Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Explore this sculpture park near downtown Des Moines.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park encompasses 4.4 acres and is located in the Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa. When it opened in 2009, it had 24 sculptures, with four more added later. The park is open year-round, and they offer half-hour long guided tours from April through October. Self-guided tours are always available if you'd rather explore the park at your own pace. Pappajohn Sculpture Park is free to visit and is open daily from sunrise to midnight. Please refrain from touching or sitting on the sculptures (except for Scott Burton's "Seating for Eight"). If you want to sit awhile and enjoy a picnic at the park, you are more than welcome to do so.

The park is named after John Pappajohn, a local venture capitalist along with his wife Mary Louise Pappajohn (1933 - 2022). They donated the first two dozen sculptures (worth $40 million USD) to the city of Des Moines from their private collection. Before the sculptures were moved to the park, many people would drive by their house to see the art. The Pappajohn Sculpture Park is considered "one of the most significant collections of outdoor sculptures in the United States." If you're passing through Iowa, don't miss out on this unique sculpture park.