River Bend Neighborhood

A trolley car heads down the old West Ninth streetcar line, around the Des Moines River’s bend and back up the old Sixth Avenue streetcar line, taking tour-goers to some of the neighborhood’s historic homes during the 12th Annual River Bend Historic Homes Tour, September 6 and 7, 2008.

This year’s house tour theme showcases the work of three prominent local architects: Hallett & Rawson, Liebbe Norse Rasmussen and C.C. Cross and Company.  There will be two residential examples of each of the architects’ work on the tour.

River Bend’s Home Tour offers attendees a unique experience in that the tour provides visitors with two host homes that welcome them to sit down, enjoy refreshments and observe demonstration sessions.  This year’s workshops will feature two different wood restoration methods, calligraphy, and quilting.

This year, attendees will also see the genesis of a partnership among the River Bend Neighborhood Association, the City of Des Moines and the Iowa State Historical Society, as they work in concert to restore the Rachel Ruan House – John Ruan III’s boyhood home and the first location for Ruan Transportation.

Tickets are on sale at the day of the tour at 1602 Sixth or at Dahls’ 3th and Ingersoll Avenue location.  Group discounts are available by calling 515.491.0226.

Ticket Prices:
$10 / Adult for both days
$5 / Children 17 and under
Free for children aged 5 and under

Tour Times are:
Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 7, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Browse through these home tour entries, or contact cjenison [at] mchsi [dot] com for more information.

Categorized as: Des Moines Government> Home Tours