Company’s 12th history museum nationwide tells the story of its rich history in Iowa and also serves as a key component of the region’s continued development
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) unveiled a new history museum Thursday
in downtown Des Moines. The 5,500-square-foot attraction is the
company’s 12th history museum nationwide and the first one
Wells Fargo has opened since 2011.
“This museum represents our commitment to, and connection with, the
community,” said Don Pearson, Wells Fargo Bank regional president. “This
beautiful museum – with all its amazing artifacts and interactive
displays – is a great addition to downtown Des Moines and Iowa. Our
community is going to love taking a ride through history in this museum
that brings the story of Wells Fargo and our deep roots in Iowa to life.”
Admission is free to the museum located in the Wells Fargo bank lobby in
the Financial Center building at 666 Walnut St. The museum – which
showcases the shared stories of Wells Fargo, Iowa and U.S. history – is
expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors annually. The museum will
be open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Wells Fargo and its predecessor companies have a long and rich history
in Des Moines and in Iowa,” said Franklin Codel, head of Wells Fargo’s
West Des Moines-based Consumer Lending business. “The Wells Fargo
Historical Services team created an experience that clearly depicts our
company’s deep roots in Iowa, tells a fascinating story about the
significant role that Wells Fargo has played in the evolution of the
national mortgage lending business, and shines a light on the company’s
proud service of its customers in Iowa and around the nation.”
Wells Fargo first displayed a stagecoach and other artifacts from the
company’s California Gold Rush at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. The
company opened its first museum in San Francisco in 1927. In addition to
San Francisco, the other Wells Fargo History Museums are located in
Charlotte, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, Los
Angeles, Anchorage, Alaska, and there are two in Sacramento.
The Des Moines museum is Wells Fargo’s first to include a rotating art
gallery. The opening exhibition will feature about 20 pieces from the
Wells Fargo collection by artists such as Andy Warhol, Alfred Stieglitz
and Helen Frankenthaler. Those pieces are among more than 4,000 added to
Wells Fargo’s collection after the 2007 acquisition of the brokerage
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. The gallery will feature local artists on
occasion as well.
Because of the art gallery, the museum will be one of the future stops
along the new Art Route, a 6.6-mile painted connector path that will
wind through downtown Des Moines from the State Capitol to Meredith
Corporation. Wells Fargo is a major supporter of the Art Route, having
made a $50,000 contribution.
The museum is considered a key piece of downtown Des Moines
redevelopment and a significant new attraction for the region. Among the
state and local dignitaries joining Wells Fargo officials to celebrate
the grand opening of the history museum Thursday were Iowa Governor
Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Mayor Frank
Cownie and Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers.
“The opening of the Wells Fargo History Museum is a significant step in
the continued revitalization of Walnut Street in downtown Des Moines,”
Byers said. “Today’s opening is another example of the strong corporate
leadership in our community, and we are fortunate to have leaders like
Wells Fargo driving momentum in Greater Des Moines.”
Go to Wells
Fargo Stories to learn more about the Des
Moines museum and what
it means to the community, or for more information about the Wells
Fargo History Museums.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based
financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852
and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking,
insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance
through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com)
and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to
support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With
approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three
households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 27
on Fortune’s 2016 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells
Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help
them succeed financially. News, insights and perspectives from Wells
Fargo are also available at Wells
Fargo Stories.