Des Moines Historical Society

Pleast contact me with any questions you have about the DMHS.

Pat Meiners President
Email: a1hawkeye@juno.com
Home: 515-278-1234

Des Moines Historical Society

SURPASS GOAL OF 100 MEMBERS

The next meeting of the Des Moines Historical Society will be Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Birdland Lagoon Shelter on Saylor Road, just west of the Heritage Carousel. Come early to picnic, ride the carousel and meet and greet. We will talk about former amusement parks, ballrooms, skating, and other types of amusements. Carousel coupons are on their website.

We NOW HAVE 124 PAID MEMBERS OF THE DMHS!!! If any of you just haven't gotten around to joining yet, please go to the left margin PDF or an application that can be downloaded. We do have several interesting things in the planning stages and would really appreciate your support. Memberships are open to individuals, households, businesses and other organizations. Thanks. Pat Meiners, President, DMHS

Those who are not members may join at the meeting or complete an application - see the left margin - and send it in with the dues.

FOR A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION SEE ''OUR PDF'S'' IN THE LEFT MARGIN. PLEASE PRINT IT OUT AND SEND IT TO TED WITH YOUR DUES.

We are varying meeting places, dates and times right now so as many as possible may attend and, at no charge, the only libraries we can use are North Side, Forest and South Side. Pat Meiners

Please go to the pages on the left margin to read the minutes from past meetings of the Des Moines Historical Society.

PLEASE CHECK THE CALENDAR FOR EXCITING EVENTS - SEE LEFT MARGIN.

More information about the history of DM is available at the former website of the Polk County Historical Society which disbanded in December of 2006. www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/pchs

***** WE ARE ALSO ON FACEBOOK ***** Des Moines Historical Society.

'Old' Brick Capitol in DM

The capitol building we are now using was not the first one built in Des Moines. Before it, there was ''The Old Brick Capitol'' which was built in 1857 when DM was designated the state capital and used about 26 years. It burned down about 1892 after being abandoned and neglected for several years.

Unfortunately, the 150TH ANNIVERSARY of the important decision to make Des Moines the Capital City of Iowa was never celebrated!

PHOTO

The Morrison Electric car - the first electric car in the US was made in Des Moines. It was shown at the 1892 Worlds Fair in Chicago.