The Iowa statehouse that owes its existence to a one-dollar lease and ox power

Iowa’s Perilous 120-Mile Winter Capitol Relocation of 1857

Iowa’s Great Capitol Moving Day of 1857 was no simple road trip.

When Governor Grimes named Des Moines the new capital, state workers faced a 120-mile trek across frozen prairie with no roads or bridges. Then winter hit hard.

Four huge safes had to move too, but the treasurer’s safe got stuck in a blizzard and sat alone on open prairie for days.

Later, twenty oxen pulled it to Des Moines on a bobsled over ice, much to everyone’s relief since it held all the gold and silver to pay state workers.

The state’s historic capitol buildings now stand as monuments to this wild winter adventure.

Iowa’s New Constitution Forced a Winter Move

Iowa folks voted for a new constitution on August 3, 1857, winning by just 1,630 votes. This change moved the state capital from Iowa City to Des Moines.

On October 19, Governor James Grimes made it official when he announced Des Moines in Polk County as Iowa’s new capital.

Local businessmen Willson Alexander Scott and Harrison Logan gave the land where the capitol now sits. Iowa City got the State University as a makeup gift for losing the capital.

Local Businessmen Built a Temporary Home for Government

In summer 1856, workers started building a three-story brick building to serve as the temporary capitol. The Capitol Building Association, led by Des Moines big shots like Thomas Brooks and W.A. Scott, pushed the project forward.

They finished the brick work by October. Scott wanted to boost his east side real estate business so badly that he paid for most of the building himself.

He even covered the cost of moving all the government stuff from Iowa City. Scott then rented the building to the state for just one dollar yearly.

The Massive Move Began in Early Fall

State workers started packing their offices in early October 1857. They faced a tough 120-mile trip with no railroads, no bridges, and only dirt paths across the prairie.

They needed to move everything, including state papers, furniture, books, and four big safes. Horse teams pulled wagons loaded with government property.

Winter was coming fast.

Workers rushed to finish the move before snow and ice blocked the roads. Each office packed their stuff while trying to keep government work going during the move.

Snow Turned Simple Move Into a Nightmare

Bad weather hit before workers finished the move. Snow started falling across central Iowa, quickly growing into a full storm.

Wagon drivers struggled through deepening drifts with heavy loads. Some teams stopped at farmhouses when conditions got too dangerous.

The awful roads slowed progress to a crawl. One driver got so upset with the weather that he quit on the spot, leaving his cargo stuck.

What should have been an easy move turned into a fight against the weather.

The Governor’s Party Reached Des Moines First

Governor Grimes and his group left Iowa City on Thursday, November 5, 1857. They rode in a four-horse coach driven by Joseph Braggs.

Their trip went smoothly, and they got to Des Moines around noon the next day. State Treasurer Martin Morris paid from his own pocket for carrying his officers.

That group traveled separately, stopping overnight in Brooklyn near Grinnell. Different offices had different levels of trouble during their trips.

Deputies Got Stuck in the Growing Blizzard

The morning after they left, deputy officials woke up to sleet and rain. By evening, they found themselves caught in a wild snowstorm.

Things got so bad they had to stop a second night at a farmhouse about 25 miles from Des Moines. Their driver gave up after snow covered the road completely.

A local farmer who knew the area came to help them. He used his lumber wagon to carry the officials the last miles to Des Moines. They finally arrived on Sunday afternoon, two days after the Governor’s group made it to town.

The Treasurer’s Safe Got Left Behind in the Storm

The state treasurer’s safe caused the biggest headache.

It weighed so much that when drivers hit the blizzard, they had to leave it near Little Four Mile Creek in Polk County.

The huge iron box sat out on the open prairie for several days while the storm raged. Gold and silver coins for state worker paychecks stayed locked inside.

The drivers couldn’t move it through the deep snow, so they left it and found shelter, planning to return when the weather cleared.

Hard Frost Created a Natural Highway

After the storm passed, the ground froze solid. This turned bad luck into good luck.

Workers brought a large bob-sled to the abandoned safe. The frozen prairie made a natural road that could hold the safe’s huge weight.

What seemed impossible during the muddy conditions became doable on the frozen ground. Workers loaded the heavy iron box onto the sled.

The winter conditions that first delayed the move now made the rescue possible.

Twenty Oxen Pulled the Money Box to Town

Workers hooked up ten yoke of oxen, twenty animals total, to the sled carrying the treasurer’s safe. Even with all that animal power, the oxen struggled with the heavy load.

The odd sight of twenty oxen pulling a sled with a giant safe would have turned heads on the road between Iowa City and Des Moines.

The team moved slowly but steadily across the frozen prairie. Local farmers came out to watch as the procession passed their farms.

Payday Finally Arrived for Worried Workers

The safe’s arrival in Des Moines brought cheers from both locals and state officers.

Everyone felt relieved because that iron box held the gold and silver coins needed to pay government workers.

State employees had waited anxiously for their paychecks during the messy move. The driver of the ox team became a hero when he pulled into town with the precious cargo.

After weeks of waiting, state workers could finally get paid.

Visiting Iowa State Capitol, Iowa

You can explore the Iowa State Capitol at 1007 East Grand Avenue in Des Moines to learn about the dramatic 1857 government move from Iowa City.

The ground floor rotunda has exhibits about this historic relocation, including the famous rescue of the state treasurer’s safe during a blizzard.

Free guided tours last 75-90 minutes with dome access, or take self-guided tours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, Saturday 8am-4pm. Security scans required at entrances.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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