Des Moines Heritage Center

05/16/2020

Progress update as of May 15, 2020.

Progress update as of May 15, 2020.

05/16/2020

UPDATE - making a lot of progress! More photos will be in an album. Hildreth Construction & Ken Kaiser Restoration are doing great work!

04/29/2020

Progress update - THE UTILITY POLES ALONG THE ALLEY ARE GONE!

04/17/2020

Great picture by John David of a freight train approaching the East Des Moines Union Depot in 1984.

04/10/2020

It’s a big day at the Des Moines Heritage Center! For the first time in at least 70 years, the depot has windows again! And yes they are wood windows preprimed for the dark grey paint that will be the finish color. Exciting things everyday!

04/02/2020

Progress & walls going up at the Heritage Center

Progress & walls going up at the Heritage Center

04/02/2020

They let me inside today to take a few photos.

04/01/2020

Des Moines Heritage Center

If you have a chance to get out of the house...drive by and see the progress at the Des Moines Heritage Center. Everyday now there will be new things to see!

04/01/2020

If you have a chance to get out of the house...drive by and see the progress at the Des Moines Heritage Center. Everyday now there will be new things to see!

03/29/2020

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - The windows are out for restoration and the foundation is in & supplies are arriving for the new Heritage Center Bldg.

03/25/2020

There is a full head of steam now!

An April 30, 2017 Register article by Joel Aschbrenner about saving the East Union Depot. - Part 1

03/06/2020

Des Moines Heritage Center

02/08/2020

Home

Looking for wedding venue? Know someone who is? Check out desmoinesheritagecenter.org.

This historic wedding venue opens anew. Late autumn 2020. Save Your Date A landmark over a century in the making. The Des Moines Heritage Center is an event venue located in the heart of the Historic East Village that features all the modern comforts you could

01/26/2020

A few photos showing some of the recent restoration of the Depot and construction of the new Events Center

01/15/2020

The “Pavillion” which is more commonly known as the porte cochere, is under construction as the depot restoration progresses. This will return the depot to its original appearance!

01/11/2020

Home

Our new website is up and live! We are starting to take wedding reservations for 2021. So check it out and spread the word! Desmoinesheritagecenter.org.

This historic wedding venue opens anew. Late autumn 2020. Save Your Date A landmark over a century in the making. The Des Moines Heritage Center is an event venue located in the heart of the Historic East Village that features all the modern comforts you could

12/20/2019

Excited to post this rendering of what the interior of the depot will look like when finished. Enjoy!

11/23/2019

Buy a custom-engraved paving brick | Des Moines Heritage Trust

For history or railroad fans who have everything!
A commemorative brick to help restore the Depot would be a great Christmas gift. They may be personalized with 3 lines of your choice and will be placed in the Courtyard. Wrap up a brick with the info to surprise people. http://www.desmoinesheritagetrust.org/buy-custom-engraved-paving-brick/

Buy a custom-engraved paving brick Help support Des Moines Heritage Trust by purchasing a custom-engraved paving brick dedicated to you, your business or a loved one. Paving bricks can be engraved with your personal inscription by making a $125 donation to Des Moines Heritage Trust. Instructions: Co...

11/21/2019

Exciting discoveries inside the depot building. Beautiful 5x6 brick tile floors in pristine condition. The entire depot has these floors. Covered for 70 years

11/21/2019

Cleared the lot today & a lot more working going on too.

10/26/2019

Work has begun on restoring the East Union Depot.

Work has begun on restoring the East Union Depot.

10/10/2019

Big News! We officially closed on our construction financing today! Here we go!

07/11/2019

This mentions the DM Union Depot & also East DM, is that the East DM Union Depot? June 25, 1914 Register.

06/21/2019

Revised DM Heritage Center drawing.
You can be a part of this. Purchase an engraved brick for the plaza area, which may include 3 lines of your choice. Go the the website - http://desmoinesheritagetrust.org/buy-custom-engraved-paving-brick/

06/16/2019

The restoration and construction officially BEGINS!!!

The restoration and construction officially BEGINS!!!

06/16/2019

Matthew

A video from Matthew Davenport https://www.facebook.com/DSMHeritageCenter/posts/1126077504258896

06/14/2019

Des Moines Heritage Trust | Preserving historic properties in the Des Moines area

The current DMHT Board is: Tim Waddell, Chair, John Brown, Vice-Chair, Ann Schmid, Treas.; Pat Meiners, Sec'y.; Tim Hielkema, Derek Lord, Jeff Geerts, Tim Rypma and Connie Boesen Board Members.
Donations may be made online through the website - www.desmoinesheritagetrust.org or mail to DMHT, PO Box 175, Des Moines, IA 50301.

Des Moines Heritage Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of historic properties in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

06/13/2019

media1.tenor.com

The Editorial Board of the Register gave the DM Heritage Trust a ROSE for the preservation of the East Union Depot.
https://tenor.com/view/rose-emoji-sparkle-flowers-gif-11486783
A rose to the Des Moines Heritage Trust for rescuing one of the city's most endangered historic buildings: the Union Depot at 5th and Court. The nonprofit lobbied to save it from demolition and raised $3 million to restore it. The 110-year-old building was once the main east-side train depot and is one of only two Flemish Renaissance-style depots in the United States.
Industrial warehouses have hidden the depot from view for years. Once restored, it will house offices for the Trust, historical documents, photographs and other mementos. A new building constructed next to it will be an events center available for rentals and for historical organizations to provide educational and cultural programming.
Just as exciting, the organization plans to leverage the property to establish a line of credit allowing the purchase and rehabilitation of other historic properties. That is truly long-term dedication to preserving our history.
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2019/06/12/des-moines-city-council-discrimination-housing-reynolds-miller-depot-prison/1416237001/?fbclid=IwAR1snADlA33x0OTxOTCsnytwIstee47UUdSpRLop8jNErIjc8TMfHTezW_o

05/31/2019

04/16/2019

The news just keeps on coming as we count down to groundbreaking! Our construction manager, Hildreth Construction did a test hole in the concrete cap (which is 3 feet above the original floor) and found the original floor of the depot is red clay pavers!!!! How exciting is that. Check it out below!

04/11/2019

Adding some the new final renderings of the Event Center! Stay tuned for information on Groundbreaking coming soon! Enjoy!

02/22/2019

Come down to the Iowa Tap Room, enjoy a flight of Peace Tree beers and support the Des Moines Heritage Center!

Thank you to everyone who purchased our January Charity Flight for BIKEIOWA.com. We have partnered with Peace Tree Brewing Company for the month of February and $2 from each Charity Flight sold during February will be donated to Des Moines Heritage Trust! To learn more about Des Moines Heritage Trust's mission, please visit their page or www.desmoinesheritagetrust.org!

The Charity Flight this month consists of Peace Tree Brewing Company Blonde Fatale, Cold Brew Coffee Stout, Grapefruit No Coast, and I Can't Believe It's Not Bitter. Stop in anytime during the month of February, purchase a Charity Flight, and help us raise money for Des Moines Heritage Trust!

10/17/2018

The attached map is a close up of the East Des Moines Union Depot site in the early 20th century. It’s exciting to see the area to the south was completely paved with bricks on both sides of the tracks to accommodate both east and west bound travelers. We are grateful to Dana Grefe who owns the larger version of this Des Moines Railroad map and allowed us to photograph it! Thanks to Chris Goepel for the great photography. Enjoy!

08/20/2018

The search is finally over! Thanks to a generous donation from Christian Goepel, Des Moines Heritage Trust acquired the original blueprint for the East Des Moines Union Depot. It is dated June 1909! The depot served as a passenger station from 1910 to 1950.

07/24/2018

Prairie Meadows & Polk County Community Impact Luncheon

Very excited to announce the Des Moines Heritage Center has received a $100,000 Legacy Grant from Prairie Meadows as part of their 2018 grants! A big thank you to Prairie Meadows Board and staff! http://boothpic.co/k8nxu