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    Recommended Reviews - Iowa State Capitol

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    Dora K.

    This building is absolutely stunning! So much architectural detail and all the gold leaf is amazing. From tile mosaics and grand staircases to House and Senate overlooks, this is really a beautiful place to visit. The sculptures and memorials on the grounds are really cool too. The Law Library is a must see! It was the reason we stopped in and are so happy we did!

    Ryan S.

    The Iowa State Capitol is genuinely impressive and far more beautiful than I expected, in a way that makes you pause and say wow out loud without meaning to. The architecture is grand and detailed, and everything feels thoughtfully designed, from the soaring spaces to the smaller decorative touches. Walking through it made me feel equal parts inspired and slightly underdressed, which I think is the sign of a really good capitol building. It is both awe inspiring and oddly calming at the same time. Definitely worth the visit and proof that Iowa is quietly showing off in the best way.

    Dustin E.

    What a gorgeous Capitol building Iowa has!!! Wow! We were honored to be guests here. My wife and I took a self-guided tour. We heard a few things on the actual tour we encountered a few times. They were friendly. The tours are lovely. We just didn't have that much time. The law library is stunning! Don't miss it. The Secretary of State's office was so cool!! We saw the original Iowa state constitution. They let us see the ground floor of the 3-story vault too. Very cool! The grounds have so much to see too. What a place!!

    Tina H.

    Planned to self- tour the Capitol but asked the information desk about if there was any tours that day with the docent and they told us we could join a tour that was planned so we tagged along. The library is a must to see (think of the library from Beauty and Beast.) Knowledgeable docent, got to see some of the closed to the public rooms, beautiful chandeliers and after the tour group left, my wife and I climbed the 91 stairs with the docent to the Whispering Gallery (very worth it!) Impressive marble work and gold leaf throughout the Capitol, don't forget to see the Liberty Bell outside near the street and you can ring the bell!

    Brian P.

    Beautiful capitol building! This is probably one of the most opulent state capitols that we've visited so far! They are open Monday through Saturday for self-guided tours, however, I would highly recommend taking their guided tours which leave every hour starting at 9:30 AM. On Saturdays the last tour leaves at 2 PM. Not only is the tour super informative, but it's also free with no reservations necessary! You even get to visit the whispering gallery at the top of the dome as long as you can stomach a 294 step narrow/winding staircase up and down.

    Hillary P.

    Open Monday to Friday to the public, closed Sunday and holidays. Step inside history and see the Iowa legislator at work. Completed in 1886, this structure took over 15 years to complete. Its domed roof is reminiscent as a smaller version of the United States capital. Beautifully finished, maintained the gilding is second to none. Mosaics, glass tiles, marble finishes are exquisite. Enter at the lowest level and you can sign up for free tours of the building. Not up for a tour? Check out the Action on the house and Senate floors from their respective galleries, which is also open to the public. Cafeteria is open to the public as well during legislative sessions Monday to Friday (the tenderloin sandwich sandwiches, which should be considered The state sandwich, were pretty darn good here!). Monday to Friday when legislature is in session, you can expect many lobbying efforts inside the rotunda. Definitely worth a stop, even if only to stretch your legs.

    Dan T.

    Being born and raised here in Iowa I'm probably slightly biased... We have one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings in the country! The capitol itself (exterior and interior), the surrounding grounds and sculptures, etc. are really something to see! Try not to get vertigo as you tip your head back to look up into the dome... Don't miss the many murals on the walls. If you have some spare time catch one the tours and learn about the rich history of Iowa's current state capitol building (yes...it was not the first). There is a platform at the bottom of the stairs to the South of the capitol that overlooks downtown Des Moines and it's skyline. This platform is probably one of the most photographed places in the city. Homecoming, proms, senior pictures, and weddings... A classic view and background. And yet while I am there often enough I always notice something new... I moved to Des Moines in 1992 and it's funny how much we take the spots we see every day for granted. I still do now and then too. We look for something more spectacular and exciting... And further away. I think it's really important to recognize the beauty we have right here in our own backyard whether you're taking pictures or just going for a walk. Take some time... Look around... Enjoy the mundane. Stop and smell the roses...so to speak.

    Helen H.

    The exterior has 5 domes. The main one is covered with 23-karat gold. We took a self guided tour and walked around briskly. My favorite part was the rotunda with the 12 statues and 8 half moon shaped paintings. The marble grand staircase was also nice. U.S. National Register of Historic Places

    Library
    Tracy S.

    Beautiful building, artwork, architecture and library. The grounds are neat, even when covered with snow. The building is impressive. The library is awe inspiring! I loved walking around looking at all the artwork. We got to see the constitution as well and learn about the earlier editions (interesting!). We should have gone on the tour but we didn't time it right. Next time. Everyone was so nice. Loved our visit.

    Tom G.

    We've now toured 36 State Capitols and this one in Des Moines is in the top 10. It's elaborate, but not over the top. You can easily spend between 1 and 2 hours going through. What really made this visit more enjoyable was the welcoming and friendliness of the people working the visitors desk and gift shop. They are certainly proud of their state!

    Senator chambers
    Vic C.

    Did you know that Iowa's capitol building has the largest gold dome of all the state capitols? The dome is covered in gold leaf There is also gold leaf on the walls inside the capitol and all of the wall paper has been hand painted. I learned this and many more facts during the free group tour that I had attended with my husband on a Friday. On the morning of our visit, there were many elementary schools visiting that day and so we just ended up joining one of the tours (as an employee had said we were welcomed to and that there were no more tours after 1 pm that day). The tour we took lasted ~90 minutes. Beside learning about the history of this state's capitol, you also are able to go up higher to the dome. Typically you can only access this part of the dome (it isn't all the way to the top, but higher up) through a tour or if you know someone who works at the state capitol are are willing to take up you there. The docent we had was very good at providing numerous of facts and had a good pace. She was also incredibly patient with the numerous of questions the children had (the group we joined had about 20+ kids). I appreciated that they had kept her eye on both my husband and I during the tour. She had asked if we wanted to see another tour after this tour was over, if we would have liked to have a tour with adults only, lol. I was surprised she asked since another employee earlier had said that 1 pm was the last tour of the day. And that employee said we could catch a 2 pm tour. But we declined and thanked her. I liked that there was a small exhibit regarding the gold dome and the restoration. I also really enjoyed the visit we had to the law library. It really is beautiful and open for the public the visit (not just those who take the tour). It is nice that there is plenty of free parking available all around the state capitol. Please note that you are required to go through a security check when you come in, so do plan accordingly.

    Mathew G.

    Wow! Hands down one of the most beautiful buildings you will find. If you are looking for a free glimpse into the history of Iowa, visit the capital! Perched on a small hill you'll find the capitol building. It will offer some amazing views of downtown Des Moines. Once you're inside you can participate in a free guided tour or a self guided tour. The employees are able to provide you a map of all the areas you can visit. The coolest part is you can enter both the house and senate viewing rooms. You can also see the library. Which truly is one of the most remarkable libraries you'll ever visit. This is something that you need to visit and it's free.

    Eric E.

    Amazing. I've been to several Capitol buildings, but this one takes the cake. The inside can be toured with a paid group or by yourself. We chose the latter as we were short on time and wanted to see more. Let's start with the exterior, which includes a famous gold dome, overlook to Des Moines, many sculptures and some beautiful views. The interior gets even better. The domed center area from the first floor is amazing. It's here that you realize how grand the building is, and how amazing the dome area is. Even the staircases, walls and woodwork are exquisite. There are four floors to tour, each containing different views and exhibits. The large-scale USS Iowa ship is amazing, as were the two massive rooms on either side of the dome veranda. A French stairwell takes you from the 3rd to the 4th floor, don't miss that. Views outside get even more spectacular while you're upstairs. After viewing each of the four floors we moved outside and viewed some of the statues, sculptures and artwork to the south side of the Capital building. If you have the time I highly recommend heading over here. The best part..it's all free. Cheers!

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    Ask the Community - Iowa State Capitol

    Review Highlights - Iowa State Capitol

    My son started attending law school in Des Moines and so I was trying to see what the city has to offer.

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    Witmer House

    Witmer House

    3.0(2 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    Probably the most ridiculous experience I have ever had! I rented this venue for a small wedding on…read more10/6/18 but the venue owner was so intrusive and on edge it was uncomfortable. He paced back and forth and would go around the room telling each of my guests that this is his home, he inserted himself in every aspect of my event and I received numerous complaints from my guests. Parking was a problem; the owner has a car under a tarp under the only carport blocking valuable parking, they said anyone who couldn't get in the driveway could use street parking but what they don't tell you is the street parking is full from the neighbors on the weekend. In my opinion this person clearly does not want to rent this place as a venue and should not in the future. If you want a truly awkward experience this is your place.

    We had a truly outstanding experience at Witmer House this weekend when we rented the venue for a…read morefamily memorial. Every detail was exceptional from the food to the decor of the house to the service provided by the hosts. The venue itself is a wonderful place to hold an event as there are several rooms for guests to visit with each other, ample parking and beautiful details throughout. The brunch that was prepared for us was fresh, unique and the perfect fare for our guests. The chocolate chip cookies were sublime. I highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for a unique, intimate yet expansive place to host a special event.

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    Witmer House
    Witmer House
    Witmer House

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    Polk County Heritage Gallery

    Polk County Heritage Gallery

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I love that we have a venue that provides opportunity to see some of the excellent work being…read morecreated by Iowa artists. Outside of galleries, such places are relatively scarce. If you enjoy such things, it is well worth planning a visit. Things to know: * The Gallery is largely volunteer-run. Kudos to the staff for giving up their time to make this happen * The gallery space is not large. If you are not there for a reception/opening, you can probably complete a visit in 30 minutes or less depending on how interesting the current work is * All parking in the area is paid. The easiest is metered street parking, but there are no coin-fed meters in this part of downtown so you will need to feed a parking kiosk (consider the ParkDSM app to make it easy), park in a city lot (one not quite a block away, or in the Polk County administrative offices lot (usually pretty full). * Nearest food and/or drink is within a one block walk * If you are traveling in to visit, it may be worth you effort to call the day before to verify gallery and./or exhibit hours. For a recent exhibit, I planned to visit on the last day of the show (per all social media, etc.), scheduled a business trip around it, took time off, etc. I arrived shortly after noon to find that the exhibit had been pulled down and the new one being installed. I have attempted other (less involved) stops over the years to find their doors closed at unexpected times. Again, consider checking in before visiting. Enjoy your visit!

    This gallery gives local Iowans and other artists a place to show their work. This gallery is all…read morevolunteer-run and they are doing a damn good job with displaying art work and putting on receptions.

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    Polk County Heritage Gallery
    Polk County Heritage Gallery
    Polk County Heritage Gallery - Outside

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    Outside

    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    4.6(92 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    We came here early on a Sunday morning and I highly recommend it because not only was the park…read moredeserted, there was plenty of parking close by. We wanted to see the iconic love statue while we were in the city and snap a photo, but we ended up spending a lot more time here than we thought we would. This is a beautiful greenspace filled with sculptures that range in style and size. My husband and I typically like very different styles and we were both able to find things we really enjoyed here so I think there is probably something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed "Nomade". It's a tall white metal sculpture made of words and the fact that it is so large meant we were actually able to go inside of it. It felt very immersive and it was cool to look up and see the words against the backdrop of a beautiful sky. There was another smaller white statue of a girl done kind of in an anime or cartoon style that I also really enjoyed. Although it's very walkable and makes for a lovely stroll, we did miss a few of the pieces because the park seems to be home to a small population of unhoused people and we didn't want to bother them as they were mostly still sleeping. The park is free and open to everyone so there is no reason not to stop and check it out if you're in the area. You have nothing to lose and a lot to potentially gain.

    Wow! Des Moines locals are certainly lucky to have such a special place in their city…read more The location is so easy to get to. Street parking was plentiful. The size and quality of this sculpture garden was impressive. The artwork was diverse and very interesting. The artists are very creative and talented. A must visit!

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    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park
    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

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    Terrace Hill Tour Information

    Terrace Hill Tour Information

    4.5(6 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Review Visit: September 15th, 2015…read more This blog contains a random story about how we stumbled upon this place and the strange tour we received. On a whim and after convincing someone to go on a 4 hour car ride to get burgers at Zombie Burger, we stumbled in to Des Moines with no idea what else we were going to do. Little did we know that it would entail burgers, bagels, and an tour of a governor's mansion. But no, this wasn't any ol' tour. It was by the maintenance worker. Before we got our fill at Zombie Burger, we were driving around Des Moines and seeing if anything caught our eyes. At some point, I see a brown sign that pointed to Terrace Hill. I asked the people I were with if they wanted to check it out and they all agreed. So, we ended up following the brown signs and we ended up at a place that was not a hill, but a mansion. As we parked the car and got out, we noticed some groundskeepers working on some bricks. They gave us an odd look, which I didn't find too comforting, but we progressed forward. As we approached the front door, we ran in to some other people who happened to stumble upon the place. We exchanged stories and it turns out, they also had no idea what the place was but were intrigued. At this point, a guy approaches us and asks what we are doing. We said that we stumbled upon the place and had no idea what it was. The gentleman introduces himself as the head of maintenance and that the tour guide is not there. Whether by luck or friendliness, he decided to give us a tour himself. He warned us that we will be getting a personalized tour as he normally doesn't do that. With that in mind, he took us in and started showing us around. I can't remember the minute details of the place, but he told us a lot of behind-the-scenes stories that we wouldn't have gotten during a normal tour. Stuff about how they transported a very expensive lamp as though it were any normal lamp but found out later it was worth a hefty sum of money. Stories on how they keep up maintenance around the place and all the little fixes they've done over the years. This continued as he gave us a in-depth guide of the first two floors. The 3rd floor was inaccessible as this is where the Governor sleeps. As for the 2 floors we were shown, I have to say it was excellent. There was a beautiful stained glass window between the two floors that I fell in love with. After the tour of the mansion, we were guided out the back and got a quick overview of the grounds. The yard was beautifully kept and made me wish we could walk around more to get a full view of it. As we rounded the house, the impromptu tour guide told us a hilarious story about how they had a bunch of squirrels and other small animals on the property that were acting weird. He said they were extremely lethargic and had trouble keeping balance. It turns out that these small animals were getting drunk off of some fruits that fell off a few trees and started fermenting. That mental image will never leave my head. Ha! As he wrapped up that story, he noticed the Governor's police protection people had shown up and were parked in the driveway. Upon seeing this, he told us that the time has come for us to go as the Governor was about to show up and the Security Officers might tackle us to the ground/questioned as we weren't supposed to be there. With that in mind, all of us thanked the guy profusely and went on our way. It was the best tour I have ever gotten, bar none. And that is how my friends, some strangers, and myself almost ended up tackled/questioned by the Governor's security and also how we ended up getting the best tour ever.

    I visited Terrace Hill while it was gorgeously decorated for Christmas. I would recommend doing the…read moretour here if you are looking for something unique to do in the Des Moines area. There's an interesting intro video in the visitor center and guided tour of the actual mansion and governor's residence. The experience was just the right length at about 1 hour total and even though the rooms were small there was some good history behind each and the architecture and furnishings were beautiful!

    Photos
    Terrace Hill Tour Information
    Terrace Hill Tour Information
    Terrace Hill Tour Information

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    Iowa State Capitol - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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