Des Moines Museums

(Des Moines, Iowa - IA, USA)

History junkies, families with children, lovers of science and those with an interest in Native American Indians are all very well catered for at the varied museums of Des Moines.

Located on East Locust Street, on the corner of East Grand Avenue and East 6th Street, the State of Iowa Historical Museum has its origins as far back as the 1850s and is now managed by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Exhibits relate to the history and growth of the state of Iowa, telling the story of its evolution and development through artifacts, documents, paintings and photographs.

Just off the West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and next to Market Street, the downtown Science Center of Iowa will be sure to satisfy those with a curious mind. Interactive exhibits are certainly in good supply here, while demonstrations of a scientific nature regularly take place at its John Deere Adventure Theater.

Salisbury House is another notable tourist draw in Des Moines and is to be found on the southwestern side of the city, close to the Des Moines University and Greenwood Park. The house dates back to the 1920s, when it was built at the cost of approximately US$3 million, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It features a mixture of architectural styles, including both Gothic and Tudor characteristics.

State Historical Society of Iowa Museum (SHSI)

Address: 600 East Locust Street, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), USA
Tel: +1 515 281 5111
Important influential locals and pioneers are fondly remembered at the State Historical Society of Iowa Museum, while there is also a section dedicated to the period when woolly mammoths were a frequent sight on the plains of Iowa. There are fossils, Native American relics, wildlife dioramas, genealogy displays, vintage aircraft, video diaries and a collection of flags from the US Civil War, along with hands-on activities aimed at younger visitors, such as trying your hand at plowing or using a two-man saw. A library, cafe and gift shop are further distractions.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:30, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:30
Admission: free

Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater

Address: 401 West Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50309, USA
Tel: +1 515 274 6868
On the ground floor of the Science Center of Iowa, the section named Small Discoveries has been designed for younger minds. Also on this floor is the extremely well-preserved fossilized skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, which was discovered next to the Cheyenne River (western South Dakota) and is affectionately known as Sue the T-Rex. Head upstairs to the Star Theater (digital planetarium), the space-themed 'Why the Sky?' and the 'When Things Get Moving' section, where you can launch a rocket and get physical with the exhibits.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children

Salisbury House

Address: 4025 Tonawanda Drive, Des Moines, Iowa (IA), 50312, USA
Tel: +1 515 274 1777
There are more than 40 rooms within this museum-type manor home, which also goes by the name of the Carl and Edith C. (Van Slyke) Weeks House after its original wealthy owners. However, most people know it as simply Salisbury House, since it was inspired by King's House, based in Salisbury, England. Many of the family's personal belongings are on display in the house, such as art works, historic books, weaponry, sculptures and musical instruments. The landscaped gardens are especially impressive and are regularly used to stage open-air events in the summer months, such as classical music concerts and classic car shows.
Open hours: self guided tours, Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00; guided tours, Tuesday to Sunday - 11:00 and 14:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children five years old and under are free

Living History Farms

Address: 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale, Iowa (IA), 50322, USA
Tel: +1 515 278 5286
Standing just to the west of Des Moines, in the neighboring suburb town of Urbandale, the Living History Farms attraction is worthy of the short 20-minute drive from the city center. All manner of farm-related activities take place here throughout the year, such as fun barn dances, family weekends, day camps and seasonal harvest festivals. The attraction explains the importance of Midwestern agriculture, offering the chance to experience this rural life for yourself, made all the more authentic by staff dressed in period costumes. This outdoor attraction is best enjoyed on a sunny day and comprises some 500 acres / 200 hectares in total, including an early 18th-century Native American village, a pioneer farm from the middle of the 19th century, a frontier town (Walnut Hill) dating from the 1870s, and an early 20th-century farm with horses. You can easily spend an entire day here, since there is a lot of walking involved, although those with less time can take advantage of the Step Saver Tour, where tractor carts transport you between attractions at the Wallace Exhibit Center.
Open hours: May to early August, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00; late August to early October, Wednesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children two years old and under are free