Page 5 - RAGBRAI2013

3PERRY - DES MOINES

HOTEL PATTEE

While staying at the overnight stop of
Perry, take a look at the historic Hotel Pattee.
For the last 100 years, Hotel Pattee served
as a town icon. Recently, the hotel has been
restored to its historic beauty with 40 individu-
ally themed rooms and public spaces.

HISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY AT
FORT DES MOINES NO. 2

HISTORIC DOCUMENT RESEARCH FORT DES MOINES NO. 2
Fort Des Moines No. 2 was built at the
Before backhoes and shovels hit the dirt,
archaeologists examine historical documents confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines riv-
to assess the archaeological potential beneath ers in 1843. The fort’s primary function was to
the ground. In downtown Des Moines, maps control the Sauk and Meskwaki Indians who
and written accounts alerted archaeologists to
the rich historic and prehistoric past that may were recently transplanted there
still lay underneath modern streets and build- from eastern Iowa. The fort
ings, including ancient Indian mounds, Fort was abandoned in 1846.
Des Moines of the 1840s, early City of Des
Moines buildings, and beautification projects of Fort-era military
the 20th century. button.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL
EXPLORATIONS

Under city streets in
downtown Des Moines,
archaeologists excavated deep trenches and
found ancient Indian settlements, remnants of
Fort Des Moines No. 2, bridge pilings, and an
early riverfront 20th century fountain complex.

Map showing prehistoric
archaeological sites.