lease after a couple months of the AC malfunctioning. I was on the 14th floor in the middle of summer. Management was moving the residents to different hotels/airbnbs every couple nights. It was disappointing to not be able to live in my apartment. The only time I “visited” was to do laundry. When I made the decision to move, management was very helpful at finding me adequate accommodations. I greatly appreciated all the efforts they made, especially Matt Strom for his pursuit of finding fairness for the situation. Unfortunately this was a 3 star experience for me in a 5 star building. In an effort to be fair, I think my situation is unique as most residents I met were long term residents.

I used to love this apartment but after my recent treatment of new management I’m not sure. I’m disabled and on section 8 housing. This month I paid for my portion of rent but section 8 housing did not pay their portion. In response new management slammed me with 100 dollars of late fees in a 2 day span and then posted a notice on my door telling me I will be evicted in 30 days. No calls no notifications. When we called to ask the manager what she was doing she called us rude and hung up on us when she couldn’t answer any of the questions. As a disabled person now threatened with homelessness and I am also mentally ill, this is emotionally damaging. I am not responsible for the portion of rent section 8 housing does and I am not to be kicked out or threatened with notices when they do not pay their portion. When expressing fear and questioning why they would do so, we are insulted and hung up on. I’m trying to fix my situation and being hung up on and told I have 27 days to leave is not exactly helpful or professional. I loved everything about this place but the new manager needs to either be trained properly or held responsible for how they handle section 8 housing affairs and disabled people being held accountable for a portion of rent they don’t need to be paying for. Two back to back $50 late fees in a 2 day span is insane. I miss old management. This place was perfect but new management lacks training and awareness. Please be aware if you plan to live here they may hang up on you if you ask questions and they may have no situational awareness of your housing assistance and then blame you for the portion of rent you have no control over. I’d remove this review if the situation got remedied but I think there needs to be a warning currently on this place until new management is properly trained.

Deeply unsatisfied with my time at the Des Moines building. Air and heat were out the first month I was there and the problem wasn’t resolved for WEEKS. Management is never in the office. I had to move from my apartment 8 months into my lease due to personal issues. I paid my remaining lease off and discussed with management about adding a roommate so I could hopefully get some of the money back (considering I was paying 795 a month for a place I wasn’t living in). They denied person after person for “credit reasons” which was completely ridiculous to me considering I had paid the lease off in full. I understand having to take precautions but they had their money either way. I just recently received my move out summary and on top of keeping my 400$ deposit they are charging me an additional 350. I lived there for only 8 months and the things they are charging me for seem completely ridiculous. 350$ charge for smoke smell when I’m not a smoker, 100 trash removal when there was maybe 2 boxes left behind, 20$ drop pan removal?? Not even sure what that means. 125$ cleaning fee. I’ll admit it wasn’t epic and spam but it wasn’t a complete mess. I would assume and HOPE they clean every apartment before renting out again regardless so I find it totally ridiculous that I would pay that. I will try disputing charges and update based off that but I am no frustrated with my time spent here. They refuse to work with you and charge you insane prices for what I would think to be normal wear and tear. Also all five star reviews on here are because of the endless signs posted around the building saying “leave a 5 star review and win a gift basket”

This place will screw you over when you leave, living here for a year was fine except for the cockroaches on the roof and the crackheads out on the street but they will take as much money from you as they can when you leave! They’re also really expensive for a really small place, ours was 950 just for a studio. Also every good review on here was bought with a competition or raffle.

-Every 5 star review is a contest to win gift cards or baskets- In my short time at the Des Moines building I had the rare opportunity to live in both a studio and 1 bedroom with the 9.5 months I’ve been here. In both apartments I have never had a fully functioning AC or heating system. The dog park the size of a shoebox is filthy and has loose boards that come off and expose screws that wil lie around. People leave joints and cigarette filters in it as well, which I told management to find it still continuing. My apartments ceiling has caulking on the ceiling?? Who knows why. There was paint on my sink from lazy inexperienced paint jobs before moving in. My dishwasher wasn’t even connected when I first moved in and lightly flooded the apartment before I could get emergency maintenance in only to have my husband have to handle it himself while the maintenance guy stood there. There is no guest parking and the lobby constantly smells like weed or urine. Tons of homeless people in the alley where the dumpsters are so you definitely won’t feel safe taking anything there. There is a fee for EVERYTHING. No utility meters so don’t stress because you will still be charged outrageously for everything. The windows don’t open the gym is disgusting. They lock the revolving doors so everyone comes in and out of the mailroom. I’ve waited outside the leasing office at 8am multiple times for them to be late arriving if they come at all because no office hours are posted other than a sign for lunch. The rooftop is also covered in cigarette filters and beer caps and the fire table you may see in pics hasn’t worked the entire time I lived here. The parking garage you will have to use is about 2 blocks over and on the skywalk will take 10ish min to walk. If you choose to live here good luck.

THESE APARTMENTS ARE HORRIBLE ROACH INFESTED TWEAKER APARTMENTS SOUTHERN KNOWLES IS WHAT THEY WERE REALLY CALLED YOUR CAR WILL GET TOWED AND IT DOESNT EVEN HAVE STICKERS STATING YOUR CAR WILL GET TOWED IF YOU PARK HERE

I was talking with a member named Rick and he was just absolutely helpful and very clear and understanding when it came to my situation in my concerns. I really do appreciate his hard work and dedication to his job and it makes me feel like I have a weight lifted off of my shoulders when I speak to somebody like him. Get more people like him on your team!

It's a great place to live grace is so patient kind n very helpful she's absolute sweetheart who gives me solutions when I'm confused bout stuff. Very grateful for her.

I’m happy I moved away from there. You have to deal with cockroaches and mice in the laundry facility is always broken and you have kids breaking windows and breaking stuff and on top of it you sometimes have the cops there and the fire department Yep kids running in the hall. And you find trash here in there and when he wants some thing fixed they’re very slow but when they do fix it, they do a great job and I live there for four years I had one woman come to my apartment, covered in blood took them a while to clean up the blood in the hall after that and that was because her boyfriend beat her up, so yeah, there are some violence there and you can smell weed so you know there’s drugs there too

I have been living here for a year at the beginning everything was going well until I began to have problems in the apartment with mice coming out of the heat, people smoking in the unit, and without someone to talk to in the office and now they inform us that they are going to charge for the parking every month. The truth is that the rent is very expensive and it is not worth it the truth sorry.

Manrique has always been very good about taking care of any maintenance needs I've had in a timely manner and is kind and respectful. He informed me that the washer and dryer in my building are FINALLY going to be replaced after not being able to do laundry here since December of last year. I'm hoping that this actually happens.

When I was approved for the apartment I applied for, I was told to make a deposit to secure it. Once the deposit was made, only then was I notified that someone else already paid the deposit for the unit and another unit would be available 3 weeks later. I waited the 3 weeks only to have my move in postponed by another day because there was some last minute construction they said they needed to take care of the morning of my scheduled move in date, which was a last minute decision. The next day, I was able to move in, but there was a lot of things they still needed to do that should've been done before I moved in. By the second day, my A/C unit broke (also had a missing button) and my apartment was swarmed by roaches, ants, gnats, flies, and crickets. When maintenance came to work on things, they left my door unlocked. When the bathtub was repainted, there wasn't proper ventilation and my entire apartment wreaked of paint. As nice as the apartment looked, it was definitely not worth it.

Greenwood Park playground is a nice blend of nature and urban. The splash playground is mostly stone placed in a fun mix with the sprayers. There is also two playground areas set up for different age groups. There is a tennis court, restrooms, and shelters available for a comfortable blend of available facilities for a moderate number of visitors. Then entire area is sounded by trees reducing the sounds of the city. Located at the top of the hill a moderate breeze and healthy sunlight is available most days.

Great playground. Lots of shade, splash pad in the summer months, and decent amount of parking.

it needs a futsal court so it is very bad

Beautifully situated on a secluded hill with a lot of mature trees, various shrubs and plants. The area is very nicely landscaped and offer plents of amenities like sheltered areas, beaches, pathways, playgrounds, wading and splashing pool, and very clean and modern restroom facilities. Strongly recommend it for a very nice outing and picnic activities!

Our kids had a great time here on both the playground and in the spray pad area. My biggest issue is that the field area appears to be poorly cared for; the ground is full of dips and most of the grass is dead, making it more dirt than grass.

Great park nice neighborhood

It is a peaceful place to go in my daughter loves playing on the playground if you enjoy nature you definitely will enjoy this park

If I could leave less than one star I would. The vehicle motor vehicle division is extremely inefficient and poorly operated. be prepared to wait months for a title transfer appointment. there was a scratch from the seller on the title trying to get the pen to work and they rejected the paperwork sending me back to notarize a document and another 8 week wait. clearly this is just a money ponzu scheme to profit off you for their lack of efficiency. the workers all seem miserable and unhappy, and unhelpful. the process for an appointment should be removed and allow the walk-ins like they used to. first come first serve.

Welcome to the wonderful city of des moine iowa where they will send you an automatic speeding ticket for going 3mph over and not send it to you in the mail til months later 2 days before your "due date" before it goes to collections!

No waiting and fast. Professional and helpful.

Not overly impressive but serves its role well.

Nice BUILDING, LOVE WHAT YOU DID, HOW MUCH MONEY DID IT COST ME TO REMODEL TAXPAYER, HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON

The City of Des Moines spends their money in odd ways. Apparently they are trying to appeal to trendy millennials while ignoring the basic infrastructure. No wonder some nearby suburbs are the fastest growing in the nation.

AL SETKA is such a prick and horribly uninformed. So embarrassing.

Not exactly handicapped accessible for someone with a walker, it was hard to find the entrance to use.

Part of this complex is currently being converted into apartments.

Top of the line architecture

Beautiful building

It's interesting to look at but it's not something to drive way out of your way for. It is at the edge of a parking lot. It's a cool piece of history to check out on your way to something or to kill a bit of time but that's about it.

Really great historical site. Has some art on the wall behind it and a great view of the ild water tower on the lofts in the background. Really convenient to the walking trails as well.

Cool but not much too see. 🚴🏼‍♂️✌️😷

To be honest, I never thought it would be this cool and calm. The environment is very welcoming 😍

If you are in Des Moines you might as well stop by to see this and say you did it!

Sits on edge of parking lot

If I could, I would give this apartment complex less than 1. First, they do monthly insect inspections which is fine BUT if you do not kennel your pet all day or if you are not present they will fine you 100$. Keep in mind this inspections are completed at times between 10am-2am during week days which most people work. Second, if you have a simple problem YOU will be paying for it. For example, a clogged drain. They will find a way to make it YOUR fault and you will be spending 106$ to have them unclog it. Not to mention they will give you the notice about 2 months later and give you 1 week to come up with the money. Third, the first floor always smells of a mixture of puke and alcohol in the weekends and the noise rings out loud during bar times. So keep that in mind if you don't like the noise. Oh, and I hope you like walking far for a parking space because gas lamp uses the parking lot as well. Fourth, if you DO NOT LIKE apartment mangers coming in and monitoring how you keep your house do not live here. For example, I received a letter just around 24 hours ahead of time which is in the contact that they will be checking for damage to the apartment. They state, "your apartment should be clear from clutter, piles of clothing and junk." "Kitchen floor should be scrubbed clean", Your fridge needs to be clean inside and out", Your oven should be free of all grease or any dirt". Now these are normal cleaning procedures in general but if you really need to check to make sure your tenants are following these "rules" then it sorta gives an idea of the people who live here. I didn't think I signed up for my mother to come in and insect my life. Not to mention I'm sure they will come up with some sort of damage I have done, even though there was plenty when I moved in. Overall, I understand some people look at the cheap price tag of these apartments but it has been nothing but horrible. I seriously hope people reading this understand you pay for what you get and DO NOT RENT HERE. You will regret it and I wish I had this knowledge before moving in. P.S. there is absolutely no way to regulate the heat during the winter and it was 78 degrees in my apartment with the window wide open. Good luck in your apartment endeavors.

If I could give negative stars, I would. Coming from two young professionals, these apartments are beyond horrible. I never leave reviews but this place deserves a warning disclaimer. We were preyed on by management and lied to about everything because we were new to Des Moines and didn't know anything about the area. Our first night the neighbors told us they can't wait to leave and showed us blood splattered on the ceiling where apparently a homeless person beat another homeless person over crack (seriously?) and said they have to sleep with rifle size mace next to their bed, we thought they were over exaggerating until we saw our other neighbors make a giant drug deal with a backpack full of "something" right in the front doorway. We broke our lease early because we were scared to sleep and paranoid all the time, our neighbors also were catching 3-4 mice a MONTH in a STUDIO... when I called the "president" of Newbury he scoffed on the phone and said in his "big country house" he catches a few mice every year too, as if that's the same!! He was extremely rude and extremely unprofessional. We called the police on drug activity there so many times but management would just tell us there was nothing that could be done. Their rent a cops that apparently overlook the apartments (lol) I only ever saw there twice and when we called them 3 times they never showed. They tried sending us a bill for $300 after we moved out for cleaning when it looked nicer than when we moved in. I bought $60 worth of cleaning supplies and scrubbed that place down so I wouldn't have to deal with them again. This company is Scummy and Money hungry. You will get bed bugs, silverfish and mice and god knows what else. They claim to have the best pest control but they were there every week steaming someone else's mattress and spraying for roaches. We had to get rid of almost all of our stuff after leaving because we didn't want to take any bugs with us. BEWARE

The view from the butler apartments

Yea no good for a single solo type

I livebythebutleralts

Beautiful serene spot. Can you catch the sun rise or sun set with the correct amount of cloud coverage? It refracts off the top of the torch. Making it look a flame! Truly a beautiful sight to see! Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. Wish many a time it didn't need to be that way. Chester Edward Atrhur. Thankfully, you made it back! Part of you did not. That's the piece you can't physically see. Nonetheless important.. just as you can look at this torch at the right time and see it lit. Our souls are a bigger part of this life than we can or will understand! Remember, " An eye for an eye makes the world blind." Love is not only a feeling it's a choice! Choose love for the sake of learning from the past. Choose a better tomorrow. Because we can <3 04/20/2025 <3, Shamie Treslan

The Greater Des Moines Community Band put on a lovely Memorial Day concert. Special speaker. Great weather. A good day for remembering those we lost so we can enjoy the freedom we have in this country.

The nation's 1st and a great tribute to a generation that gave so much for the country.

We pray her for our country

Not enough can be repaid for their sacrifice.

Wheelchair has to roll a long distance to a gate. Horrible. We could NOT find a real handicap parking.