The Iowa Architectural Foundation in collaboration with Docomomo US is hosting a three-day architecture and design tour in Des Moines, showcasing some of the most significant modernist architecture in the state.

“We’re proud to collaborate with Docomomo US to spotlight Iowa’s extraordinary architectural legacy,” said Laura Porter, executive director of the Iowa Architectural Foundation, said in a news release. “This tour brings national attention to the innovative and often underappreciated modernist gems across our state—and gives Iowans a chance to engage with them in a new way.”

The tour, titled Modernism in Iowa, scheduled from May 30 to June 1, will include:

• The Des Moines Art Center, featuring works by Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier — an evolving modernist campus nestled into a wooded park setting.
• Drake University, whose postwar campus plan by Eliel Saarinen includes buildings by Eero Saarinen, Mies van der Rohe and Harry Weese.
• Private tours in Oskaloosa, including rare access to two early Frank Lloyd Wright residences.

According to a news release, the tour will trace Des Moines’ evolution from a modest mid-19th century river settlement into a modern cultural and design hub. Participants will learn how rail expansion and the insurance industry helped shape the city’s architectural character.

The price of the tour is $895 for Iowa residents and local participants who don’t require motor coach transportation. That rate includes all programming, site visits and meals.

For full details and to register, visit the Modernism in Iowa tour page on the Docomomo US website.