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Welcome to Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines (French for 'City of the Monks') is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Iowa. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, until it was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857.
Des Moines is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, and Ruan Transportation. The city of Des Moines claims to be the third-largest insurance center in the world, behind London, United Kingdom, and Hartford, Connecticut.
Downtown Des Moines, Iowa as viewed from the south. Photographed from the south bank of the Raccoon River. Photo by Tim Kiser, October 2006
Des Moines was founded in May 1843 when Captain James Allen built a fort on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. Allen wanted to use the name Fort Raccoon, but the American War Department told him to name it Fort Des Moines. The original origin of the name Des Moines is uncertain. It could have referred to the river of the Moingonas, named after an Indian tribe that resided in the area and built burial mounds. Others see it as referring to Trappist monks, some of whom lived in huts at the mouth of the river, or connected to the phrase de moyen in French, meaning middle, because of its location between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
Many insurance companies are headquartered in Des Moines, including the Principal Financial Group, EMC Insurance Group, Allied Insurance (now part of Nationwide), AmerUs Group, and American Republic Insurance Company. Des Moines has been referred to as the "Hartford of the West" because of this.
The Des Moines Botanical Center (14 acres / 5.7 hectares) is a botanical garden in central Iowa, located at 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, Iowa, USA, on the east bank of the Des Moines River. Interest in a Des Moines botanical center began in 1929. A city greenhouse was acquired on the west side of the river in 1939, which served the city as a production and display greenhouse until the current Botanical Center was completed in 1979. The Botanical Center is managed and operated at present by the Des Moines Water Works.
The Principal Riverwalk will connect the east and west sides of downtown Des Moines through a series of lighted and landscaped walking paths and bridges. Anchored on the north by a signature pedestrian bridge at the Center Street Dam and on the south by the renovated railroad bridge south of Court Avenue, the riverwalk will tie together numerous amenities that line the river’s banks, creating one cohesive riverfront experience.
Hoyt Sherman Place, a grand manor home built in 1877 by prominent businessman Hoyt Sherman; the structure is now a museum and performing arts center. The original house and gallery display an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century paintings and elaborately carved 17th century furniture as well as many rare, ancient artifacts. The newly renovated historic theater built in 1923, hosts and impressive array of world renowned musicians, theatrical productions, and local performing arts events.
Arie den Boer Arboretum is an arboretum located in the Water Works Park. The arboretum is named in honor of noted horticulturalist and Malus expert Arie den Boer, author of the classic work Ornamental Crab Trees, who collected the arboretum's trees. It is one of the world's largest collection of crab apple trees, containing approximately 300 varieties. Blossoming usually occurs during the last week of April and the first week of May.
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Local daily news in Des Moines:
Democrats turn over GOP court files
Republican lawmakers say they are furious over Democrats' effort to scour public records for GOP misdoings and then turn them over to the media.
D.M. police search for vehicle in hit-and-run
Des Moines police are searching for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run accident that left a 19-year-old woman in a coma.
City Of Des Moines Trimming Budget
October 4, 2008-- Des Moines city leaders have some tough decisions to make regarding the budget in the next few months.
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Places of interest:
Windsor Heights, IA (6.3 miles), Saylorville, IA (6.9 miles), Pleasant Hill, IA (7.4 miles), Johnston, IA (8.1 miles), Norwalk, IA (8.4 miles), Urbandale, IA (8.5 miles), West Des Moines, IA (9.0 miles), Ankeny, IA (9.5 miles).
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Weather in Des Moines:
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Hotels in Des Moines
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Marriott Des Moines
700 Grand Avenue
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Quality Inn And Stes Des Moines
4995 NW MERLE HAY RD - Des Moines, IA, US 50323
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Hampton Inn Des Moines Airport
5001 FLEUR DRIVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50321
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Chase Suites Hotel
11428 FOREST AVENUE - Des Moines, IA, US 50325
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Des Moines Comfort Inn
5231 FLEUR DRIVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50321
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Embassy Stes On The River
101 East Locust St Des Moines Ia 50309
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Marriott West Des Moines
1250 Jordan Creek Parkway
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Kirkwood Civic Ctr Hotel
400 Walnut St Des Moines Ia 50309
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Hotel Fort Des Moines
1000 WALNUT ST. - Des Moines, IA, US 50309
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Four Points Des Moines North
4800 MERLE HAY ROAD - Des Moines, IA, US 50322
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Rodeway Inn Des Moines
5626 DOUGLAS AVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50310
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Radisson Htl Des Moines Airprt
6800 Fleur Drive Des Moines Ia 50321
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Heartland Inn Des Moines West
11414 FOREST AVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50325
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Heartland Inn Des Moines
1901 HACKLEY AVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50315
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Best Western Starlite Village
929 3rd Street, Des Moines, Iowa, United States, 50309
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Quality Suites West Des Moines
1236 74TH STREET - Des Moines, IA, US 50266
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Red Roof Des Moines Inn And Suites
4950 NE 14 - Des Moines, IA, US 50313
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Hawthorn W Des Moines
6905 LAKE DRIVE - West Des Moines, IA, US 50266
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Altoona Settle Inn
2101 Adventureland Dr Des Moines Ia 50009
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Super 8 Des Moines Airport Ia
1920 HACKLEY AVE - Des Moines, IA, US 50315
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