Downtown in Des Moines in Polk County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Birthplace of Des Moines
Polk County, Iowa
Photographed by Juris Bets, April 19, 2011
1. Birthplace of Des Moines Marker
Fort Des Moines No. 2
Established May 1843 Evacuated March 1846
This cabin is a memorial to the military outpost, Fort Des Moines No. 2, occupied by Company I, First Regiment U. S. Dragoons and Company F First U. S. Infantry. The Fort was the second of three military installations named Fort Des Moines.
In 1846, the City was established near this site at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
In time, all the original Fort buildings disappeared. This circa 1840's log cabin was moved from Washington County, Iowa to this site in 1964 by the Polk County Historical Society.
Erected 1964 by Polk County Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.
Location. 41° 34.916′ N, 93° 37.005′ W. Marker is in Des Moines, Iowa, in Polk County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of SW 1st Street and West Martin Luther King Parkway, on the left when traveling north on SW 1st Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 306338 SW Water St, Des Moines IA 50309, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Old Fort Des Moines (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
More about this marker. Presently road closed for bridge construction but can be accessed by using SW 2nd Street and driving through parking the lot.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed by Benjamin M. Snyder, May 18, 2015
2. Birthplace of Des Moines Marker
Photographed by Benjamin M. Snyder, May 18, 2015
3. Site of Old Fort Des Moines marker from 1908.
This marker is just 200 feet SE from the cabin, next to the river. The Dragoon Trail Historical Site Marker #7 is facing north on this same marker.
Photographed by Benjamin M. Snyder, May 18, 2015
4. Site of Old Fort Des Moines marker from 1908.
Photographed by Juris Bets, April 19, 2011
5. Birthplace of Des Moines cabin and marker.
Photographed by Douglas C Squires
6. Birthplace of Des Moines
This is the result of a 3-image capture processed by Photomatix HDR software.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2011, by Juris Bets of Des Moines, Iowa. This page has been viewed 2,650 times since then and 88 times this year. Last updated on June 3, 2015, by Benjamin M. Snyder of Ankeny, Iowa. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2011, by Juris Bets of Des Moines, Iowa. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2015, by Benjamin M. Snyder of Ankeny, Iowa. 5. submitted on April 21, 2011, by Juris Bets of Des Moines, Iowa. 6. submitted on April 22, 2021, by Douglas C Squires of Plymouth, Michigan. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
