State Library of Iowa

Recently I took some time to visit the old State Historical Building in Des Moines. Several years ago a new historical building was built and this building became the State Library of Iowa. A lot of money was spent to renovate this building.



Yet to us native Iowans who are over 50, this will always be the real historical building. As children we took many field trips to see this building -- which still retains its official name plate.



As school kids, we always went to both the historical building and the state capitol. They are just across the street from each other.



Like its new twin sister across the way -- the Iowa Judicial Building -- this building has a beautiful Jeffersonian dome.



The brass and wrought iron through the building gives it an authentic look.



But the real beauty is found in all the stained glass windows. They seem to be everywhere. Here's one accenting the elevator.



This one is over a doorway.



But there are three huge stain glass windows as you go up the stairs that are incredible. I could not get them in one photograph. Here is a portion of the center one. See the Civil War scene in the background?



Here's a view of two of the large windows.



One of the side windows represents art.



Another represents literature.



But the middle one represents history. Unfortunately the photographs do not do these windows justice, but you get the idea.



Sometimes the most interesting sights are close to home. It had been over 30 years since I had been in this building. It made me think of other places close to home I should visit.

Thanks for stopping by.