Civic Center Historic District

The Civic Center Historic District stretches along both banks of the Des Moines River and encompasses a large area of historic buildings and public spaces. The area is connected by walkways and provides access to multiple bridges, riverfront parks, and public facilities in the downtown core.

The district emerged around the turn of the 20th century when six major public buildings were constructed between 1900 and 1938. These structures were later recognized as a historic district and included in a national registry program.

The buildings display Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styling that shapes how visitors experience the district as they walk through the public spaces. These architectural styles reflect design principles introduced at a major exposition during the 1890s.

The district is easy to explore on foot and accessible via connected pathways that let visitors navigate between all areas. Plan time for walking, as the best way to experience it is to move slowly through the various public spaces.

The riverbank walls feature decorative railings that were deliberately designed to match the architectural elements of the surrounding government buildings. This thoughtful design shows how carefully every detail of the space was planned to create a unified visual language.