Des Moines History Timeline 1900s

The Gables General Store
Des Moines School Student Body About 1915
The Daring - One of the 'Mosquito Fleet' serving Des Moines
Nathan E. Munger - Civil War Veteran
Des Moines Historical Society Museum logo

Des Moines History Timeline 1900s

1700-1849 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000

1900

  • Feb. 27 - Hill Grove Cemetery Association (HGCA) formed. The cemetery, located on South 200th Street at approximately 16th Avenue South, was designated as a Community Landmark in 1982. The Des Moines Historical Society assumed control of the HGCA in 2026.

1902

  • Manhattan School at 1st Avenue South and Normandy Road begun.

1904

  • June - Methodist Episcopal Church dedicated. First church building in the greater Des Moines area. Located at corner of Cherry Street (now South 223rd Street), and 9th Avenue South.
  • Charles and Mary Betts’ first store at Stone’s Landing opened. In 1908, a new Redondo Store was built, replacing the previous store.
  • June 23 - The dock at Stone’s Landing (now Redondo) collapsed drowning five.

1906

  • Oct. 25 - Zenith Post Office established on South 240th Street west of Marine View Drive South. The Post Office was later housed in the Zenith Grocery Store across from the Masonic Home. It was closed on Oct. 4, 1968.

1907

  • Des Moines-Zenith Improvement Club, also known as the Booster Club/Enterprise Club, started. Estimated date.

1908

  • Children’s Industrial Home and Training School, under the direction of Herman and Annie Draper, moved to Des Moines. To raise money for this private orphanage, the children traveled the country as “The Jolly Entertainers.”

1909

  • Aug. 19 - Redondo School District 169 established. School constructed in 1910. School site: between South 279th and 280th Streets from 10th Avenue to 12th Avenue South.
  • Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition held in Seattle at the site of the current University of Washington campus from June 16.