Des Moines, Iowa, October 2007

We are almost up-to-date now.
Des Moines is only 2 1/2 hours away from our hometown of Omaha, so we decided to pack the baby up and tour the neighboring state capitol. It was a Saturday and Des Moines seemed desolate, but it was a nice capitol, very large and filled with history of the state, city and important state politicians and others in their state history.

There was a tour going on and about ten people following listening to the history of the state and building. My husband and I were more concerned with our own adventure so we went off. The art inside Des Moines, most notably the paintings and mosaics, were very rich with detail.
There was also a funny collection of dolls that was not labled, but must have been models of former first ladies of the state. It was odd but a refreshingly human touch to a serious, political place. Unlike many of the previously visited capitols there was a lot of historical information posted about the artists which was nice and informative.

Also the capitol is located near a downtown area, where we walked to the (free) state historical museum with a Iowa caucus exhibit, that exemplified their excitement of their importance in presidential elections.
More soon.