National Register of Historic Places listings in Polk County, Iowa facts for kids

Location of Polk County in Iowa

Have you ever wondered which buildings and places in your area are super important because of their history? In Polk County, Iowa, there's a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a hall of fame for buildings, neighborhoods, and other spots that have a lot of history or cool architecture.

When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized by the United States government as being worth protecting and remembering. Polk County has nearly 200 of these amazing places! Most of them, about 185, are in the city of Des Moines. Two of these are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks, which are the highest level of historic recognition.

Let's explore some of these cool historic spots in Polk County!

Historic Places to Discover

Many of Polk County's historic places are found right in Des Moines, but there are also some interesting ones in other towns.

Cool Places in Des Moines

Des Moines is home to many buildings and areas that tell stories from the past.

• Abraham Lincoln High School
  • Address: 2600 SW. 9th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2002
  • About: This historic high school has been a part of the community for many years.

Abraham Lincoln High School

• American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building
  • Address: 601 6th Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2015
  • About: A unique building that served as the main office for an insurance company.

American Republic Insurance Company Headquarters Building

• Ayrshire Apartments
  • Address: 1815 6th Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1996
  • About: Built in 1920, these apartments show how people lived long ago.

Ayrshire Apartments

• Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block
  • Address: 524 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1978
  • About: This block of buildings has been around for a long time, showing old city life.

Baker-Devotie-Hollingsworth Block

• Boyt Company Building
  • Address: 210 Court Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2009
  • About: This building once housed the Boyt Company.

Boyt Company Building

• Burns United Methodist Church
  • Address: 811 Crocker St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: A historic church that has served its community for many years.

Burns United Methodist Church

• Civic Center Historic District
  • Location: Along the Des Moines River in Des Moines
  • Listed: 1988
  • About: This area includes several important buildings and bridges along the river, like the Court Avenue Bridge.

Court Avenue Bridge

• Clemens Automobile Company Building
  • Address: 200 10th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2009
  • About: Built in 1916, this building was once a place where cars were sold.

Clemens Automobile Company Building

• Des Moines Art Center
  • Address: 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2004
  • About: A famous art museum with interesting architecture.

Des Moines Art Center

• Des Moines Building
  • Address: 405 6th Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2013
  • About: A tall, historic building in downtown Des Moines.

Des Moines Building

• Des Moines Fire Department Headquarters-Fire Station No. 1 and Shop Building
  • Address: 900 Mulberry St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2014
  • About: The old main fire station for Des Moines.

Des Moines Fire Department Headquarters

• Drake University Campus Historic District
  • Location: Around University Ave. near 25th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1988
  • About: This area includes many of the old and important buildings at Drake University.

Old Main at Drake University

• Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Building
  • Address: 604 Locust St. & 316 6th Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2015
  • About: A large building that was once home to a major insurance company.

Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa Building

• Fire Station No. 4
  • Address: 1041 8th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1979
  • About: An old fire station that served the city.

Fire Station No. 4

• First Methodist Episcopal Church
  • Address: 10th and Pleasant Sts., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1984
  • About: This church was built between 1905 and 1908.

First Methodist Episcopal Church

• Fort Des Moines Provisional Army Officer Training School
  • Location: Fort Des Moines Military Reservation, Des Moines
  • Listed: 1974
  • About: This site was a very important training school for army officers. It's also a National Historic Landmark!

Fort Des Moines Historic Complex

• Grand View College (Old Main)
  • Address: 1200 Grandview Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1978
  • About: The original main building of Grand View University.

The Humphrey Center at Grand View

• Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George
  • Address: 1118 35th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1997
  • About: A beautiful church with unique architecture.

Greek Orthodox Church of St. George

• Hawkeye Insurance Company Building
  • Address: 209 4th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1986
  • About: This building was constructed in 1868, making it a very old and important structure.

Hawkeye Insurance Company Building

• Herndon Hall
  • Address: 2000 Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: A grand historic home on Grand Avenue.

Herndon Hall

• Hotel Fort Des Moines
  • Address: 10th and Walnut Sts., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1982
  • About: This hotel was built in 1919 and has hosted many important guests.

Hotel Fort Des Moines

• Iowa State Capitol
  • Address: Grand Ave. and E. 12th St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1976
  • About: The amazing building where Iowa's government meets. It was built between 1884 and 1886.

Iowa State Capitol

• Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds Historic District
  • Location: E. 30th St. and Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1987
  • About: The historic grounds where the famous Iowa State Fair takes place every year.

Iowa State Fairgrounds

• Iowa State Historical Building
  • Address: E. 12th and Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1978
  • About: This building houses important historical records and exhibits about Iowa.

Iowa State Historical Building

• Masonic Temple of Des Moines
  • Address: 1011 Locust St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1997
  • About: Built in 1913, this is a significant building for the Masonic organization.

Masonic Temple of Des Moines

• Municipal Building
  • Address: E. 1st and Locust Sts., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: Also known as the Des Moines City Hall, this building was finished in 1910.

Des Moines City Hall

• Public Library of Des Moines
  • Address: Locust St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: The original main public library, built in 1903.

Public Library of Des Moines

• St. Ambrose Cathedral and Rectory
  • Address: 607 High St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1979
  • About: This beautiful cathedral was built in 1891.

St. Ambrose Cathedral

• Saint John's Roman Catholic Church
  • Address: 1915 University Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1987
  • About: Another historic church in Des Moines.

St. John the Apostle Basilica

• Salisbury House
  • Address: 4025 Tonawanda Dr., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: A grand mansion built in the late 1920s, designed to look like an old English manor.

Salisbury House

• Scottish Rite Consistory Building
  • Address: 6th Ave. and Park St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1983
  • About: This building was constructed between 1926 and 1927.

Scottish Rite Consistory Building

• Hoyt Sherman Place
  • Address: 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1977
  • About: A historic home that is now a cultural center.

Hoyt Sherman Place

• David W. Smouse Opportunity School
  • Address: 2820 Center St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2002
  • About: A school with a special history.

David W. Smouse Opportunity School

• Southeast Water Trough
  • Address: SE. 11th and Scott St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1976
  • About: An old water trough, likely used for horses in the past.

Southeast Water Trough

• Southwest Fifth St. Bridge
  • Location: SW. 5th St. over the Raccoon River, Des Moines
  • Listed: 1998
  • About: A historic bridge crossing the Raccoon River.

Southwest Fifth St. Bridge

• Terrace Hill
  • Address: 2300 Grand Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1972
  • About: This is the official residence of the Governor of Iowa and is also a National Historic Landmark!

Terrace Hill

• Theodore Roosevelt High School
  • Address: 4419 Center St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2002
  • About: Another important high school in Des Moines.

Theodore Roosevelt High School

• U.S. Post Office
  • Address: 2nd and Walnut Sts., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1974
  • About: The historic post office building in Des Moines.

U.S. Post Office Building

• Younker Brothers Department Store
  • Address: 713 Walnut St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 2010
  • About: A famous department store building in Des Moines.

Younker Brothers Department Store

Historic Places Outside Des Moines

Polk County has historic gems beyond the capital city!

• Richard L. and Verda M. Allerman Farm Historic District
  • Address: 2701 NW. 158th Ave., near Slater
  • Listed: 2015
  • About: This historic farm district shows what farming life was like long ago.

Allerman Farm Historic District

• Big Creek Schoolhouse
  • Address: 112 3rd St., Polk City
  • Listed: 2004
  • About: A historic schoolhouse from the past.

Big Creek Schoolhouse

• Camp Dodge Pool District
  • Location: Buildings A22-A24 at Camp Dodge, Johnston
  • Listed: 1995
  • About: This district includes historic pool buildings at Camp Dodge.

Camp Dodge Pool District

• Flynn Farm, Mansion, and Barn
  • Address: 2600 111th St., Des Moines (though located outside the main city area)
  • Listed: 1973
  • About: A historic farm with a mansion and barn, showing rural life.

Flynn Farm, Mansion, and Barn

• Herrold Bridge
  • Location: NW. 88th Ave. over Beaver Creek, Herrold
  • Listed: 1998
  • About: A historic bridge that crosses Beaver Creek.

Herrold Bridge

• Jordan House
  • Address: 2251 Fuller Rd., West Des Moines
  • Listed: 1973
  • About: A historic house in West Des Moines.

Jordan House

• Paul J. and Ida Trier House
  • Address: 6880 N.W. Beaver Dr., Johnston
  • Listed: 1988
  • About: A historic home in Johnston.

Paul J. and Ida Trier House

• Universalist Church
  • Address: 420 4th St., Mitchellville
  • Listed: 2005
  • About: A historic church building in Mitchellville.

Universalist Church

• Valley Junction-West Des Moines City Hall and Engine House
  • Address: 137 5th St., West Des Moines
  • Listed: 1983
  • About: This building, constructed in 1905, served as the city hall and fire station for West Des Moines.

Valley Junction-West Des Moines City Hall and Engine House

Places No Longer on the List

Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is changed too much, or if it's torn down. Here are a couple of places in Polk County that used to be on the list:

• Bankers Trust Building
  • Address: 605 Locust St., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1976
  • Removed: Unknown
  • About: This building was once a significant part of Des Moines' financial history.

• Des Moines Rapid Transit Company Carbarn
  • Address: 24th and Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
  • Listed: 1978
  • Removed: Unknown
  • About: This was where the city's streetcars were kept and maintained.