City Guides : A Capital & Skywalk Odyssey

This guided walk bridges the gap between the historic 19th-century grandeur of the East Side and the modern, elevated lifestyle of the Downtown core. You’ll explore the “city above the streets” and finish in the district where Des Moines was born.

🚗 Logistics & Parking

• Start Point: Iowa State Capitol (1007 E Grand Ave).
• Parking: Lot 13 (West side of Capitol) or Lot 15 (North side).
• Price: Free (All visitor lots on the Capitol complex are complimentary).
• Total Walking Distance: ~2.3 miles (point-to-point).
• Total Time: 3–4 hours.

Step 1: The Golden Glimmer (State Capitol)

• Time: 1.5 Hours | Cost: Free
• Check out: Head to the 2nd floor to see the Law Library. It is a four-story Victorian “birdcage” library with spiral iron stairs—routinely voted one of the most beautiful in the world.
• Inside Info: Look for the Whispering Gallery in the rotunda; if you stand in the right spot, a whisper travels around the dome to a partner on the opposite side.
• Pro Tip: Enter via the Ground Floor (South or West side) for security. Tours are available Mon–Sat until 4:00 PM.

Step 2: The East Village Descent

• Distance: 0.6 miles | Walking Time: 12 mins
• The Route: Walk West down E Grand Ave toward the river.
• Check out: You are walking through the Historic East Village. Stop at Raygun (the famous “Midwest is Best” shirt shop) or grab a quick coffee at Scenic Route Bakery.
• The View: As you cross the Grand Avenue Bridge, look North to see the Women of Achievement Bridge, a striking white architectural bow over the Des Moines River.

Step 3: Entering the “City Above” (The Skywalk)

• Distance: 0.5 miles | Walking Time: 10 mins
• Access Point: Cross the bridge and enter the EMC Insurance Building (701 Walnut St) at street level. Look for the red circle “S” sign.
• The Story: You are now in a 4.2-mile climate-controlled maze. The skywalks were built starting in the 1970s so workers could traverse downtown without a winter coat.
• The Route: Follow signs toward the Civic Center. It feels like a futuristic glass tunnel with bird’s-eye views of the traffic below.

Step 4: Civic Center & Cowles Commons

• Distance: 0.3 miles | Walking Time: 6 mins (via Skywalk)
• Exit: Take the skywalk stairs/elevator down at 3rd and Locust to enter Cowles Commons.
• Check out: * The Crusoe Umbrella: A massive, whimsical steel sculpture by Claes Oldenburg.
  • The Swirl: A lighting installation that glows with 32,000 LEDs at night.
• The Story: This plaza was originally “Nollen Plaza” and has been the site of everything from presidential rallies to the city’s largest festivals.

Step 5: Court Avenue & The Courthouse

• Distance: 0.4 miles | Walking Time: 8 mins
• The Route: Walk South on 3rd St until you reach Court Avenue.
• Check out: The Polk County Courthouse (500 Mulberry St). This 1906 Beaux-Arts masterpiece features a massive clock tower and Grey Canyon Sandstone.
• History Tip: Look at the street lamps and cobblestones. This area was the city’s original “Depot District” where the trains met the warehouses.
• Ending Point: Grab a “Crab Rangoon Pizza” at Fong’s Pizza or a local brew at Court Avenue Brewing Co.

🚌 How to get back to the Capitol

Don’t walk back uphill! Catch the DART D-Line Shuttle.

• Price: Free.
• Pickup: Any stop along Walnut St or Court Ave with a D-Line sign.
• Schedule: Runs every 15 minutes (Mon–Fri 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM). It will drop you off right at the foot of the Capitol.