The History
The origin of the Des Moines Art Center is traced to the Des Moines Association of Fine Arts in 1916. In 1933, James D. Edmundson left more than half a million dollars to build a museum. In 1943, plans were drawn for a modern museum of art. The Art Center was the first museum to open after World War II in 1948.
The Art Center Architecture
The Art Center is a museum with three connecting buildings. Each building is designed by a notable architect: Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier.
