The 2023 Sherman Hill Association “Doors to the Past, A Walking Tour of Homes” is back after a three year hiatus, and will be held September 16-17 from 10am-4pm. The tour starts at the Hoyt Sherman Place box office.

2023 will bring another year of great stops for this 43rd annual tour of historic homes.

Buy tickets here.

Learn about volunteering (and earning a free ticket) here.

About the tour

Sherman Hill, one of Des Moines’ oldest organized neighborhoods, is listed on the National Register of Historic Districts and features homes developed in the 19th and 20th Centuries. This walking tour allows visitors to tour at a leisurely pace where they will be guided through the history and architecture of numerous homes, gardens and buildings. Sherman Hill is home to approximately 300 structures. The tour typically consists of about 15 historic homes either under rehabilitation or completed AND numerous points of interest.

The tour has become a Des Moines’ staple, featuring historic homes built in the 19th and 20th centuries. The walking tour allows visitors to tour homes at a leisurely pace as homeowners and volunteers guide walkers through homes, describing the history and architecture of each structure. The homes are in various stages of restoration, giving visitors a unique view of the neighborhood. 

About the homes

A district rich in history, Sherman Hill has evolved dramatically from its beginnings in the early 1870s. An initiative to restore the area and many of the buildings back to their original glory began in the 1970s, and Sherman Hill was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Districts in 1982. 

Today the restoration continues, as many of the buildings are still being rehabilitated to their original forms. Sherman Hill is home to more than 150 homes and apartment buildings, representing Victorian, Queen Anne, Italianate, Classic, Stick and Flemish styles of architecture.