Terrace Hill is one of Des Moines' strongest historic-house visits, a grand Victorian mansion that now serves as the Iowa governor's residence. Its scale, woodwork, and hilltop setting show the confidence of the city's 19th-century elite more vividly than a downtown plaque can.
Tours are the way to see it, so check times before going. The house pairs well with other civic and cultural stops in Des Moines because it adds domestic architecture and state history to a route often dominated by the capitol, sculpture, and museums.