Des Moines plans to survey its forgotten history
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A trolley car shares Des Moines' Sixth Avenue with automobiles and horse-drawn wagons in 1910. Photo: Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images
Des Moines is taking the first steps toward a citywide historical survey that could reshape how it preserves places and stories tied to its past.
Why it matters: The survey is meant to capture overlooked places and personal stories to preserve a fuller picture of the past.
- It could include resident-submitted stories, oral histories and less visible landmarks — like longtime gathering spots or homes tied to overlooked communities.
Driving the news: The City Council this month agreed to match a $20,000 state grant to hire a consultant to develop a work plan for the survey — a blueprint for how the city should approach the project.
- The consultant will research best practices from other cities and propose a strategy tailored to Des Moines.
The big picture: The city wants to move beyond the "old-school" model of hiring experts to assess buildings based on style or age, planning administrator Jason Van Essen tells Axios.
Zoom in: Possible examples include a small Woodland Avenue barbershop with deep cultural roots, or the now-demolished downtown weather beacon residents still talk about.
- The city will likely open an online platform for submissions.
Between the lines: The work won't immediately trigger new regulations or historic designations.
- Future steps, like local landmark status or preservation rules, would require more community input and policy discussions.
- "This is just the base layer," Van Essen said. "It's an inventory — not a zoning change."
What's next: The timing of a comprehensive survey depends on funding and the level of collaboration the city receives from community groups.
- It could take up to five years before the project is complete and becomes public.
