Skip to content
Daytime

Afternoon Light at the Mattes House

A quiet walk through Des Moines’ historic architecture, ending with a drink near the sculpture park.

Best time: 15 AprAbout 105 min

Timeline

  1. 14:00

    Kappa Kappa Gamma House

    Arrive at the Minnie Y. and Frank P. Mattes House. The Tudor Revival structure stands as a testament to the work of Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson. Take a moment to admire the scale of the house, the automobile garage, and the retaining wall that define the property.

  2. 15:00

    Exile Brewing Company

    Walk to Exile Brewing Company. This brewpub and microbrewery sits in a historic warehouse just minutes from the sculpture park. It is a good spot to grab a German-style sea beer and rest before the final leg of the walk.

  3. 15:30

    John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park

    Stroll through the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. This 4.4-acre park within Western Gateway Park showcases over $40 million in publicly displayed art. The open space offers a pleasant contrast to the historic architecture you just visited.

Local tip

The walk between the Mattes House and the sculpture park area is long (49 minutes). Exile Brewing Company is located near the sculpture park, so it makes sense to handle your refreshment there rather than trying to eat near the house and then travel far. Check the route if you need specific directions between the Mattes House and the downtown area.

Check before you go

  • Exile Brewing Company is closed on Mondays. Plan your visit for Tuesday through Sunday, open from 10:00 to 22:00.

Worth knowing

  • Exile Brewing Company is open at 15:00 only on Tu, We, Th, Fr, Sa, Su

Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Des Moines (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Back to Des Moines