A crowd of people walking through a covered market with dark wooden walls - historic downtown walks

On foot · city, Iowa

Historic Downtown Walks in Ankeny, IA

The commercial blocks, banks, hotels and opera houses that built the old downtown, listed by name and close enough together to walk.

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Photo: Alonso Angulo on Unsplash

Ask anyone in Ankeny, IA for something to do this weekend that costs nothing and the answer is usually a park. Ankeny has a population of about 51,567. The better answer is the history sitting a few miles from the house.

People walking on sidewalk near buildings during daytime - historic downtown walks — Photo: Mick Haupt on Unsplash

Man and woman taking a selfie - historic downtown walks — Photo: Olivia Hutcherson on Unsplash

Three people walk on a tree-lined city sidewalk - historic downtown walks — Photo: Satish Dharmavarapu on Unsplash

On the record near Ankeny, IA

The 12 nearest

15 listed sites on the record match historic downtown walks within 30 miles of Ankeny, IA, out of 204 listed sites of every kind within 25 miles.

Perry and Brainard Block8.6 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1996National Register of Historic Places
Wherry Block8.7 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1998National Register of Historic Places
Baker--Devotie--Hollingsworth Block9.7 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1978National Register of Historic Places
Syndicate Block9.8 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2001National Register of Historic Places
Northwestern Hotel10.0 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1984National Register of Historic Places
Hotel Kirkwood10.0 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2003National Register of Historic Places
Savery Hotel10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1998National Register of Historic Places
Seth Richards Commercial Block10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2005National Register of Historic Places
Youngerman Block10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2009National Register of Historic Places
Iowa-Des Moines National Bank Building10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 1979National Register of Historic Places
Hotel Randolph10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2009National Register of Historic Places
Earle & LeBosquet Block10 miles from the center of Ankeny · Building · Des Moines · listed 2009National Register of Historic Places

Distances are straight-line from the center of Ankeny, IA. Many sites are private property or working buildings - view them from the public way. See them on the map.

Historic Downtowns in Ankeny, step by step

1
Choose a starting point you can park at or walk to
2
Load the loop and check the distance between stops
3
Walk it at an easy pace and read each story on arrival
4
Photograph anything that differs from the record
5
Log the walk and let the map suggest the next loop

What people in Ankeny, IA ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Ankeny, IA?

Most listed sites can be seen from a public road or sidewalk at no cost, and the app is free to use. Some sites are private homes, working churches or museums with their own hours and fees. The record for each one says what it is, so you know before you go.

Where does the information on these sites come from?

From published records: the National Register of Historic Places, the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark program, and the Georgia Historical Society and Georgia Department of Natural Resources marker program. Every site on the page names its source.

How close does a site have to be to show up here?

The list is sorted by straight-line distance from the center of Ankeny, IA and covers sites out to about sixty miles. Most people find several within a short drive, and in older towns a few within walking distance.

Can I visit the sites that are private homes?

You can see them from the street, which is how most listed houses are meant to be enjoyed. Please do not walk onto the property or knock unless the site is open to visitors.

How a visit works in Ankeny

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Ankeny, IA the map shows what is listed around you and how far each one is, so the first decision is where to go, and it takes a few seconds.
Step 2
Read the story
The record behind each marker is kept whole: what happened there, when, who was involved, and why it was worth a sign. You read it standing where it happened, which is the part a textbook cannot give you.
Step 3
Get there under your own power
Walk it, run it, hike it, ride it or drive it. Stops in Ankeny, IA are chained into routes that fit the way you move, so a lunch break, a long run or a Saturday drive can all pass through history.
Step 4
Collect it and come back
Each stop you reach counts toward a badge, and a photo or a correction you send makes the record better for the next person. The map remembers where you have been, so the next trip starts where the last one ended.