Guided Public Tours

Jordan House tours are offered Friday and Sunday at 11am & 1pm.
Jordan House tours will require a ticket purchase in advance.

Face masks are encouraged but not required

For more information or to reserve a ticket, please see "Plan Your Visit"

ASL interpretation is available for private tours. Please call (515) 225-1286 at least 2 weeks in advance.

School groups, private groups and virtual tours of the Jordan House Museum and Bennett School Museum can be scheduled Monday-Thursday and other times, based on staffing. Please call (515) 225-1286 for more information.

About Us

The West Des Moines Historical Society is a 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization dedicated to community enrichment through education, preservation, and celebration of the history and the heritage of the greater West Des Moines area and its environs.

The idea of establishing a historical society for the City of West Des Moines was conceived in 1968 as plans were made for the city’s Diamond Jubilee. Two years later, in 1970, the West Des Moines Historical Society was formed.

The mission of the Society is to educate, to preserve, and to promote the heritage and history of West Des Moines.

To this end, the Society purchased the Jordan House in 1978. Through the efforts of the Society, the business community and the volunteer organizations of West Des Moines, the dream of transforming Jordan house into a museum became a reality. The major initial restoration was completed in 1993, the centennial year of West Des Moines.

Since that time the West Des Moines Historical Society has also acquired and restored the Bennett School, the last one room school houses built and used in West Des Moines. These two facilities together with the growing collections of memorabilia and historical information form the core of the West Des Moines Historical Society’s collection.

If you have knowledge of significant events in West Des Moines, pictures from the past, or historical items relating to West Des Moines we would love to hear from you. If you have only time, we are always looking for volunteers and can help you with that too – and you’ll get a lot of enjoyment out of it. In either event please contact us using the information below.

MISSION

Founded in 1970, the West Des Moines Historical Society (WDMHS) is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-based organization dedicated to community enrichment through education, preservation, and celebration of the history and the heritage of West Des Moines.

VISION

The West Des Moines Historical Society (WDMHS) will exceed the expectation of visitors and the local community by:

Offering exhibits, collections and programs on West Des Moines area history
Preserving the historic integrity and character of WDMHS properties
Increasing the scope of opportunities to preserve and share the history, stories and cultural heritage of the community

Membership & Support