Des Moines Facts: A City In Iowa To Visit With Family!

A perfect place to live and work, Des Moines has become one of the major centers of the US insurance industry.

Des Moines is the capital of Iowa, a state in the United States, and is named after the Des Moines River. It was named Fort Des Moines in 1851 but was shortened to Des Moines in 1857.

It is a major hub for the insurance industry and there are many major corporations of financial service and publishing businesses based here. This city is located at the juncture of the Raccoon Rivers in the south-central part of the state. The Des Moines River is a tributary of the Mississippi River. Des Moines is the administrative center of Polk County and a small part of the Des Moines area extends into Warren County. The city of Des Moines is quite populated and is a great place to live. The city has great job opportunities, great schools, friendly communities, and affordable living. .

What is the history of Des Moines?

The city can be traced back to 1843 when Captain James Allen supervised the construction of a fort in the area where the Des Moines and Raccoon River emerge.

The captain wanted to keep the name Fort Raccoon, but the US war department preferred Fort Des Moines. The fort was originally constructed to control the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, a close relative of the Peoria tribe, who the government had moved from their original land in eastern Iowa to the Indian territory.

Des Moines soon became incorporated as a city in 1851 and the name Fort Des Moines was shortened in 1857. The growth of the city during the Civil War was quite slow, but the city exploded in size and importance after the railroad link was built in 1866. The standard of living began to improve as well.

Des Moines has been named one of the most important cities in the United States and has the most influence in the field of major insurance companies. This Iowa city was also named as the third largest insurance capital in the world. The city houses some of the major company headquarters like the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, Ruan Transportation, and EMC insurance companies. Some other companies such as Wells Fargo, Marsh, Monsanto, and others have large corporations in or near the city. Microsoft, HP, and Facebook have also built their data processing and logistical facilities in Des Moines, Iowa.

Travel Facts about Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is a concrete city and there are several tall buildings that overlook this busy city. However, this city is not just building after building. There is plenty of green spaces and areas to enjoy with family and friends. The 801 Grand is the tallest building in Des Moines, and it is a 45 story skyscraper owned by the JLL Americas.

The Iowa State Capitol, known as the Iowa Statehouse, sits on the top of a hill and the view from the statehouse overlooks this busy city. The view provides an overview of downtown and the West Capitol terrace as well. The Capitol building is the seat for the Iowa General Assembly and therefore the building houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the offices of the General Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of the State. The Iowa State Capitol's dome is the only five-domed capitol in the country. This is a very popular attraction when visiting Iowa.

The Science Center of Iowa opened in 1970 in Greenwood Ashton Park and was initially called the Des Moines Center of Science and Industry. The name was changed in 1985 and the location was also changed in 2005. The center is fun for both children and adults because there are lots of activities to get involved with. This award-winning museum has many hands-on exhibits that constantly change so there is always something new to do. There is also a planetarium where visitors can gaze at the stars and an IMAX theater to look at the world around us better.

The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is located in downtown Des Moines in the Western Gateway Park. This landscape features more than 20 sculptures. This park is under the Des Moines Art Center and contains several works by famous sculptors. The Des Moines Art Festival takes place in June every year in this park and features hundreds of artists, vendors, and visitors come to admire the art pieces displayed. Salisbury House and Gardens were built by Carl Weeks and his wife Edith in the '20s. This 42 room estate hasn't been occupied in more than six decades but the antiques in the house are fascinating for everyone, not just for those who love history. Tickets can be purchased for a guided tour inside the property. The Des Moines Art Center has been displaying art since 1948 and features rotating exhibits from locally and nationally renowned artists. Some of the permanent pieces in the Art Center are pieces from famous artists like Matisse and Monet.

The East Village is an integral part of the city. It is located on the east bank of the Des Moines River in downtown and the neighborhood has several restaurants, pubs, and lively spots. The Principal Park is located between the Iowa and Bacon Rivers in the Des Moines suburb. It is home to the Iowa Cubs, a Triple A minor league baseball team. They are associated with the Chicago Cubs.

The Waveland Golf Course is the oldest municipal golf course in Des Moines and is open to the public as well. The Blank Park Zoo is the largest zoo near the fort of Des Moines and it has several exotic creatures.

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden has several plants ranging from tropical to temperate. The beauty of these gardens can be admired by taking classes on gardening or by simply opting to take a tour around the gardens. On the east side of the Des Moines River is the Robert D. Asian Gardens which have a superb landscape and the Asian Pavillion Top surely does catch the eye of visitors. There is also a decorative garden that houses stone pagodas and sculptured rock formations. While Des Moines may seem like a busy and urbanized city, there are plenty of green spaces dotted around the city that tourists can escape to.

Des Moines Buccaneers Quick Facts

The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier I junior Ice Hockey team in the United States Hockey League.

The Buccaneers started their journey by playing under the USHL in the 1980-81 season. They have played all their home games in the Buccaneers Arena in Urbandale, just outside of Des Moines.

The Buccaneers have won four Anderson cups and four Clark Cup Championships in their history. They won three Gold cups in 1992, 1995 and 1998 for the Junior A National Championship award before the USA hockey's shift that realigned their status to Tier I. Scott Clemmensen, a resident of Des Moines played for the Buccaneers before transferring to Boston College. Clemmensen later became the co-owner of Buccaneers under Orchard View Sports and Entertainment that bought the team in 2017.

Wells Fargo Museum: Des Moines Facts

The Wells Fargo Museum is controlled by Wells Fargo in its corporate headquarters in San Francisco, however it has recently closed down in Des Moines.

The museum had several exhibits about the company's history. Some of the displays included stagecoaches, photographs, gold nuggets, the Pony Express, and telegraphs. It was a really interesting museum for anyone who was interested in the history of this global company.

The museum was named the Wells Fargo History room in 1927, but the name was changed later. The Wells Fargo Museum in Des Moines had been operating for almost 60 years in the same location and it was open for public tours until 2020 when almost 11 museums out of 12 were closed by the organization. In 2020, the corporation announced that their museums would close for a bit as they no longer align with the image of the company at the moment. The only operating museum now is the one located in San Francisco.

Did You Know...

The Indiana University in Bloomington is also quite close for students who want to pursue undergraduate teaching. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The commute from Iowa State to Bloomington takes about five hours.