Construction began in 1866 and was finished in 1869 for Benjamin Franklin Allen, the first millionaire in Iowa. Working with Chicago architect William Boyington, Allen built the house as a home for his family. The project cost $250,000 for the mansion, the carriage house, the original furnishings, and about 30 acres of land. The house featured modern amenities for its time, including hot and cold running water, indoor restrooms, an elevator, and gas lights.
As Des Moines expanded westward, Terrace Hill moved from the western edge of the city to its current location nearly in the center. In 1884, the mansion was bought from Benjamin Franklin Allen by local businessman F.M. Hubbell for $60,000.
In the fall of 1976, Robert D. Ray became the first governor to use Terrace Hill as his residence. Today, the 18,000 square foot home remains an example of Second Empire architecture. It features a 90-foot tower overlooking downtown Des Moines, a steeply pitched mansard roof, open verandas, and a grand staircase with a stained glass window added by Hubbell between 1884 and 1890.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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