Step back in time at this 42-room grand estate built in the 1920s that was inspired by English architecture from the 1600s. A number of building materials for the Tudor-style home were acquired from period structures in England and shipped to Des Moines to give the house its stately, authentic design. The site houses extensive collections of rare books, fine art, historical documents, music instruments and more collected by its builders, the Weeks family.
Parking and public transportation to Salisbury House
Take the 42nd Street exit from Interstate Highway 235; follow 42nd Street south to Tonawanda Drive and east to the grounds. Parking is available on site. Local transit routes that stop along Ingersoll Avenue are the closest options for public transportation. However, expect to walk about 10 blocks south to reach Salisbury House.
Best times to go to Salisbury House
The site offers a full schedule of special events providing activities in addition to tours. Music and author series are offered throughout the year. Major events include a Gatsby-themed gala, holiday celebrations and more.
Admission to Salisbury House
Cost is around $10 for adults, with guided tours being a bit more and self-guided strolls a bit less. Discounts for senior citizens and kids. Guided tours are available Tuesday through Sunday, except on major holidays. Self-guided tours are permitted during expanded hours on those days.
Must see/do at Salisbury House
The library includes first-edition titles by literary greats and more than 60 historical Bibles. Look for an evolving selection of special exhibitions on display. Take time to enjoy the vast gardens that are part of the estate.
Other places to visit near Salisbury House
Enjoy another historic home at Terrace Hill, the Iowa governor's mansion. Take in the world-class displays at the nearby Des Moines Art Center. See the stars at the Drake Municipal Observatory.
Insider tip for visitors to Salisbury House
The rafters from London's White Hart Inn, where Shakespeare performed, are included in the ceiling of the home's Great Hall.
Author's bio: Melanie Lageschulte is a freelance writer and editor. She is an Iowa native and has lived in Des Moines for 15 years.
Old Brick is a historic landmark and the second oldest building in Iowa City. Built in 1856, it has been designated on the National Register of Historic Places. The building now serves as a community center and houses several non-profit organizations, such as Table to Table, Peace Iowa, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and more. Old Brick also has an auditorium available to rent for meetings, events, lectures and weddings.
The Ames Historical Society is a non-profit organization. It performs services in historical preservation and documentation of Ames heritage. It additionally conducts historical writings and research. It accepts memberships and donations.
The Old Capitol Building stands at the center of the University of Iowa's campus, and today is a U.S. Historical Landmark and a museum. It is the central building of the Pentacrest, a set of five historic buildings on the campus. The Old Capitol Building was the main seat of Iowa state government from 1840 until 1846, when Iowa officially became a state rather than a territory. Today, the building is a free museum dedicated to educating the community with a focus on the importance of the humanities. The museum features various offices and legislative chambers, all maintained to appear as they did in the mid-19th century. Rotating special exhibits are on display, and the museum hosts events and community initiatives. Space at the museum can be rented for private events as well.
Academy-award winning actor John Wayne, aka Marion Morrison, was born in a four room house in Winterset Iowa in May 1907. The house has been open for public tour since the 1980s. An adjacent museum opened in May 2015 that explores John Wayne's life as an actor, a family man and an American figure.
Best and worst time to go to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
John Wayne's birthday is May 26, so the museum is particularly festive, but crowded on that day. All of Winterset and Madison County are quite crowded the second weekend in October each year for the Covered Bridge Festival.
Must see/do at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
Watch a movie at the mini-theater and sit in seats that once filled Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
Pose for a picture with the Duke with a saddle flung over your shoulder.
Check out the dent in the last vehicle owned by John Wayne.
Admission to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
The admission price ranges from $10 - $15 and includes a guide tour of the birthplace home. Discounts are available for senior citizens and children under 12. Admission is free to members of the John Wayne Birthplace Society. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter.
Parking and public transportation to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
No public transportation is available in Winterset, Iowa, so private vehicles or motor coach tours are the best resources for accessing the museum. Parking is free throughout Winterset and is plentiful on the side streets around the museum. Handicapped parking is available on the north side of the complex.
Food at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
There is no food service at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, but several restaurants are within two or three blocks of the birthplace, including the Northside Cafe that was featured in the movie "The Bridges of Madison County." Individuals can eat for about $10 each enjoying roast beef sandwiches, chicken fried steak and homemade pies.
Insider tip for visitors to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum
Executive Director Brian Downes was a personal friend of John Wayne. He can be found most days in the museum. He is congenial and available to talk with visitors about his conversations with the Duke and how many of the artifacts were acquired by the museum in Winterset.
Author's bio: Based in the Kansas City area, Diana Lambdin Meyer covers the Midwest and the world. Follow her travels at www.mojotraveler.com.
Scientific concepts come to life at this hands-on facility in downtown Des Moines. Dozens of interactive displays, high-tech dioramas and ongoing educational programs draw thousands of visitors each year. The site is also the home of the Blank IMAX Dome Theater.
Parking and public transportation to the Science Center of Iowa
Access the site from Interstate Highway 235 by taking the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway exit and heading south. The parkway will turn east, along the south side of downtown. There is no free parking at the site, but spaces adjacent to the center run a few dollars per hour. The site is easy to reach by bus, as the local transit company's main station is just a few blocks away.
Best times to go to the Science Center of Iowa
Several special events and classes throughout the year offer additional activities along with access to the exhibits. The center is also open late two Fridays of every month, with one event series for families and another aimed at the 21-and-up crowd. Hollywood blockbusters are screened at the IMAX theater along with educational programs, so plan to take in a movie and receive a discount on science center admission for the same visit.
Admission to the Science Center of Iowa
Expect to pay an average of $10 per visitor for general admission, with prices a bit higher for teens/adults and a bit less for children. IMAX theater tickets are under $10 for all ages. Packages are available for site admission and a movie. Group rates and military discounts are available. The center is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, and closed on Mondays the rest of the year.
Must see/do at the Science Center of Iowa
The Small Discoveries area lets visitors ages 7 and younger explore basic science concepts through creative activities such as making bubbles and playing with puppets. The Foucault Pendulum's 235-pound brass ball marks time while serving as a focal point of the facility. Other sections allow visitors to make their own rockets, tackle a domino obstacle course and learn about Iowa's ever-changing weather.
Other places to visit near the Science Center of Iowa
Take the family to see the animals at Blank Park Zoo. Learn about the state's past at the Iowa State Historical Museum. Enjoy a nostalgic ride on the Heritage Carousel at Union Park.
Insider tip for visitors to the Science Center of Iowa
Purchasing a membership package can really pay off. Members not only receive free general admission, but discounts for the IMAX movie theater and the center's café and gift shop.
Author's bio: Melanie Lageschulte is a freelance writer and editor. She is an Iowa native and has lived in Des Moines for 15 years.