Ingersoll Avenue is Des Moines' most diverse and eclectic corridor. The street begins at the fringe of downtown, and extends westward through urban "Midtown Des Moines," and ending in the middle of an upper class neighborhood some 40 blocks from downtown. What makes the corridor so interesting is that it truly is a mix of everything. You can see a variety of architecture, types of businesses, land uses, economic classes of people, and different nationalities represented along the entire stretch of the street. It is gritty in some portions, but can be posh in others. The Ingersoll corridor is home to mostly small businesses with a local flair, that cater to the elite and common folk alike. It is a secondary Des Moines hub of dining and nightlife, a unique shopping destination, and an urban living location all wrapped up into one. Portions of the street are very pedestrian and transit friendly, and this will be an increasing attribute that will add to the vitality of the corridor as future streetscape improvements and the possible inclusion of a trolley for Ingersoll Avenue are mulled over.

This gallery is the first of two for Ingersoll Avenue.

Click a thumbnail to see larger images and captions.