John P. Simmons House

Des Moines, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Heritage registerNational Register of Historic Places↗

The John P. Simmons House is a simple 1½-story Victorian frame dwelling built in 1894 in Des Moines, Iowa, distinguished by its gable front, rectangular plan, and hipped roof front porch. Its historical significance lies not in architectural grandeur but in its connection to Drake University's innovative land financing practices, which shaped settlement patterns around the campus. The lot was originally part of Drake University's holdings and passed through several owners—Delos Cutler and the University Land Company, then F.F. Odenweller—before John P. Simmons constructed the house and owned it briefly until 1900, when it transferred to University Bank. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.