National Register of Historic Places

Salisbury House

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
July 19, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000551

About this property

Salisbury House, in Des Moines, Iowa, is a Tudor, Gothic and Carolean style manor home built on a wooded hill with commanding views. It was built by cosmetics magnate Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith Van Slyke Weeks, between 1923 and 1928. Salisbury House was modeled after the King's House in Salisbury, England, contains 42 rooms and measures just over 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2). The property is owned and operated by the Salisbury House Foundation and is open to the public for tours, public events, and private rentals. Salisbury House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The listing covered a 9.4-acre (3.8 ha) area with two contributing buildings, one other contributing structure and one contributing site. Salisbury House is also on the List of Registered Historic Places in Iowa.

Location

4025 Tonawanda Dr.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.57945, -93.67159

Categories

ARCHITECTURECOMMERCEINDUSTRY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Sylvan Theater Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
West Chester
Industrial
0.5 mi
Linden Heights Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Plymouth Place
Industrial
0.5 mi
Des Moines Art Center
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Salisbury House listed on the National Register?

Salisbury House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Salisbury House?

Salisbury House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Salisbury House?

The period of significance for Salisbury House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Salisbury House?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Salisbury House will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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