Many of us see downtown as a fun place to gather with friends. Many appreciate the architecture, but few actually know the story behind Des Moines landmarks.  For the curious minded, downtown is filled with historical buildings capturing the past life in downtown Des Moines. As we use the following places for entertainment spaces we can discover more about their true story and what makes them so interesting.

Mural by John Neal

John Neal, a painter and muralist has become a part of Des Moines history. He began in the year 2001 for the Riverview amusement park. Today, he continues to create beautiful paintings around Iowa. He did a mural to celebrate the 100-year anniversary for a local business, The Gaziano Brothers Italian grocery store.

Kirkwood Hotel

The Kirkwood Apartments started out as a hotel. In 1929, the original building burned down. The architecture then was made of marble, onyx, bronze, and silver. As it was made new, renovations have turned the hotel into 54 residential units. It's a reminder of our city’s history and contributions to architecture. The Kirkwood Apartments have been placed in the National Register of Historical Places.

Des Moines Social Club

The Des Moines Social Club has history to it. This building was originally the first Des Moines fire station built in 1937. A change happened in the year 2008 when Des Moines Social Club bought the building. Since then a workroom has been converted into a board meeting room and the dormitories of the firemen were converted into classrooms. The Social Club commonly plays host to art galleries and performances.

Iowa Woman's Achievement Bridge

The Iowa Women's Achievement Bridge features two paths, one for walkers and the other one for bicyclists. In the past five years, four notable women in Iowa's past were honored, with placement on the Woman of Achievement Bridge. It was a 10 million dollar gift from the Principal Financial Group. The bridge was made to recognize the women who made outstanding contributions to Des Moines and the world.

Travelers Sign

The Travelers Sign and umbrella contribute a visually stimulating glow to the Des Moines skyline. It was built in 1963 for the Travelers Insurance Company. The Travelers Agency paid to maintain the sign until 1995 when the sign was later abandoned. Since then, the Graham Group Inc. has taken responsibility for the maintenance.

*Hover above image to learn more about each building.