A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the…read moreonly I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too!

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.

What a fun bit of Des Moines history that I've never heard of before! We had just finished up at…read morethe Art Center and my Mom mentioned the Salisbury House. I had no idea! We got to see it all gussied up for the holidays since we stopped in the week after Christmas. All of the different designers did a fabulous job of decorating each room differently. Plus what an amazing house to begin with. A touch of Art Deco because of the time frame it was built plus Tudor and Gothic inspo from Europe. Just amazing! The history of the family was interesting as well. What an interesting venue to rent for a party!

I had no idea the Salisbury House was even a thing until a little over a month ago. Although not…read morethe "ideal" time of year to check it out, I was very pleasantly surprised. After making an unintentionally dramatic entrance, I was greeted by two smiling ladies and a beautiful painting. After an informative session and pamphlet push, got the blessing to proceed with the self-guided, bottom-floor-only tour. This place is really cool, and structurally somewhat reminiscent of the missions of California, minus the religious element. Lots of old heavy wood, stone, ornate masonry, narrow hallways, cornices, etc. As steadfast as I am with respect for the rules of historic property, I had a reaaaaaaaally hard time keeping my hands to myself. I could feel that itch to touch everything I passed, so I mostly just had to keep my hands firmly clasped behind my back. A crackling oil painting is a very hard thing to not touch, as is a massive piano, as is a giant...hmm...what are those rotating cylinders with the tics on them that you wind up and they play a plinky music-box type song? Whatever those are, Salisbury has a big one, and you can hear it yelling play me play me play me! I really really wanted to see inside the library, because the collection sounds truly impressive. Worth a visit for sure. I'll definitely be back to get the full tour so that I can see the rest!

This place is extremely beautiful. The biggest downside to here is the hours on their website are…read morenot accurate. I came here to visit the inside and the arrive to a locked door. On the door was a note saying they are only open 1 day a week. I was able to peak in the window and see all the beautiful architecture. I was also able to explore the outside grounds too. However it can be slightly frustrating if your website says it will be open but you're not actually open. Overall this place is not huge and is a walkable distance to several other things. So I recommend walk past it to see if it's open. If it's closed, visit somewhere else.

This place is absolutely stunning inside. So clean, well kept. It was our first time & we attended…read moreCandlelight The Beatles. The staff were so pleasant, & helpful. I got a small sprite for $1. They had cocktails available. The bathroom immaculate. I would definitely recommend checking this beautiful building out given the chance! The symphony played for an hour & did an amazing job. I heard there is a beautiful garden outside however we rushed to our cars because of the cold temps.

Nice, family friendly museum located in downtown Des Moines, but there are way too many screaming…read morekids running around. Why do people bring children under 8 to these types of places? It's not like they will even know or comprehend any of these things, much less be able to sit still during demonstrations or when viewing exhibits. It was nice to see that all science demonstrations and shows in the planetarium are included in your ticket price. If you check out a few of those, then it is well worth the admission even as an adult!

A Full-Circle Journey at the Science Center of Iowa!…read more I used to bring my kids here when they were little, and now I've returned with one of them and her babies. What a wonderful, full-circle experience! The Science Center of Iowa does a fantastic job creating a fun and exciting environment for kids of all ages and "adult children" alike. Your senses come alive as you explore the many awesome, interactive exhibits across both levels, indoors and out. There's so much to see and do. You can navigate through tunnels made of packing tape, gaze at Cinderella's castle built entirely of LEGOs in the Brick by Brick exhibit, or launch homemade rockets and send smoke signals in the When Things Get Moving exhibit. We also watched a snake shed its skin in What on Earth, used hand tools in the Maker's Studio, and saw constellations fly through the sky in Why the Sky. They do a great job of keeping the exhibits fresh and updated, which keeps them appealing to every generation. If you haven't been to the Science Center, with or without kids, I highly recommend spending a few hours here. The building is cool to see from the outside, but the real magic happens once you enter and head inside. While they have a fantastic gift shop, a note of sadness: The Blank IMAX Dome Theater, once a prominent feature, was permanently closed following severe flood damage in 2018. This place is very socially oriented, offering live educational shows on a schedule throughout the day, as well as special events like adult-themed evenings with a mixology lab. They also partner with schools for field trips and so much more. It's a true hub for discovery and community.

I'm so glad that a close friend encouraged me to visit this excellent venue, as it led to a…read morefantastic afternoon on Iowa State's main campus. We came on an afternoon with basketball games sandwiched on either side of our arrival and experienced zero issues. Easy parking and the venue are free with a suggested $8 donation. Their extensive collection is varied and covers many types of art. I enjoyed the Will Wilson photography on display and appreciated their "Talking Tintypes," which used iPad or Smart Phone tech to highlight Wilson's pieces. I thoroughly loved Josh Simpson's "Imaginative Journeys in Space and Sea," a phenomenal collection of complex and unique glasswork. I appreciated the accompanying video that dove into how the works were created. His "MegaPlanet" was incredible. In addition, two other works in the central portion of the museum were memorable - Yoshida's "Sacred Bridge" and Koitsu's "Lake Yamanaka." They have monthly events that I look forward to attending, and Brunnier is open 10-4 daily during the week, and 1-4 on the weekend.

From the owner: University Museums is a distinctive organization that encompasses two art museums, a National…read moreHistoric Landmark historic home museum, a sculpture garden, and one of the largest campus public art collections in the nation. University Museums brings world-class exhibitions with educational programming to Iowa State University, actively acquires works of art to add to the more than 30,000 permanent collection objects, conserves and preserves collections, conducts and publishes curatorial scholarship, and fosters student engagement.

Always a fun experience m, especially for kiddos. (Note they have a fantastic summer day camp). Put…read moreon your walking shoes because there is a lot of walking, but overall it's a fun experience.

Went to the 1900 Farm Historic Dinner at Living History Farms last night. What a wonderful way to…read morespend an evening, experience some history and have a wonderful meal! The evening started with a tractor ride out to the 1900 farmhouse. Unfortunately the normal horse and wagon mode of transport was cancelled due to excessive mud. We were welcomed into the oil lamp lit house by people in period dress and served a mug of hot apple cider. We all gathered in the living room and a brief history lesson was given about life on the farm in 1900 after which we made our way to the dining room for a magnificent feast! The dinner was served family style. Stuffed Roast Pork, Apple Sauce (warmed), Baked German Potato Salad, Macaroni and Cheese, Stewed Red Cabbage, Thresher Green Beans, Bread and Butter Pickles, Yeast Rolls served with Churned Butter and Pumpkin Butter. Hot Apple Cider and Coffee was served and you are welcomed to bring a bottle of wine if you wish. There was plenty of food with lots of leftovers. (We were told that some of the leftovers were destined for the pigs.). After dinner we were given a tour of the barn and introduced to all the animals. Upon arriving back at the house we explored the various rooms before being called back to the dining room for a sumptuous desert. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie and Chocolate Cake was served with Real Whipped Cream. I opted for the Chocolate Cake which was the best I ever had. You were offered both desserts and second portions were offered. When we all finished our cook appeared and handed out a sheet with the nights recipes. The meal and it's preparation was discussed and questions answered. We then made our way to the tractor trailer and were taken back to our cars. A wonderful evening and I would highly recommend it for anyone loving things of the past!

This may not seem amazing, but that's because you haven't been here: Iowa Quilt Museum. The store…read morefront doesn't do it justice to the professionally curated museum (see the link to their website to see what I'm writing about: https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/). They have an incredible display of quilts. But their more than hanging blankets. Each quilt has a story, a meaning and a style of workmanship of its own. Coming from an active do-it-yourselfer perspective, I can really appreciate the planning and detailed construction that is required to build these masterpieces. There are hours and hours of mastery that goes into each quilt, there are truly amazing works of art. The staff here is knowledgeable and friendly. And if by chance the quilting bug bites, there is always Ben Franklin's a few doors away that help you get started.

The Iowa Quilt Museum is a wonderful addition to the Winterset community! The exhibit changes 4…read moretimes per year & always has a spectacular collection of quilts to view. Quilts are beautifully and elegantly displayed. Each quilt is accompanied by information around the date of creation, history, style, and stitching. I always learn a lot about quilting and history by reviewing these. It's been amazing to see some quilted that are more than a hundred years old and intricately hand-stitched and hand quilted. Upstairs is a bed-turning display of several more quilts & a volunteer will review these quilts with you & you may even get to participate in the turning! The museum is housed in the old J.C. Penney's building which has been beautifully restored. The lighting is fantastic for showing off the beauty of the quilts. There is a lobby area where a few gifts and souvenirs can be purchased. This museum can be enjoyed by all ages and genders & by anyone who can appreciate the hard work and artistic talents that go into each of these quilts.

I've been coming to the Des Moines Art Festival for years…read more Food truck, drinks, live music pepper the streets of Downtown DSM. They have the streets around the PapaJohns Sculpture park blocked, which is the perfect addition to the festival. Artists come from all around the US to get into this festival. The art is higher quality. If you wish to add to your collection you may have to shell out a little more money. They do include local art students. Local school children's art. There are interactive art instillation's. This year we contributed to a piece they will put in a local school when completed. They gave us a tile and a little visual to try and match. Then they sprayed them to lock in the medium for installation at a later time. We like to get involved in these almost every year. Get yourself an adult beverage and sip and enjoy. We take a slow walk around the booths. We try and take in as much as we can. So many different varieties of art and mediums. They have live music , performers, film and sometimes you can catch live demos. Thousands of people come down. This year they added a sensory space for people who need a break from the craziness of it all. Street parking where you can find it. You can bring your kids or fur babies. Although it always seems to be so darn hot, that I wouldn't recommend the fur babies on the hot streets. We try and go one of the first days cause it gets crazy busy the rest of the weekend. You will always find something new each year. Go and enjoy it. I don't have a bunch of pictures cause I always get so immersed in the event I leave my phone in my pocket. It is also frowned upon if you don't ask the artist permission before. So my lack of photos is an excuse for you to go check it out.

This is a fabulous annual event in DsM! Love checking out all the artists, including local student…read moreart! Wish they had more musical acts but they do have a main stage and a small off street stage.

If you want to be remembered or leave a legacy, support the work of this museum. They need more…read morespace for exhibitions, a proper store for merchandising, climate-controlled space, in an extraordinary building. Surely, those whose families have built and sustained this community can come forth and donate the resources to make this the kind of place residents can be proud of. Currently housed in the Ames Cultural District next to an historic landmark and across the street from the Octagon Center for the arts, this wonderful museum is packed with historical items waiting to be displayed, used for research and exhibits worthy of this fine city. They need more volunteers, donors, members, and storage in order to stage the kind of exhibits that do justice to those who grew up here, studied here, and conducted business here. New exhibits on the craft beer industry and education are currently in process. How do you want to be remembered?

A long time in the making, the Ames Historical society has worked hard to assemble the history of…read morethe city. The pictures and story are presented in a very compelling way. Stop in and enjoy!

Went to the gallery to see a band play and it was an awesome venue for that. It felt intimate, like…read morea private convert. For $10 to see Making Movies from Kansas City was a steal. The band is amazing. They played a mix of rock, classic salsa, covers of 80's musoc and instruments from Panama, Venezuela and Mexico. Their eclectic sounds in a setting filled with various art styles was a perfect mix. Got there early and enjoyed the current displays while I waited for the show to start. There were seats and high tables, with a small bar set up in the back. When the crowd started dancing they moved chairs out of the way to make space but it didn't take away from the show. Overall, it is a gem that creates varied ambiance depending on the event and offers a unique experience every time.

Rented the venue for a 40th Birthday Party after hours. Very reasonable price and communication…read morewith Ryan and Bob was impeccable every time I called or had a question. My guests were very impressed with the space and staff. It very comfortably held 50 guests with enough space for bar, DJ, dance floor, food and lots of room to mingle around and look at the art. The artwork at the time was by Chuck Hipsher and went perfectly with the theme of the party. I am looking for any and every reason to go back for another party! It was the best. Thanks guys!