West Des Moines Historical Society Announcment
Iowa Files Recordings Available
Watch live or recorded programsEXPERIENCE HISTORY
Experience The Jordan House, a stately Victorian home of Italianate Gothic design and Bennett School, one of the last one-room schoolhouses built in Iowa.
Plan your Visit >MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
West Des Moines Historical Society is dedicated to the mission of historic preservation and to educate public about our historic sites in Central Iowa.
Become a member >MAKE A DONATION
Your tax-deductible contribution supports community enrichment through education, preservation, and celebration of the history of the greater WDM area
Donate >HISTORY IS EVERYONE'S STORY.
EVERYONE HAS A STORY.
The pioneers who settled Iowa, the freed men and women who traveled across it and the families who now call it home. You’re invited to walk the hallways of the past, see Victorian elegance and hear stories of hardship and bravery as you become part of history.
THE JORDAN HOUSE MUSEUM TOUR TIMES
Weekly Open House tours of the Jordan House Museum offered every Friday and Sunday
West Des Moines Historical Society - Historic Buildings
THE JORDAN HOUSE MUSEUM
The Jordan House, a stately Victorian home of Italianate Gothic design, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program....
Read MoreTHE BENNETT SCHOOL MUSEUM
Built in 1926 or ’27 the Bennett School was one of the last one room schools to be built in West Des Moines and was in use until at least 1941. It was originally located on an acre of ground donated...
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JORDAN HOUSE AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
The Underground Railroad was a loosely organized system for helping escaped slaves from the southern states reach freedom in the North or Canada in the years before the Civil War.
Read MoreRecent News
Saved by Schindler’s List
Celina Karp Biniaz is one of the last living survivors from Schindler’s List—and the only one who graduated from North High School and Grinnell College in Iowa. Sandi Yoder, Director of the Iowa Jewish Historical Society, will share Celina’s personal story, which included nearly five years in the Krakow ghetto and the Plaszow labor camp,… View Article
Home for the Holidays
The beautifully decorated Jordan House and Bennett School Museums will be showcased Saturday, December 2 from 1-3pm as part of the Home for the Holidays celebration. Visitors will tour rooms decorated by local organizations and individuals and vote on their favorite, and visit the Bennett School, where family friendly crafts and snacks will be available…. View Article