Endangered: Des Moines Birthplace Wall Mural

Preservation Iowa's 2022 Most Endangered List: Des Moines Birthplace Wall Mural, Polk County

This mural near Principal Park was constructed in 2010 to help mark the birthplace of the City of Des Moines. The 34 foot long mosaic designed by Des Moines artist Hilde DeBruyne is constructed of over 500 painted porcelain tiles produced by Robert Sawyer of Creative Edge Master Shop in Fairfield. The mural’s creation was sponsored by the Polk County Historical Society.

As an outside public art piece, the mural is exposed to the elements. Water leaking through the wall has damaged the artwork including causing some of the painted tiles to pop out of the wall. The City of Des Moines is responsible for the site and discussions as to how to preserve and best maintain it have concluded that it would be best to move the mural away from the birthplace site to where it would be better protected from the elements. Work is underway to obtain estimates as to the cost of relocating the mural.

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Des Moines Birthplace Wall Mural (Preservation Iowa 2022 Most Endangered List)

Preservation Iowa’s Most Endangered Property program was started in 1995 and implemented to educate Iowans about the special buildings and historic sites that are slowly and gradually slipping away from us. In the past 20 years, Preservation Iowa has designated over 140 archaeological sites, churches, landscapes, and a variety of other buildings.

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