Things to do in Des moines
Des Moines Art Museum The collecting focus of the Des Moines Art Center remains centered on modern and contemporary art objects in all media, although the works on paper collection spans seven centuries and continues to grow in all time periods. The historical prints and drawings serve to inform the art of our time; curators often combine works from multiple time periods in the galleries to place each in context. The Des Moines Art Center, boasts an outstanding collection of architecture. The three architects who have collaborated in the design of the museum, Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei and Richard Meier, are among the greatest names in architecture of the 20th century. Though each represents a very different style and period of modern architecture, their combined efforts, starting with Saarinen’s original Lannon stone building, followed in 1968 by Pei’s bushhammered concrete addition, and Meier’s three-part clad porcelain and granite addition in 1985, have resulted in a unique architectural achievement.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 of the world's most celebrated artists. The 4.4 acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian-friendly entryway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The Pappajohns' contribution of 28 works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is located at 1330 Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines.
Des Moines Botanical Garden Welcome to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden where exploring, explaining and celebrating the world of plants is our mission. Tropical and temperate gardens make us an oasis in the heart of downtown Des Moines. Whether you visit on your own or explore with a group, you will find the Botanical Garden a place where you can learn about fascinating plants, hone your gardening skills or immerse yourself in beautiful gardens.
Moberg Gallery Winter Group Show 2017. The created flora and fauna of the Winter Group Show is as varied as any region and geography. And the abstract works included here depict an inner or strictly manifested world that is as welcoming as vast lands or sky ranges we might look out onto or up into. Which is exactly what we do at the new year: look ahead, assessing signs, putting forward hopes, resolving to remember, so that we can see and make future more clearly.
Salisbury House Salisbury House in Des Moines is a Tudor, Gothic and Carolean style manor home. It was built by cosmetic magnate Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith Van Slyke Weeks, between 1923 and 1928. Salisbury House was modeled after the King's House in Salisbury, England, contains 42 rooms and measures just over 22,000 square feet. The Weeks Family amassed extensive collections of fine art, decorative art, rare books, musical instruments, historic documents, weapons and sculpture, and most of their holdings remain in Salisbury House to this day. The Salisbury House Foundation offers various tour packages that allow visitors to experience many highlights from the Weeks Family's collections.
Iowa State Capital The building was constructed between 1871 and 1886, and is the only five-domed capitol in the country. Located at East 9th Street and Grand Avenue, the Capitol is set atop a hill and offers a panoramic view of the city's downtown and the West Capitol Terrace. Various monuments and memorials are to its sides and front, including the Soldiers and Sailors' Monument and the Lincoln and Tad statue. The exterior of the building is entirely of stone with elaborate columns and handsomely designed cornices and capitals. Iowa stone is the foundation for the many porticoes of the building. The building is brick with limestone from Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, and Illinois. The substructure is of dark Iowa stone topped by a heavy course of wari-colored granite cut from glacial boulders gathered from the Iowa prairie. The superstructure, or main part of the building, is of bluff colored sandstone from quarries along the Mississippi River in Missouri. Both front and back porticoes have pediments supported by six Corinthian columns each. The commanding feature is the central towering dome constructed of iron and brick and covered with sheets of pure 23-carat gold
Jasper Winery Located just minutes from downtown Des Moines, Jasper Winery is an “estate style” winery facility in the heart of the metro area. we specialize in premium quality wines using grapes sourced from vineyards throughout central Iowa. We are open seven days a week for tastings and a relaxing view of the onsite vineyards.
Fadeaway Floatation Center Sensory deprivation tanks and Spa. A float tank is filled with water that has enough Epsom salt mixed in to allow a person to float on the surface. The water is kept at skin-temperature, making it virtually imperceptible. The room is virtually sound-proof and the interior of the tank is pitch-black, creating a place for our bodies to be free from gravity and all stimulation from the outside world. A float tank is not as much an object as it is an environment. An environment with the purpose of acting as a counterbalance to every other interaction we have with the world around us. It is the pursuit of a pure nothingness. A place of rest. It is an environment that allows our bodies and minds to sink away from the society that has been built around us, and to instead turn focus internally. A chance to check in with ourselves, uninhibited by the external forces that are otherwise omnipresent. There is no magic in the float tank, the magic is us. Our bodies have spent millions of years learning how to take care of themselves, and the float tank simply provides the optimum environment with which to do so.
Terrace Hill Iowa Governor's Residence. When construction of Terrace Hill was completed in 1869, it was Des Moines’ tallest home owned by its wealthiest man. Now a stunning example of Victorian Second Empire architecture, the 18,000-square foot building serves the dual purpose of the official governor’s residence and a National Historic Landmark. Terrace Hill recreates the lavish Victorian lifestyle of its wealthy former residents. From the brilliantly colored stained glass window, marvelous woodwork, eight acres of historic grounds, and worldly collections, the past seems ever present as you anticipate what’s around the next corner.
Historic East Village The East Village is Des Moines’ most vibrant and diverse district, boasting many of the finest shopping, dining, nightlife and commerce in Iowa. Located between the Iowa State Capitol and the Des Moines River in downtown Des Moines the East Village is highly-accessible by car, bike, or foot.
Raygun An Iowa-born, Midwest-centric clothing company that thrives on being clever, quirky and kitschy. Raygun is “a printing, design & clothing company owned and operated by extremely attractive Midwesterners.” The company has made it their goal in life to shamelessly promote and/or satirize just how great things are smack dab in the center of the United States. And they do it via t-shirts, stickers, posters, magnets, glassware … and just about any other surface where they can slap their clever mantras.
West End Architectural Salvage No matter how far you travel you’ll never forget the experience our store has to offer! Our passion is rescuing craftsmanship from the past and offering it to you for renovations or creative re-purposing. Someone’s trash is always someone else’s treasure! West End has everything from furniture to stained glass to doors to tin panels. These one-of-a-kind items are organized by category throughout the four floors of the West End building.
Sticks and Sticks Gallery Sticks was started by Sarah Grant in 1992. Since then, Sticks has received national acclaim for our distinctive line of furniture, accessories and object art. The company began by designing smaller items such as ornaments and candlesticks, and has evolved to feature larger items such as dining sets, beds and armoires. Each piece is handcrafted within Sticks’ award winning studio in Des Moines, Iowa.
All pieces are finely crafted from birch, poplar and driftwood. The pieces are further designed with hand drawn imagery, etched contouring and vibrantly blended paint. Pieces can be embellished with 3-D wood components, metal, leather and fabric. Our line is constantly evolving due to the imagination of our design team and the many talented craft artisans that we employ.
State Historical Museum of Iowa Discover Iowa’s rich heritage through a variety of exhibitions, tours, collections and unique programs and events throughout the year.
Birthplace of John Wayne The life story of John Wayne began in the small central Iowa town of Winterset. He was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907, the son of Clyde and Mary Brown Morrison. With the opening of the 6,100 square foot John Wayne Birthplace Museum adjacent to the home, visitors now have the opportunity to see the largest diversified exhibit of John Wayne artifacts in existence, including original movie posters, film wardrobe, scripts, contracts, letters, artwork and sculpture, and even one of his last customized automobiles. The only museum in the world dedicated to John Wayne, the facility naturally includes a movie theater. Relax in comfortable seats (originally from Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood) and watch a documentary on Duke’s phenomenal film career.
The Bridges of Madison County Madison County is the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa, with the largest group of covered bridges that exists in one area in the western half of the Mississippi Valley. Stop by our Welcome Center at 73 Jefferson Street in Winterset for a map and brochure about visiting the Covered Bridges.
Des Moines Science Center / IMAX Theater The Science Center of Iowa engages and inspires visitors by bringing learning to life. Centrally located in Downtown Des Moines, SCI's hands-on exhibits, special-format theaters and unique programming attract Iowans and distant visitors.
Blank Park Zoo The mission of the Blank Park Zoo is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, research and recreation.
Iowa Arboretum The Iowa Arboretum, located on 415 acres in Boone County’s Des Moines River Valley showcases hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and flowering plants in a tranquil setting. Woodland and prairie trails provide wonderful outdoor walking opportunities.
Maytag Dairy Farms The staff will share the history and the process of handcrafting Maytag Blue Cheese. From the cheese shop, you will have a panoramic view of the historic family farm, as well as our popcorn field. Your visit wouldn’t be complete without a cheese tasting and few tasty souvenirs to take home.
ICU Paintball Indoor paintball field. Advantages of indoor paintball: climate controlled, goggles less likely to fog
MB2 Indoor Kart Racing Go Kart Speeds Up To 45 MPH.
Great Escape Iowa Laser Tag and Bowling Great Escape specializes in bowling, bowling leagues, laser tag, arcade, great food and great fun. At Social – Eats & Crafts you will find a menu inspired by modern American cuisine. Social– Eats & Crafts represents great food and a variety of craft beers. Social – Eats & Crafts offers 30 draft beers with 26 craft beers.
Ricochet Play pool, darts, shuffleboard, and ping pong in a cool downtown atmosphere.
Climb Iowa Climb Iowa is Iowa’s largest indoor climbing and training facility. With more than 10,000 square feet of climbing, 200 routes and problems, a fitness room, and a yoga studio, Climb Iowa offers a wide variety of services. From the beginning climber to the experienced veteran, we have something for everyone. We’re open for climbing every day; no appointment is needed. Stop in and let us show you the ropes!
Up-Down Arcade Bar The Up-Down Arcade features more than 40 arcade games from the ‘80s and ‘90s, pinball machines, three classic skee-ball alleys, Nintendo and Sega console gaming, and life-size jenga and connect four. All games cost just 25 cents. Our drink menu includes an extensive craft beer selection with 20 beers on tap and even more bottles and cans, as well as ‘80s and ‘90s inspired cocktails.
Des Moines Social Club The Des Moines Social Club is an innovative arts and entertainment venue located in a renovated, historic art deco Firehouse in downtown Des Moines. The non-profit provides a home for local artists, offers unique programming spanning all arts disciplines, and brings people of every age and background together under one roof — all for the purpose to use the arts as a catalyst to create unprecedented community engagement. On any given night, you may see thought-provoking theater, pop-up art galleries, circus classes, entertaining trivia competitions, live music, or art courses for kids — all happening simultaneously. There is truly something for everyone at the Des Moines Social Club. The Des Moines Social Club spans two buildings, multiple floors, an outdoor courtyard and features an art gallery, gift shop, black-box theater, music venue, restaurant, and coffee shop, as well as numerous performance spaces, classrooms, and non-profit office space.
Des Moines Performing Arts Center World-class entertainment, education, and cultural activities
Vaudeville Mews The Vaudeville Mews is an eclectic music venue located in the heart of the Court Avenue Entertainment District in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. They are open only during shows, generally opening about an hour prior to the show start. They feature a wide variety of local, regional, and national acts in our 230 capacity venue most nights of the week.