Nationally Recognized

The building that houses the Iowa Department for the Blind in downtown Des Moines has been placed on the National Register for Historic Places for significance within Iowa because of the important role it has played in the rehabilitation of blind individuals. 

The building, located at 524 Fourth St., was built in 1912 as Des Moines’ original YMCA. The State purchased the building for the Iowa Commission for the Blind in 1959 after the YMCA moved to its present location along the Des Moines River.

The building was an integral part of the visionary philosophy of the Commission’s new director, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, who transformed services for blind Iowans into what became known as the Iowa Model for rehabilitation services. This model was revolutionary in that its core belief was that with the proper training and opportunity, blind individuals could live lives as productive and successful as their sighted peers.

 The building offered ample space for a residential training center, where blind Iowans could spend several months building self-confidence and learning alternative techniques of blindness including travel with the long white cane, Braille, home economics and personal management, and employment skills. A year after the Commission set up house in the Fourth Street building, Jernigan developed a regional branch of the National Library Service to provide talking books and Braille books to blind and visually impaired Iowans. The Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and was honored with a national award from the NLS for its service in May.

Through his work in Iowa, Jernigan became a national figure in the fight for civil rights for the blind. The National Park Service, which oversees the National Register, selected the Department's building for its role as the place where Jernigan first implemented his training model and directed the movement.  

“Our building has housed more than just history,” said IDB Director Karen Keninger. “It is the fulcrum for the notion that it is OK to be blind—an idea that Jernigan set in motion and continues to echo through these walls each day when we help an Iowan with vision loss land a great job, download digital talking books from our online Library catalog or teach them that with simple modifications, cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for their family despite their vision loss is within reach.”

In 2009, the Department completed a major remodeling of the building to create a more efficient work space for its employees and clients. Historical features in the building remain intact, such as ironwork in the stairway, marble stairs and tall, arching windows. The building has also retained the YMCA’s original swimming pool in its basement, which is used by clients and staff and was an instrumental part of Jernigan’s belief that a blind person’s fitness was just as important as his ability to live independently.

“This is a beautiful building,” said Keninger. “We are proud and honored to have it recognized for its significance in Iowa’s rich history.”

The Department offers tours of the building to the public. To schedule a tour, call Carolyn Hicklin at (515) 281-1337 or Carolyn.Hicklin@blind.state.ia.us