Des Moines

In the joining flows of Des Moines River and Raccoon River, in a land of cliffs and forests, the city was founded in 1843 as a military post. In 1847, the fortress was abandoned, but the city, which had already attracted many colonists, became Iowa's capital.

The Iowa State Fair, one of the greatest in America, is held in Des Moines, every year at the end of August. It is a gigantic country carnaval : vertiginous merry-go-rounds, buttered corn-on-the-cob, juicy watermelon slices, and delicious cotton-candies. You absolutely have to devote at least a whole day to enjoy this special feast.

In your other vacation holidays visiting Des Moines could even be more interesting if you stop by at the Historical, Memorial and Art Building to know more about the life of the Indians living once at this area, as well as the Des Moines Art Center and the Iowa State Capitol.

The Living History Farm, in the west of the city, is an open air museum extending on about 243 hectares of surface, illustrating the agricultural history of Iowa. It shows a farm from the year 1840, a horsebreeding ranch of the 1900s, as well as a future model of farm.

Let us go further to the east towards Le Claire, on the Mississippi River, to come see the Buffalo Bill Museum.

In the other side of the State, on the Missouri River, you will find Sioux City. Its symphony orchestra, its theaters, and its art museums make of it one of the most important cultural centres of "The States of the Plains". And it is at War Eagle Park that the famous Sioux Chief Wambdi Okicize, better known as War Eagle, was buried to rest forevermore in eternity.

Madison County

In the county of Madison, towards the south of Des Moines, the six covered bridges built in the last century has inspired the book titled "The Bridges of Madison County", from which Clint Eastwood has derived the excellent movie with the same title.

A charming artisanal festival, the Madison County Festival of Covered Bridges, is held annually. The next one will take place from October 14 to October 15, 2006. Craft industry, music and culinary specialities...

Another particularity of Madison County : John Wayne, the mystical cowboy of 7th Art was born there, in a small town of Winterset, on May 26, 1907.

At Dyersville, whoever happens to love the movie "Beyond the Dream" would go visit the place where Kevin Costner has revived the ghosts of the golden age of baseball.

At Walnut or at Valley Junction, you can discover the Midwest's antiquities.

And Kalona, the quilt capital, is home to the biggest Amish community of West Mississippi.

Photos - Iowa CVB