Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Des Moines Travel Guide: Des Moines Is More Than Corn Fields and the State Fair — Here’s What We Love About This Midwest Capital

"“In 2009, more than a dozen contemporary sculptures landed like spaceships on two blocks at the west end of downtown due to a $40 million gift from a local venture capitalist and his wife,” Morain explains. Today, the beloved John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park features more than 30 major works by some of the big names in the art world and many Instagrammable moments. (Jaume Plensa’s "The Nomade" is one of the most photographed scenes in the city.) The collection belongs to the also-worth-a-visit Des Moines Art Center, a three-wing, world-class museum on the city’s west side with a brand-new director who comes to us from The Metropolitan Museum of Art." - Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written about travel, health, food, wine, psychology, fitness, beauty, and beyond for more than 15 years. She has visited four continents and near