People climbing wooden stairs on a steep hillside toward a wooden observation tower - new deal and depression-era sites

Self-guided · metro area, Iowa

New Deal and Depression-Era Sites in Des Moines, IA

Lodges, lookouts, bathhouses and public buildings put up by the WPA and the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression.

Open the Iowa map · All states

Photo: Jeffrey Eisen on Unsplash

Every region holds some piece of the country's story. The Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA metro area has about 758,539 residents, ranking 82nd in the country. The markers and register listings are where those pieces are written down, and the closest ones to Des Moines, IA are listed below.

Men gathered around a campfire in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Group of loggers with a two-man saw in a forest - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: The Oregon State University Collections and Archives on Unsplash

Man and woman sitting on black wooden rocking chairs - new deal and depression-era sites — Photo: Aaron Thomas on Unsplash

On the record near Des Moines, IA

The 12 nearest

21 listed sites on the record match new deal and depression-era sites within 200 miles of Des Moines, IA, out of 190 listed sites of every kind within 25 miles.

Lake Ahquabi State Park, Bathhouse Area (Area B)21 miles from the center of Des Moines · District · Indianola · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Civilian Conservation Corps--Prisoner of War Recreation Hall59 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Eldora · listed 2012National Register of Historic Places
Woodlawn Cemetery Gates and Shelter101 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Washington · listed 2016National Register of Historic Places
WPA Stock Barn and Pavilion105 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Trenton · listed 1994National Register of Historic Places
Pilot Knob State Park, Picnic Shelter (Area 3)114 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Forest City · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Wanata State Park Picnic Shelter127 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Peterson · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Geode State Park, Civilian Conservation Corps Area127 miles from the center of Des Moines · District · Danville · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Pikes Point State Park Shelter and Steps148 miles from the center of Des Moines · District · Spirit Lake · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Decorah Municipal Bathhouse and Swimming Pool150 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Decorah · listed 2012National Register of Historic Places
Trappers Bay State Park Picnic Shelter155 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Lake Park · listed 1990National Register of Historic Places
Sugar Lake State Park Open Shelter162 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Rushville · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places
Van Meter State Park Shelter Building162 miles from the center of Des Moines · Building · Marshall · listed 1985National Register of Historic Places

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

New Deal Sites in Des Moines, step by step

1
Read the short history of the period for this area
2
Open the map filtered to the sites from that chapter
3
Visit the nearest site and read its full record
4
Ask what the marker leaves out and look for the rest
5
Add the site to a route that follows the period in order

What people in Des Moines, IA ask first

How much does it cost to visit these sites in Des Moines, 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.

Are the hard parts of this history included?

Yes. The record is shown as published, and the stories behind the markers include what happened, who it happened to, and how it was remembered. Leaving the hard parts out would make the stop less worth the trip.

Why are there so many of these sites near Des Moines, IA?

Most areas have more than people expect, because the registers list every surviving building and site tied to a period, not just the famous ones. The list on this page shows exactly what is on the record nearby.

How a visit works in Des Moines

Step 1
Find the place
Every stop starts as a pin with real coordinates. In Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, 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.