DKG Walking Tour - City Beautiful

At the turn of the previous century, Des Moines' leaders adopted the philosophy of The City Beautiful Movement. The movement was inspired by Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition, which led the efforts to beautify and make noble America's cities. It was believed that beautification would bring along with it moral and civic virtue. Influenced by this movement, the Des Moines Women’s Club and other civic-minded organizations began clamoring for improvements along the river. They replaced meat packing and houses of ill repute with what we experience now as a series of beautiful civic buildings including City Hall, the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates, the award-winning Hub Spot, Des Moines Police Department, Simon Estes Amphitheatre, Armory Building and more along what is now the Principal River Walk.