The Sherman Hill Historic District is located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States.

In the early 1870s, Des Moines banker Hoyt Sherman built his brick "palazzo" on a hill overlooking the city center.

He was followed by local developers such as Talmadge Brown, James Savery and W.C. Burton who laid out streets and lots in the first of seven subdivisions which now encompasses the district.

At the same time, the population in the district increased as the larger homes were converted from single-family to multi-family dwellings.

The pace of deterioration slowed somewhat in the late 20th century as the city, neighborhood residents and newcomers took an interest in historic preservation.

[2] The most prosperous years of Sherman Hill were from about 1880 to just after 1900 when a variety of prominent Des Moines businessmen choose to live in the area.

Hoyt Sherman, a lawyer, banker, and local politician was joined by insurance executive Henry Scholte Nollen (664-18th) whose grandfather founded the Dutch community of Pella, Iowa.

Prominent members of Des Moines’ Jewish community moved to the district around the turn of the 20th century.

Other professionals who lived here included Lafayette Young (822-18th), who was the publisher of the Des Moines Capital, one of the city's major newspapers at the time; Robert S. Finkbine (808-19th) who was the Superintendent of Construction for the Iowa State Capitol and T. Fred Henry (1701 Woodland), a locally-known African American musician and the leader of T.F.

[2] Architectural styles of the larger houses in the district include French Château, vernacular Italianate, Queen Anne and Eastlake.