Modern-day Des Moines has been home to humans for the past 7,000 years or even longer. For example, the "Palace" was found in downtown Des Moines and is 7,000 years old. The site has well-preserved house deposits, numerous graves, and over 6,000 artifacts. There are also at least three Late Prehistoric villages and 15 to 18 prehistoric American Indian mounds that have been discovered in downtown Des Moines. Captain James Allen constructed a fort in the area, initiating the origins of Des Moines in 1843. The fortress helped control the Native American Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, which the government moved to the region. However, the fort was eventually abandoned in 1846, and the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, originally from Eastern Iowa, were removed from the state for relocation to the Indian Territory. The city was refreshed with a group of people in 1846 when it became the seat of Polk County but needed rebuilding in 1851 when the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers flooded and destroyed most of the town. Des Moines became incorporated as a city in 1851 and had an economic, developmental, and population boom in 1866 after contractors completed the first railroad link. The city was a prominent coal mining area during this time. Coal mining began in 1864, and its coal resources became primarily exhausted by 1908. However, the mines offered job opportunities, which increased the city's population. By 1880, it had grown to be the largest town in the state, with over 22,000 people. In the early 1900s, the city implemented its "City Beautiful" project. This project's purpose was to beautify the city, and large Beaux Arts public buildings and fountains were constructed along the Des Moines River to help achieve this goal. This area is now a part of the Civic Center Historic District. In the 1930s, President Roosevelt aimed to provide local employment and improve infrastructure and funded the construction of the ornate riverfront railings along with the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers to add to the city's beautification.

Des Moines offers a range of activities and attractions, such as:

State Capitol. The State Capitol, which boasts a gold dome, is home to the governor's office and other sectors of the Iowa government. The State Capitol offers guided tours to groups of 10 or more.

John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. This 4.4-acre park is the site of more than 20 sculptured artworks.

Des Moines Art Center. Since 1948, this center has exhibited art pieces from local and nationally renowned artists and permanent works from artists like Matisse, Monet, and O'Keeffe.

East Village. This neighborhood is the city's cultural and culinary hub, full of restaurants and shops, and features a vibrant nightlife scene.