When I told my friends I visited Iowa the first thing they typed back on messenger was “where’s Lowa?” [sic].
“Welcome to the flyover state.” ~ Ken
I went to Des Moines as part of my epic American road trip to visit Kit, whom I last saw in Minneapolis two years ago. To my surprise, Ken, his brother, was also there that day! Kit was very generous to host me again and brought me around Des Moines to show me the most interesting and historical aspects of the city.
The first place he showed me was the sculpture garden where a sizeable collection of modern sculptures and walk-in art experiences were up on permanent outdoor display. I didn’t understand most of the art, but the walk-in rainbow coloured glass room was pretty amazing.
Then, we hiked up a series of steps on a beautifully manicured French garden to the State Capitol. Des Moines used to be part of French North America until Napoleon needed war funds and sold it to the US as part of the Louisiana Purchase, this explains their affinity for French architecture. The State Capitol building is adorned with Corinthian columns and stone statues representing fertility, commerce, abundance, and wealth.
The walk in colored glass
Adjacent to the Capitol Building is a floor map of the state of Iowa with the county divisions on it. I was surprised to see several counties with Spanish names when Kit explained that they were named after the various battles won in the Mexican-American and Spanish-American war. Just across the street is a Japanese bell given to Des Moines in appreciation for the US Army in Japan performing humanitarian work after a natural disaster.
Thank you Kit for showing me that flyover states have a storied history, too!
