EXPLORE: Way back when

By Sofia Legaspi Dickens

Mansions, museums and houses — don’t overlook Iowa’s rich history this summer.

HOYT SHERMAN PLACE
1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
hoytsherman.org 

Today known primarily for its grand theater, Hoyt Sherman Place was constructed by businessman Hoyt Sherman in the mid-1800s. The mansion has hosted guests including William Tecumseh Sherman, Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley. The first Mercy Hospital operated for two years in Sherman’s home. Original floor plans and period-appropriate decor on the upper level were restored in 2021. It also has an impressive art gallery. Free tours are available during business hours.

IOWA STATE CAPITOL
1007 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
legis.iowa.gov/resources/tourcapitol 

With its iconic golden dome prominent on the Des Moines skyline, the Iowa State Capitol was completed in 1886 after 15 years of construction. Tours of the Capitol will take visitors through the Grand Staircase, Inner Dome, Supreme Court, Senate and House chambers, governor’s and state officials’ offices and the breathtaking State Law Library, with views of various murals, mosaics and displays of intricate craftsmanship along the way. Combine that with the 40-plus memorials, sculptures and fountains scattered around the Capitol Grounds, and you might need more than an afternoon to fully appreciate its grandeur.

JORDAN HOUSE
2001 Fuller Road, West Des Moines
wdmhs.org/the-jordan-house 

The oldest structure in West Des Moines was home to James C. Jordan, one of the city’s first settlers. Jordan House was a station on the Underground Railroad during the antebellum period. Tours of the period home are offered on Fridays and Sundays.

SALISBURY HOUSE
4025 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines
salisburyhouse.org 

Carl and Edith Weeks built Salisbury House in the 1920s, modeled after the King’s House in Salisbury, England. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours to view the family’s original artwork, tapestries and antique furnishings, plus woodwork and flintwork dating to the 16th century.


STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM OF IOWA
600 E. Locust St., Des Moines
iowaculture.gov/history/museum

Discover Iowa’s rich heritage, from pre-statehood and the Civil War to RAGBRAI and Iowa’s presence in Hollywood. At any given time, the museum displays about 1,500 objects out of its collection of 80,000-plus artifacts.

TERRACE HILL
2300 Grand Ave., Des Moines
terracehill.iowa.gov 

Terrace Hill goes by many names: Hubbell Mansion, Iowa Governor’s Mansion and Benjamin F. Allen House. Allen was the first millionaire in Iowa and began construction in 1866. The Hubbell family donated the building to the State of Iowa in 1971, when it was designated as the official residence of the Iowa governor. Guided tours are available Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and noon. Visitors should make reservations 48 hours in advance by calling 515-281-7205.

WORLD FOOD PRIZE HALL OF LAUREATES
100 Locust St., Des Moines
halloflaureates.org

Formerly the Des Moines Public Library building, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates underwent a $29.8 million restoration project. Today, the building honors Iowa native Dr. Norman Borlaug for his work in agronomy. The structure was designed in the Beaux Arts style and currently houses a museum that highlights agricultural achievements, hunger and food security. n