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Started in the late-1990s after promoters decided to replace the 40-year running "Art in the Park." Attendance of around 250,000 people each year. Over 150 artists--from all over the country--bring their original creations to be seen and purchased. In addition to the various forms of art you'll see, there are also stages offering entertainment and food vendors selling their own edible creations.
The Des Moines Arts Festival is an arts festival held every June in Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa. The three-day festival frequently draws in excess of 200,000 people and has been ranked among the top festivals in the United States.
One of the more popular state capitols to tour, it is easy to spot it with its sparkling 23-karat gold leaf dome and four-surrounding smaller copper-topped domes. Those wishing to see the inside from a bird's eye view will climb 298 steps before reaching the top from their start on the second floor. Historic flags, some hailing from the U.S. Civil War-era, are on display, and tour staff are available during all hours in which the capitol is open to visitors. Don't overlook the State Law Library, one of the most beautiful and ornate libraries in the world. Cafeteria is on the bottom floor.
The house, built between 1923-1928, features Tudor, Gothic, and Corolean styles all throughout its 42 rooms. Also shelters many artifacts, including objects of art, furniture, tapestries and books. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has labeled it a "national treasure" and the property has also been featured on A&E and Home and Garden Television. Hosts many events during the year, including chamber music concerts, Gatsby Gala, Salisbury Automobile Classic, group meetings and Shakespeare on the Lawn.
Governor's Mansion
Since 1971, has served as home for the Governor and First Family of Iowa during his or her term. The site was the home of Iowa's first millionaire, Benjamin Franklin Allen, with construction beginning in 1866 after being designed by William Boyington (designer of the Water Tower of Chicago which survived the Great Fire). Aptly named as it sits atop the Raccoon River.
The Center boasts a permanent collection of contemporary art from the 19th and 20th centuries, including works from Edward Hopper, Jasper Johns, Georgia O'Keeffe, Henri Matisse, and Francis Bacon. It also boasts a restaurant with a 5-star rating from The Des Moines Register, featuring a different menu weekly and open for lunch only.
Western Gateway Park
Opened in 2009, the sculpture garden was a centerpiece of an urban revitalization project and it occupies most of Western Gateway Park downtown. It showcases more than $40 million in publicly displayed modern art. The sculpture garden is curated by the Des Moines Art Center. Family friendly area with open spaces for picnics, walking trails, and receptacles for dog waste (pick up after your pooch!) A public restroom is available. Parking is in metered spaces on adjacent streets.
Exhibits include a venture into Iowa's past when glaciers pushed their way through and mammoths roamed the plains, state's frontier and prairie past where kid-friendly activities such as pushing a plow or carrying buckets with a shoulder yoke can be had. Fossil, Native American, wildlife, and Iowa U.S. Civil War flags on display. Cafe Baratta's inside.