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Welcome to the web site of the West Des Moines Historical Society.
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The Society owns and operates two properties:
• The Jordan House is a restored Victorian Mansion that was the home of James Jordan, the founder of Valley Junction (which was later renamed West Des Moines). In the 1850’s and early 60’s, the home served as a station on the Underground Railroad. Today, it serves as a museum for the City of West Des Moines and as the office of the Historical Society.
• Bennett School was one of the last one-room schoolhouses built in the West Des Moines area and has been restored as closely as possible to its former appearance as remembered by Walter Fuller, Pete Johnson, and Lincoln Bennett (all students there) and by Doroth Temple Mosher, a former teacher at the Bennett School .
Both properties are open to the public on a limited schedule and the Bennett School may be rented for group special events. For rental information select the Historical Society below. For schedules go to the page for the particular property you would like to visit.
Support the Historical Society - Volunteer a little time - have fun meeting others. Interested? Click here.
Take a virtual tour of our facilities:
Shown below is the Jordan House formal parlor. (You may rotate the view by clicking your cursor and dragging it in the direction you wish to rotate or by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.) To visit different rooms click on "Scene" in the lower left corner and choosing another room.You may also use the button at the bottom of this page to learn about and "tour" the Bennett School.
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For more information and pictures please click on your selection below:
(About / Contacts / Old Photos of West Des Moines / Memberships / Artifacts or photos you may have, Information Requests / Board Members /Rental of Bennett School)
