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| Iowa Must See Sights |
Des Moines may be a popular road trip stop when traveling between Kansas City and Minneapolis, but you’ll be glad to know that Des Moines has a lot to offer in terms of attractions and places to visit, which makes Des Moines one of the top vacation spots in the Midwest.
Civic Center
Des Moines’ Civic Center is one of the best places to visit in town for a nice evening out. The Civic Center boasts a good variety of entertainment that includes theatre performances and live music shows such as Broadway musicals.
Des Moines Civic Center is located at 221 Walnut St
Sculpture Park Garden
Sculpture Park is another of the popular places to visit in Des Moines and one attraction you can’t miss visiting when in town!
Sculpture Park features artworks from the personal collection of the famous artists John and Mary Pappajohn. John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is located near Des Moines Public Library at 4700 Grand Avenue.
Iowa State Capitol
If you enjoy visiting US capitols, or simply fancy a tour, you’ll enjoy visiting the Iowa State Capitol (located at 1007 East Grand Avenue).
Iowa State Capitol (pictured) guided tours are offered Monday to Saturday and are a great way to learn a little history, take pictures of the gold dome and visit important rooms such as the governor’s office.
Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater
Iowa’s Science Center and IMAX is, without a doubt, one of the top places to visit in Des Moines for a day out with the family.
There are lots to see and do at the Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater such as cool science exhibits, shows about constellations, interactive playing areas and live demonstrations to experience the power of nature.
The Science Center and IMAX is located at 401 W Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
Principal Park
If you’re a fan of sports, or fancy taking out the family to see a game, you’ll be glad to know that Des Moines is home to the minor league baseball team - the Iowa Cubs Mug Club.
You can see the Iowa Cubs Mug play during season at Principal Park, and the best thing is that the club will even allow you (whether a fan or not) to come to the park before the game to enjoy a bit of batting practice.
Polk County Heritage Gallery
The Polk County Heritage Gallery is one of the top art places to visit in Des Moines as it features works produced by local contemporary artists. Whether you're a fan of art or not, Polk County Gallery is a great place to soak in the unique atmosphere of art galleries!
Polk County Heritage Gallery is located at 111 Court Avenue (just a short walk from the Civic Center), and the great thing about this attraction is that it has no admission fee.
Iowa Hall of Pride
The Iowa Hall of Pride is another great place to visit with friends and family for an enjoyable, educational and interactive day out in Des Moines.
Besides a theatre, a games room and plenty of hands on exhibits on offer, the Iowa Hall of Pride is a great place to learn about famous Iowans.
Iowa Hall of Pride is located in downtown Des Moines at 330 Park Street
Wells Fargo Arena
Wells Fargo Arena is, undoubtedly, one the biggest and most popular sports arena in Iowa and another of the places to visit in Des Moines for a day of entertainment.
Wells Fargo Arena boasts regular events all year long so no matter when you visit you’re most likely to find an event happening.
To give you an idea what kind of events Wells Fargo Arena hosts, there is the famous Monster Jam in January, and the Iowa Power Farming Show, Wrestling and Basketball tournaments in February and March.
Iowa Historical Building
The Iowa Historical Building is an absolute gem of attraction as it boasts a diverse range of interesting exhibits and artifacts on display such as Abraham Lincoln’s glasses, military weapons and artifacts, wildlife dioramas, model planes, Native American woven baskets and much more!
Iowa Historical Building is located at 600 East Locust Street, just few blocks down the road from Iowa State Capitol.
Wallace House
If you enjoy the feeling of stepping back in time when touring a period home, you’ll definitely enjoy a visit to Wallace House so, be sure to add it to your list of places to visit in Des Moines.
The Wallace House is one of the best-preserved Victorian homes in the area and the great thing is that it's open to the public for tours and free of charge.
Wallace House Museum is located in the downtown area at 756 16th Street, just a block away from Emmaus House.
Italian-American Cultural Center
If you’re interested in Italian-American heritage, the Italian-American Cultural Center is another great place to visit in town, especially during the Italian Festival.
If you visit in Des Moines in late July, you’ll be able to attend the annual Italian Festival (Festa Italiana) at the center’s grounds.
The Italian-American Cultural Center is located adjacent Columbus Park at 1961 Indianola Avenue.
Terrace Hill
Terrace Hill is another popular historic site in Des Moines open to the public for tours. Terrace Hill boasts amazing lovely grounds and many different rooms such as the Music Room and Library, all of which you can explore during the one hour free guided tour.
Terrace Hill is located at 2300 Grand Avenue. Tours are normally available during the week (except Mondays) between spring and autumn seasons.
See. Interesting places to visit in Iowa
Places to visit in Davenport Iowa
