Proudfoot Bird & Rawson designed this hotel in 1919. It has a granite base, limestone first floor and terra cotta cornice. It was the only hotel at the time to have bathrooms and a chilled water system in each of its 400 rooms, as well as windows in every room.
Twelve US presidents, including Woodrow Wilson, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush were guests in the hotel. Other notable guests were actress Mae West, aviator Charles Lindbergh and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev.
The hotel, owned by Hawkeye Hotels, in the Hilton chain, is currently undergoing a huge restoration/renovation by Invision Architects, Baxter Construction and many artisan craftsmen. An exciting part of the rehab is the return of the lobby space to a full, glorious two stories. Many years back, a second floor was added where meeting rooms were constructed dividing the Palladian windows in half. The current owners are reopening the lobby. 1000 Walnut ST., Des Moines, IA 50309