Tracing Your Roots: Genealogical Resources »
Visit the Tracing Your Roots portion of our local history pages to access Central Library sources, sources of genealogical material in Iowa, and online sources.

Continue your research with two powerful research databases, Digital Sanborn Maps and Heritage Quest, provided by the Des Moines Public Library. You will need your library card and PIN to access these databases from home.

Digital Sanborn Maps for Iowa »
The detailed property and land-use records that depict the everyday life in cities and towns of Iowa between 1883 and 1962. Go to Digital Sanborn Maps for Iowa

Heritage Quest »
A collection of materials for both genealogical hobbyists and professionals. Search from over 22,000 books, search an index to over 2 million genealogy articles, search Revolutionary War documents, search the Freedman's Bank for African-Americans, and the U.S. Serial Set.