[1] It was originally located in an abandoned Lutheran college building at 15th and Pleasant near downtown Des Moines.

[2] In 1889, the school was renamed Des Moines College to better reflect its mission.

Owing to large gifts made by friends of the institution, it entered in 1902 upon a course of rapid expansion.

Des Moines University closed in 1929, blaming court-ordered actions arising from previous student riots at the school.

[2] The campus at 2nd and Euclid streets was purchased in 1943 for Alfred Lawson's University of Lawsonomy.