Des Moines is the capital and also the most famous city of the state of Iowa. Its name comes from French. Originally, in 1851, Fort des Moines (Fort of the Monks) stood on the site of today’s city, but six years later its name was shortened to just Des Moines – so only the suffix “monks” remained. This name also remained for the capital, which later grew here and which is the administrative city of the Polk County region. Currently, about 200,000 people live in Des Moines.
The city covers an area of 200.1 km2 and is situated at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in central Iowa. However, in the southeast of the country lies the region of Des Moines County, which is often associated with the city, but has nothing to do with it. The original settlement of the area dates back over 3000 years. Remains of a prehistoric settlement were found in the very center of the city, the so-called Downtown. Archaeologists later discovered three prehistoric villages.
According to iamaccepted, Des Moines’ most notable landmarks include the 1886 Iowa State Capitol building, which towers over the city and is a major tourist attraction for tourists. The building is the seat of the governor, the Supreme Court and other legislators. In front of the Capitol stands a monument commemorating fallen soldiers and sailors from the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The state’s history comes alive at the State of Iowa Historical Museum, but the Governor’s Residence, Terrace Hill, is also worth a visit, which is a National Historic Landmark. In the city, you can visit the Des Moines Botanical Garden, the Blank Park Zoo, the historic East Village or the house of national leader Henry Wallace – Wallace House. Children will surely be delighted when you take them to Adventureland Park, where three large roller coasters, games,
The city is Iowa’s main industrial center and was ranked 11th in the 2006 “Best Place to Do Business” list by Forbes magazine. It is the center of the insurance industry and is home to companies such as Principal Financial Group, Meredith Corporation, Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Des Moines’ sister cities include, for example, Kofu (Japan), Saint-Etienne (France) and Ghent (Belgium).
