Iowa State Capitol
FreeTour a five-domed statehouse topped in 23-karat gold, with 29 kinds of marble and a law library ringed by four stories of balconies.

Photo: Dsmspence, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Pappajohn Sculpture Park is a sightseeing stop in Des Moines, IA. Cost: free.
1330 Grand Ave · Des Moines, IA
Opened in 2009 in Western Gateway Park, this 4.4-acre downtown lawn displays works by more than two dozen artists, a gift from John and Mary Pappajohn. You walk concrete paths over gently rolling hills past pieces by Louise Bourgeois, Ai Weiwei and Barry Flanagan. A standout is Nomade by Jaume Plensa, a 27-foot crouching figure of white steel letters that you can step inside. Picnics and photography are welcome and an audio tour is available, but most sculptures are not for touching.
The closest stops to Pappajohn Sculpture Park, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.
Tour a five-domed statehouse topped in 23-karat gold, with 29 kinds of marble and a law library ringed by four stories of balconies.
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Iowa county famous for its historic covered bridges, made famous by The Bridges of Madison County.
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The restored 1907 birth home and museum of actor John Wayne, with film memorabilia and archives.
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Walk through the 1883 covered bridge over the Middle River made famous by The Bridges of Madison County.
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