LEFT The Chamberlain Mansion was gifted to a newly formed Wesley Acres in 1947, marking the beginning of the WesleyLife organization. RIGHT The mansion now sits seamlessly integrated into Wesley on Grand’s expanded present-day campus.
Along Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Wesley on Grand brings together more than a century of architectural character and nearly 80 years of service to older adults.
At the center of WesleyLife’s flagship community in Des Moines stands the D.S. Chamberlain House, also known as West Chester or the Chamberlain Mansion. Built between 1901 and 1903, the home was designed by Boston architect William George Rantoul and inspired by the half-timbered houses of Chester, England. Its distinctive Jacobethan Revival architecture includes prominent gables and dormers, a varied roofline, and three tall chimneys that make the mansion one of Des Moines’ most recognizable historic residences…