National Register of Historic Places

West Chester

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
Listed
January 19, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84001304

About this property

Chamberlain House, also known as the West Chester and Wesley on Grand, is a historic building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Designed by Boston architect William George Rantoul, it is considered an excellent example of Jacobethan Revival architecture in the city. It was featured in a couple of publications after its completion. The inspiration for the house's design were the half timbered homes in Chester, England. It features five gables and dormers on the main facade that rise above the ridged roofline and three tall chimneys with separate shafts for each flue. There are two gabled wings on the south elevation of the house. The second floor has six bed & breakfast rooms.

Location

3520 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa
41.58390, -93.66471

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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
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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
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
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

Bryn Mawr Apartments
Industrial
0.4 mi
Owl's Head Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Salisbury House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Plymouth Place
Industrial
0.5 mi
Darling, Jay Norwood and Genevieve Pendleton, House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Chester listed on the National Register?

West Chester was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 19, 1984.

What type of historic resource is West Chester?

West Chester is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Chester?

The period of significance for West Chester is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near West Chester?

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