Des Moines City Hall facts for kids
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Municipal Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. 1st & Locust Sts. Des Moines, Iowa |
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| Built | 1910 |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | Civic Center Historic District (ID79000926) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000549 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1977 |
The Des Moines City Hall is an important building in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. It was built between 1909 and 1910. This building is where the city government of Des Moines works.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it is a special historic place. In 2016, the City Hall closed for a big renovation. Workers updated the heating, cooling, and sprinkler systems. They made sure to keep the building's historic look. City Hall reopened in 2018 after the work was finished.
Contents
History of Des Moines City Hall
Early City Meetings (1851-1870)
In the early days of Des Moines, from 1851 to 1870, the city council did not have a special building. The city council is a group of people who make decisions for the city. They met in different places like churches, schools, homes, and stores. During this time, the city grew a lot. The number of people living in Des Moines went from 1,500 to over 12,000.
In 1869, the city council decided to build a small log building. It had two rooms. This building was used for the fire department and for city business. It was built in 1870 at Second and Walnut Streets.
Growing Pains: A New City Hall (1880s)
Ten years later, Des Moines grew even more. The city's population increased by another 10,000 people. In 1880, the city council decided they needed a bigger space. They chose to build a new city hall. They also built a separate building next door for the police and fire departments.
This new city hall was built in 1882. It was located at Locust Street and Second Avenue. However, the city did not take good care of the building. It also quickly became too small for all the city's needs. Soon, another new building was needed.
Planning the Current City Hall (1907-1912)
By 1910, Des Moines was much larger. It had 86,000 people and covered 65 square miles. In 1907, the city council decided to build the city hall we see today. They picked a spot on the east side of the Des Moines River. This area was between Grand Avenue and Locust Street. A new bridge on Locust Street was also planned to open in 1909. The streets in this area were raised to help prevent flooding.
The architectural firm Proudfoot & Bird was chosen to design the new building. They were asked to create a building that looked open and honest. This was important because of some past issues in city politics. The new building needed to be big enough for all city departments. Only the fire department would be in a different building. The design also had to let citizens easily see and hear city meetings. To show this new image, the building was called the "Municipal Building" instead of "City Hall."
Voting for the New Building
There were some legal challenges to getting money for the new building. A vote was held in April 1908, and citizens approved the plan. However, women were not allowed to vote on candidates at that time. Mary J. Coggeshall sued the city. She argued that women should be able to vote on issues, based on a state law from 1894. Grace Ballentyne, Iowa's first female lawyer, argued the case. They won, and a new vote was held in November 1908. The plan for the new building passed again.
Architects Working Together
Later, new members joined the city council. They wanted to have a say in choosing the architect. In July 1909, the mayor suggested a compromise. Each council member could pick an architectural firm to work on the project. These firms were called the "Associated Architects." They included Liebbe, Nourse and Rasmussen, Hallett & Rawson, Wetherell & Gage, and Proudfoot & Bird.
The first stone for the new building was placed on June 14, 1910. The Charles Weitz’ Sons Construction Company of Des Moines built the City Hall. It opened to the public on January 1, 1912. Over the years, only a few changes have been made to the building. It still serves as the center for Des Moines city government today.
Architecture of Des Moines City Hall
The Des Moines City Hall is a three-story building. It is designed in the Beaux Arts style. This style is known for its grand and formal look. The building is 77 feet wide and 231 feet long.
Most of the original plans by Proudfoot & Bird were used by all the architects. The building is made of brick. It sits on a strong concrete foundation. The outside of the building is covered with Bedford stone. This stone was chosen to match other important buildings nearby. These included the Public Library of Des Moines and the post office.
Inside, the floors in the main entrances and public halls are made of marble. Polished Tennessee marble was used for the lower parts of the walls in these areas. The wood inside, like doors and trim, is made of white oak.
Images for kids
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The Des Moines City Hall building.
