Greenwood is one of Des Moines’ oldest and most prestigious neighborhoods, featuring beautiful buildings and plenty of mature trees. This is one of the city’s most pleasant and appealing districts, featuring attractive homes on large lots. The streets are lined with century-old oak trees that wound their way up and down little hills. There are many magnificent redbrick residences here, and they come in a variety of designs, with many of them dating back over a century. There are many young families with children, seniors, and students that reside in the apartment complexes along Grand Avenue. The Greenwood Historic Neighborhood encompasses the southeastern part of the old City of Greenwood Park. The earliest residences pale in comparison to the one-of-a-kind individuals who have made it their home. The stained glass, ornate entrances, and fine woodwork in these mansions on wide lots were occupied by important merchants and included aspects of Tudor, Prairie, and Craftsman styles. Between the two World Wars, a second phase of housing was created, consisting of more modest residences occupied by middle and upper class citizens. These Tudor and Colonial Revival style residences, despite their diminutive size, mix in nicely with previous architectural forms.

While the Greenwood Historic Neighborhood’s physical evolution is fascinating, it pales in contrast to the remarkable individuals who have called it home. Greenwood Historic has housed some of Des Moines’ most successful citizens, including a Vice President of the United States, two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture, a U.S. Senator, five major publishers, a four-star military, Drake University presidents, and a slew of bishops, physicians, attorneys, inventors, business owners, and civic leaders are among those honored. Des Moines University, Greenwood Elementary, PEO, and Wesley Acres, a major retirement community, are all located in the region, which does not have any businesses per se. Greenwood is a popular destination for cyclists, joggers, walkers, and runners because of its steep topography and lack of a grid system. A leg of the Des Moines Marathon was held in the neighborhood just this past weekend. The Raccoon River’s alluvial movement generated the undulating hills of the area, with Greenwood being part of the river’s channel’s northern ridgeline. The region’s homes are as diverse as the topography, with many older two and three storey homes built between the early 1900s and the 1940s, with the majority of them being one-of-a-kind beauties that make the area a favorite destination for a leisurely drive. The neighborhood puts on a spectacular show in the fall. Most houses have pumpkin and squash decorations, and many put on extra eerie displays in preparation for All Hallows Eve. Water Works Park is adjacent to the south, with its pathways and open areas. The Greenwood Historic Neighborhood has it all, from the delightfully macabre to the beautifully picturesque.

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