The Iowa State Capitol tour takes you right into the heart of political grandeur in Des Moines, Iowa. The capitol building itself was built from 1871-1886. It is absolutely stunning with its world famous dome gilded with 23-karat gold leaf as well as its magnificent 19th century architecture.
Below is all of the information on Iowa State capitol tours that you will need to schedule your visit.
How to Sign up for an Iowa State Capitol Tour:
If you would like a tour of the Iowa State Capitol building and have less than 10 people in your group, you can call 515-281-5591 to schedule a free tour. For groups of 10 or more you’ll need to register online for a capitol tour here. Here you can request both building tours and dome tours.
Guide Tour Times:
Tours are only available Monday through Saturday and last approximately 75 to 90 minutes.
Monday through Friday – Tour Times Vary
Saturday – Every hour starting at 9:30 am and ending at 2:30 pm.
**NOTE – Dome tours are restricted to 4th grade students and above. One adult chaperone is required for every 10 children touring.
Self-Guided Tour Times:
Self-guided tours of the Capitol and Capitol grounds are available anytime during normal business hours.
Get a closer look inside the Iowa State Capitol building here.
What do you see on the Iowa State Capitol Tour?:
Ground Floor:
- Gift Shop
First Floor:
- Ground Stairway Statues
- Inner Dome / Glass Floor / Flag Display Case
- Capitol History Display Case
- USS Iowa Model
- Secretary of State’s Office
- Capitol Supreme Court Chamber / Judicial Display Case
- Original Railroad Commissioner’s Office
- Treasurer of State’s Office
- Governor’s Office / Governor’s Reception Room
- 168th Infantry Photo / Inaugural Gown Doll Display Case
- Auditor of State’s Office
Second Floor:
- Westward Mural
- Lunettes / Statues
- State Law Library
- West Capitol Terrace
Third Floor:
- Senate
- Mosaics
- House of Representatives
Iowa State Capitol Building Hours:
OPEN:
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday
CLOSED:
- Sundays
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Memorial Day
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving (and day after)
- Christmas Day
Where to park for your Iowa State Capitol Tour:
Iowa State Capitol Address:
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Buses:
Bus parking is on the west side of the Capitol (along East Ninth Street). Buses may load and unload from the circle drive located directly in front of the west Capitol ground-floor handicap-accessible entrance. For a bus parking map visit here.
Visitors / Public Parking:
Visitor parking can be found on E. 12th St and also on Court St. surrounding the capitol building. Additional accessible parking can also be found in employee and visitor lots. This complex parking map shows you exactly where the various parking areas are.
*To view and print a map of the Iowa Capitol Complex visit here.
Where to Enter the Iowa State Capitol Building:
Although tours meet on the ground floor in the rotunda area, there are multiple entry points open to the public. Public entrances are located on the ground floor of the Iowa State Capitol on the south and west sides of the building. You must walk through a security scan upon entrance.
Iowa Capitol Gift Shop:
The Iowa Capitol Gift Shop is located on the ground floor of the rotunda in the Iowa State Capitol. It’s small but has great souvenir options featuring both Iowa and the Iowa State Capitol and includes a small historical display.
Capitol Gift Shop Hours:
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Capitol Gift Shop Phone Number:
515-281-5591
More information about the State Capitol Dome Tours:
If you would like to include a tour of the Iowa State Capitol building dome you will simply add that on to your tour reservations. If you have less than 10 people in your group, you can call 515-281-5591 to schedule a free tour. For groups of 10 or more you’ll need to register online for a capitol tour here and make sure that you request both a building tour and a dome tour.
Iowa State Capitol Monuments and Memorials:
Below is a list of monuments and memorials at the Capitol Complex. You can find a map of locations here as well as QR Codes for a Cell Phone Audio tour.
- Parrot Rifle
- Spanish-American War Cannon
- Cornerstone
- Mortar
- Lincoln and Tad Statue
- G.A.R. Sundial
- V.F.W. Monument
- Daniel Cooper Memorial Tree
- Great Seal of Iowa
- Bicentennial Fountain
- Pioneer Statuary Group | Buffalo Fountain
- West Capitol Terrace Memorial Benches
- Holocaust Memorial
- Bryant Boulder
- Teacher Boulder
- Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument
- Bicentennial Time Capsule
- Centennial Time Capsule
- G.A.R. Memorial Tree
- Iowa Peace Officer Memorial
- Revolutionary War Memorial
- Allison Monument
- Sesquicentennial Tree
- Christopher Columbus Monument
- Submarine Memorial
- Vietnam War Memorial
- Purple Heart Combat Veterans Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr. Tree
- Korean War Memorial
- Crocker Memorial
- Five Stones — One Tree Sculpture
- Scott’s Grave
- G.A.R. Flagpole
- G.A.R. Memorial Bench
- Peace Pole
- Japanese Bell | Bell House
- Memorial Bench
- Shattering Silence Monument
- Oley Nelson Tree
- Spanish-American War Monument
- Statue of Liberty
- Liberty Bell
- Memorial Plaza (World War II)
- The Pinnacle Monument
- Iowa: A Place to Grow Symbol
- Spanish Howitzer
- Workers’ Monument
- Cosmic Seed Sculpture
Other places to visit in or near Des Moines:
- State Historical Museum of Iowa – If you would like a self-guided tour you must register at least two weeks in advance using this online visit request form.
- Adventureland
- Big Creek State Park
- Blank Park Zoo
- Boone Scenic Railway
- Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
- Heritage Carousel
- Ledges State Park
- Pappajohn Sculpture Park
- Science Center of Iowa
Can’t Make it to the Iowa State Capitol? Check out these Videos:
Secretary of State’s Office:
Iowa Governor’s Office:
Iowa Senate Chamber:
Iowa House of Representatives Chamber:
Inner Dome:
Iowa State Law Library:
Inaugural Gown Doll Display Case:
Iowa State Capitol Building Mosaics:
View more videos of the Iowa State Capitol Building here.