News

March 30, 2010 - New board members appointed to Salisbury House Foundation
March 30, 2010 - New staff members appointed to Salisbury House Foundation
March 30, 2010 - Salisbury House & Gardens opens 2010 season

"Birdies for Charity" Helps Us Serve Kids

The Principal Charity Classic's "Birdies for Charity" raises funds for organizations --including Salisbury House & Gardens--that serve children. Your donation will help support Salisbury House & Garden's children's educational programs. You may make a pledge for Salisbury House & Gardens by simply clicking on this link:

Save America’s Treasures Commits Up To $400,000 For Salisbury House & Gardens!

Through the efforts of bipartisan support from Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Tom Harkin, and Representative Leonard Boswell, Salisbury House & Gardens will benefit from a Federal matching grant administered by the National Park Service.  The funding will be used for interior repairs to plaster, wood and stone surfaces throughout the house; and to eliminate water infiltration as well as damage to the foundation that threaten basement and terrace structures – structures critical to the integrity and longevity of the building’s envelope.  To receive these funds, we must have your commitment to match them.  Every dollar you can spare helps to complete an essential $1 million project!  Please contact Marcia Martin, Director of Development, at 515-274-1777 or mmartin@salisburyhouse.org..

Magnificent Mardi Gras 

Let the good times roll!  That theme filled the air at Hoyt Sherman Place for the February 21 Mardi Gras concert.  The event was a first-time fundraising collaboration by Salisbury House & Gardens, Terrace Hill and Hoyt Sherman Place.  Featured performers BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, and Marcia Ball, brought down the house with their New Orleans-style performance of Cajun, blues, Zydeco and rock music.

The concert was the centerpiece of a Mardi Gras Gala that began with cocktail parties at Salisbury House and Terrace Hill.  Revelers then moved to the concert at Hoyt Sherman and wrapped up the evening with a New Orleans breakfast that sent them home happily under the spell of great music, great food and Des Moines three architectural belles.

Salisbury House & Gardens Awarded $100,000 Preservation Grant 

Salisbury House Foundation has been awarded a Historic Site Preservation Grant of $100,000.  The grant will be applied to Salisbury House & Garden's $296,675 Interior Surfaces Preservation and Waterproofing project.  The project includes wood floor refinishing, plaster repair, and finishing of plastered walls, as well as cleaning and repair of wall and floor stone surfaces.  The grant requires that Salisbury House & Gardens provide a matching $100,000 by July 2011.  This Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs grant was administered by the State Historical Society of Iowa.

"We are delighted to receive this grant," said Mike Simonson, president of Salisbury House Foundation Board of Directors. "It will play an extremely important role in ensuring that restoration moves ahead, expanding what visitors experience here," he added.

Restoration of Salisbury House & Gardens began with a 1998 Master Plan for complete restoration.  In the decade following, the House's roof was restored and the former garage area was renovated to become a new Visitors Center.  As funding was secured, the Plan moved ahead with extensive replacement of mechanical and security systems, installation of air conditioning and security and fire suppression systems.  Wood restoration of centuries-old flooring and wall paneling begun in 2006 was completed in three second-floor rooms in June, 2008, through grants from the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation and the Principal Foundation.