Neighborhood

Sherman Hill’s ‘Doors to the Past’ home tour is back! Discover history in your own backyard.

Why you’ll love this tour:

• See inside more than a dozen historic Sherman Hill homes — including several homes featured for the first time ever.
• Get ideas for your own home and learn restoration tips.
• Meet owners, neighbors, historic home enthusiasts, and new friends.
• Support our historic community.

Tour Details:

• Tour Dates and Times:
  • Saturday, September 26, 2026
  • Sunday, September 27, 2026
  • 10 AM – 4 PM
    
• Ticket prices:
  • $20 at the door (Hoyt Sherman Place Box Office)
  • $15 in advance (deadline Thursday, Sept. 24)
  • $13 in advance for Sherman Hill Association members (check your inbox for our email, or contact us for details)
  • $5 students (student ID required, purchase at Hoyt Sherman Box Office during tour hours)
  • Free – kids under 12.
  • Route maps and tickets pickup: 10am – 4pm on Saturday, September 26th, or Sunday, September 27th during tour hours at the Hoyt Sherman Place Box Office (1500 Woodland Ave — entrance on the east side of the building/parking lot). Sorry, early pickup is not available.
  • Tours are self-guided.

IMPORTANT: TICKETS WILL NOT BE EMAILED. YOU WILL PICK THEM UP AT THE HOYT SHERMAN BOX OFFICE DURING TOUR HOURS.

Winter is Coming: What You Need to Know About
Odd/Even Parking in Sherman Hill

As winter approaches, it’s important to be aware of parking regulations in our neighborhood. Living in a historic city like Des Moines comes with its quirks—many of our streets were originally built for horses and hitching posts, not today’s large vehicles.

To help manage winter parking, the City Council has established Odd/Even Side Snow Parking Zones in some of Des Moines’ oldest neighborhoods, including Sherman Hill.

What does this mean for you? –––

• Odd/Even parking zones are designed to keep streets clear for snow removal during the winter months.
• Signs are posted throughout Sherman Hill marking the areas where the Odd/Even parking rules apply.
• On odd days of the month, park on the odd-numbered side of the street.
• On even days, park on the even-numbered side of the street.

Make sure to check the posted signs as you park, and remember: these rules are in place to ensure our streets are passable and safe during snowy weather.

Stay ahead of the winter weather, and let’s keep our neighborhood looking great all season long!.

Text “ODDSNOW” to 515-355-8815 for text alerts.

December 4th, 2025 | 5:30-7:30pm

Join us for our last Neighborhood Meeting of 2025, and celebrate the season with a festive Cookie Swap and pizza dinner! Let’s come together to reflect on the year and look ahead to the future of our community.

All Sherman Hill Association members and neighbors are invited to attend our quarterly meeting at the Mickle Center.

Agenda —

• Complimentary Pizza dinner & Drinks beforehand @ 5:30 pm
• Stay after for the Holiday Cookie Swap
• Meet-and-greet Neighbors
• Neighborhood Updates

October 30th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm

Join us in making Halloween on the Hill a spooky success!

We’re looking for volunteers to help before, during, and after the event. Whether you love decorating, organizing, or tearing down haunted displays — there’s a role for you!

Event Date: Thursday, October 30
Location: Sherman Hill Neighborhood, Des Moines
Event Time: 6:30–8:30 PM

Insterested? > Fill out our volunteer form here

October 30th, 2025 | 6:30-8:30pm

Des Moines’s premier Halloween spectacle, Halloween on the Hill, returns Thursday, October 30, 6:30–8:30 p.m.—now on its own night, separate from citywide trick-or-treating!

For one thrilling evening, the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood transforms into a spine-tingling wonderland, with residents going all-out to create jaw-dropping haunted displays. From Imperial stormtroopers and Medieval knights to zombie spiders, Freddy Krueger, a life-size pirate ship, and live Thriller performances—you never know what will be lurking around the next corner.

Admission is free, but donations to benefit the DMARC Food Pantry Network are encouraged—because while the scares are just for fun, the cause is very real.

One night. One neighborhood. Endless chills.
See you October 30th… if you dare.

Visit our official HALLOWEEN ON THE HILL page to learn more!

History

Since its start in 2010, Halloween on the Hill has grown into one of Des Moines’s most anticipated events, drawing thousands each year. At its heart, though, it has always been about community—celebrating creativity while helping those facing food insecurity.

In 2020, due to public health concerns, we paused the in-person festivities— but our support for DMARC never stopped. That year, Halloween on the Hill raised over $1,000 and collected nearly 5,000 food items to support DMARC’s vital work.

“Halloween on the Hill is an event we always look forward to, and we’re excited to keep its spirit alive while elevating the issue of food insecurity in our community,” said Matt Unger of DMARC.

DMARC is the largest food pantry network in Iowa, serving more than 55,000 individuals across Greater Des Moines—35% of whom are children or youth. Your support helps DMARC provide food at pantry sites in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale, and Des Moines.

Let’s make this Halloween meaningful and memorable. Come for the chills—stay for the cause.

The beloved Sherman Hill Historic Home Tour returns September 26 & 27, 2026, inviting visitors to explore the neighborhood at a leisurely pace while discovering the history and architecture of approximately 15 historic homes, along with gardens, buildings, and other notable points of interest.

Homes on the tour are in various stages of restoration, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at both completed projects and works in progress, as homeowners and volunteers share the stories that shape Sherman Hill’s past and present.

Tickets are now available.

About the Tour

Sherman Hill, one of Des Moines’ oldest organized neighborhoods, is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts and is home to approximately 300 structures, many dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The “Doors to the Past” walking tour has become a beloved Des Moines tradition, inviting visitors to explore a selection of about 15 historic homes—some fully restored, others in the process of rehabilitation—along with gardens and other points of interest. Guests are guided at a leisurely pace by homeowners and volunteers who share the rich history and distinctive architecture of each property, offering a rare glimpse into the neighborhood’s past and ongoing preservation.

About the Homes

A district rich in history, Sherman Hill has transformed dramatically since its beginnings in the early 1870s. A neighborhood restoration effort launched in the 1970s, leading to Sherman Hill’s official listing on the National Register of Historic Districts in 1982.

Today, the restoration continues as many buildings are still being brought back to their original grandeur. The neighborhood is home to more than 150 residences and apartment buildings, showcasing a variety of architectural styles, including Victorian, Queen Anne, Italianate, Classic, Stick, and Flemish.

Get Involved

We’re gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the Doors to the Past Walking Tour in September 2026 and are looking for homeowners and volunteers to help make it special. If you’d like to showcase your home or assist during the event, we’d love to hear from you.

Interested? Fill out our interest form to join us for this milestone year.

https://forms.gle/XSf6bik5ztCvdUD5A

Hosted by Hoyt Sherman Place in partnership with Sherman Hill Association

Friday, August 1st | 8:30 pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening of film, friends, and summer night vibes in the heart of the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for a free outdoor screening of The Goonies under the stars on the Hoyt Sherman Place lawn.

Date: Friday, August 1st
Movie: Goonies
Showtime: 8:30 PM
Concessions Open: 7:30 PM
Location: Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines

• All ages welcome
• No tickets required
• Family-friendly atmosphere

Presented by:
Hoyt Sherman Place + Sherman Hill Association

📽️ Never say die. See you there!

Let us know you’re coming! RSVP

Saturday, June 28th 2025
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Sherman Hill is now home to The Good Butcher, a local meat and gourmet food shop offering high-quality cuts and specialty items. 

Founded in October 2024 by Calvin Schnucker, The Good Butcher was born from a desire to give Des Moines access to premium, sustainably sourced meats. Located just steps from downtown and the gateway to DSM, the shop features grass-fed Iowa beef, local and international gourmet products, and Calvin’s specialty: Italian-style dry-cured meats, developed over 15 years of passionate experimentation.

Calvin saw too much of Iowa’s best meat being shipped away—and decided it was time to change that. Stop by to experience what local, thoughtfully sourced meat really tastes like.

Visit their website for hours and contact information.

Saturday, April 26th & Sunday, April 27th

Our annual neighborhood Spring Clean Up day is back. It’s time for some outdoor spring cleaning and readying our yards for the grass and flowers soon to come. The Sherman Hill Association is providing the neighborhood with one large dumpster for the disposal of yard waste.

• WHEN: Saturday, April 26th & Sunday 27th
• WHERE: 1508 High Street (gravel lot across from Adong)
• WHAT: YARD WASTE ONLY

Acceptable Yard Waste Materials:

• Grass/Lawn Clippings/Weeds/Leaves
• Green Plants – Dead Plants
• Small Tree Branches and Shrubs
• Small Wood Chips and Sawdust
• Garden Trimmings

Unacceptable Materials:

• Plastic Bags/Plastic items
• Pet Waste
• Palm Fronds
• Soil/Dirt/Rocks
• Treated Wood/Building Materials

Any unacceptable materials will result in the Sherman Hill Association incurring a large penalty charge.