Attractions in Des Moines, Iowa

Amusements

Heritage Carousel of Des Moines 515-323-8200
Located in Union Park
The seasonal, 35-passenger Heritage Carousel is one of the few carousels made of wood since the 1930s. Each hand carved and hand primed, the animals on the carousel... more info map

Basilica of St. John 515-244-3101
1915 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
Built in a stunning Romanesque style, this basilica features stained glass windows with marble interior. Tours are available. more info map
Bennett School 515-225-1286
Fuller Road, West Des Moines, IA 50265
One of the last one-room schoolhouses built in the West Des Moines area, used until 1941, Bennett School has been fully restored to reflect the memories of former... more info
Iowa State Capitol 515-281-5591
East 9th and Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319
Built between 1871 and 1886, this magnificent building is one of the nation's finest examples of 19th century architecture. Its dome, constructed of steel and brick, is... more info map
Jordan House 515-225-1286
2001 Fuller Road, Des Moines, IA 50265
The former home of James Jordan, the founder of Valley Junction, which was to become West Des Moines; this restored Victorian Italianate Gothic-style mansion served as a... more info map
Wallace House 515-243-7063
756 16th Street, Des Moines, IA 50314
Visit this stunning Victorian Italianate-style home of Henry Wallace, former Secretary of Agriculture. more info map

Des Moines Art Center 515-277-4405
4700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
The Des Moines Art Center "presents thought-provoking exhibitions and educational programs, as well as hands-on studio art classes." With a major emphasis on... more info map
Heritage Art Gallery 515-286-2242
111 Court Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
Housed in a circa 1908, Beaux Arts Classical-style United States Post Office, the Polk County Heritage Gallery provides a multi-use exhibition space for artistic and... more info map
Hoyt Sherman Place 515-244-0507
1501 Woodland Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
A grand manor home built by prominent businessman Hoyt Sherman, the Hoyt Sherman Place is now a museum and performing arts center. An impressive collection of 19th and... more info map

Blank Park Zoo 515-323-8383
7401 Southwest 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50315
With a mission “to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education and recreation,” the 49-acre Blank Park Zoo is the only zoo in Iowa... more info map
Des Moines Botanical Center 515-323-6290
909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA 50316
Located on 14 acres along the east bank of the Des Moines River, near downtown Des Moines, the Des Moines Botanical Center is one of the most popular cultural... more info map
Yellow Banks Park
Yellow Banks Park is located along the Des Moines River Water Trail, off Vandalia Road about two miles east of Highway 65. more info