Des Moines, the capital of the state of Iowa, has only 215,000 inhabitants and can easily be visited in half a day. Main attraction is the massive Iowa State Capitol, the only one in the United States with five domes.
The John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park is freely accessible and shows at present 28 top-class works of art by such famous artists as Keith Haring, Claes Oldenburg, Jaume Plensa or Louise Bourgeois.