Ames City Hall

Ames Main Street Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. At the time of its nomination it included 81 resources (of which 76 were contributing buildings) as well as 15 non-contributing buildings. The district covers most of the city's central business district. The area began to develop after the Civil War along the Chicago and North Western (CNW) tracks. The district was also served by the Ames & College Railway and its successor, the Fort Dodge, Des Moines, & Southern Interurban Streetcar line, from 1891 to 1929. The later connected downtown Ames and the CNW depot with Iowa State College, now known as Iowa State University. Most of the buildings in the district are two stories in height and constructed in brick. There are also several single-story structures and a few that rise to three stories. The facades and storefronts run continuously along the blocks with only two breaks for vacant lots that have been transformed into public park plazas. The facades of the commercial buildings in downtown Ames were radically rehabilitated from the late 1910s and into the 1960s, giving them a more modern appearance. While other communities in the state also saw updates to the buildings in their main commercial areas, the difference here is that it was "nearly universal and helped the central business district retain a unified feeling of design." The Municipal Building (1916) and the Masonic Temple (1917) are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.In 2017, the London Underground's building, at 212 Main Street in the district, was to be renovated using grant funding.

The Municipal Building, also known as Youth & Shelter Services, is a historic building located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It is significant for its association with the Progressive Movement reforms implemented by the city in the early 20th century. Previous to the construction of this facility in 1916 the city council, mayor, municipal offices, fire department and the police department, including the city jail and police court, were all housed in separate buildings. They were combined here in an effort to increase efficiency, professionalism, and the scope of city services. Per the Progressive Movement, all of these functions were housed in different zones in the building. The fire department was located on the backside of the building, and the archways where the fire engines doors were located are still visible. The two-story, brick, Neoclassical style building was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen. It was built by J. E. Tusant of Des Moines for $37,310. It remained the seat of local government until 1990 when it moved into the present city hall. The building sat empty for several years before it was purchased by Youth & Shelter Services, a local human services agency, for their offices. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. It was included as a contributing property in the Ames Main Street Historic District in 2018.

Old Town Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. At the time of its nomination it consisted of 249 resources, which included 191 contributing buildings, one contributing site, and 57 non-contributing buildings. The district is a residential area located north of the central business district. Between the two is a "civic corridor" made up of government buildings, churches and fraternal organizations. The earlier residences here were built of brick, but from about 1890 to 1910 they are all of wood construction. Brick reappears in 1910, but as a secondary building material. The houses are from one to two stories in height. They reflect the Late Victorian styles as well as the Colonial Revival styles of the early 20th century. The houses generally have a detached garage behind the house, facing an alley. The Prof. J.L. Budd, Sarah M., and Etta Budd House (1885) is individually listed on the National Register. Most of the houses are single-family, but a few have been converted to multi-family dwellings. There are also nine apartment buildings and a condominium building located here. All date from the 1960s onward, and do not contribute to the historic nature of the district. They are generally two to three stories tall, but the tallest is five stories. They are large boxy buildings, except the most recent one (1997), which reflects the district's architectural heritage. First Church of Christ Scientist, a frame structure built in 1938, is also a contributing property in the district.

The Masonic Temple, also known as the A.F. & A.M. Hall, Masonic Building, Greeley Building, and the Octagon Center for the Arts, is a historic building located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Built between 1916 and 1917, the three-story, brick, Neoclassical building was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen. It was commissioned by Wallace M. Greeley, an Ames banker and civic leader. The building was built at the high point of Progressive era construction in the central business district, and with several other noteworthy public and semi-public buildings, marked Ames' transition from a rural town to a modern city. Arcadia Lodge #249 occupied the third floor of the building from its completion in 1917 to 1997, when they built a new building on Alexander Avenue. The building features multi-colored brick, symmetrical facades, pilasters for storefronts, cast stone columns that flank the main entrance, and a projecting band of cast stone above the third-floor windows. The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. It was included as a contributing property in the Ames Main Street Historic District in 2018.

The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) is the government organization in the U.S. state of Iowa responsible for the organization, construction, and maintenance of the primary highway system. Located in Ames, Iowa, DOT is also responsible for licensing drivers and programming and planning for aviation, rail, and public transit. The organization was created in 1904 as the Iowa State Highway Commission, an extension of Iowa State College in Ames. In 1913, the commission was spun off from the college and became a government organization. In 1974, the highway commission was folded into a larger transportation department with other modes of transportation.

Roosevelt School, also known as Second Ward School, is a historic building located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It is significant as an example of a Progressive Era school building that served as a neighborhood elementary school from its construction in 1924 until it was controversially closed in 2005. It was designed by the local architectural firm of Kimball, Bailie & Cowgill. It exemplifies the ideals of "ample sunlight, fresh air, and open space for the innovative subjects and learning conditions advocated by Progressive educators." The stripped-down version of the Beaux-Arts style of the two-story brick structure also embodied the progressive philosophy of constructing noble public buildings. During its years as a school, the building served as a catylist for the development of the neighborhood from the 1920s to the 1950s, and served as its community center, park, and playground. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. RES-Development purchased the property and converted the building into 20 condominiums, which opened in 2015.

Mary Greeley Medical Center is a 220-bed regional medical center in Ames, Iowa. The medical center services residents of a 14-county region in central Iowa, including a six-county primary market of Story, Boone, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin and Marshall counties. Mary Greeley offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services, including cancer, cardiac care, mental health, obstetrics, orthopedics, home health, hospice care, emergency services, surgical services, stroke care, and diabetic care. The medical center is affiliated with a variety of area healthcare providers, including McFarland Clinic, a physician-owned clinic serving communities throughout central Iowa. Although city-owned, Mary Greeley is self-sufficient and receives no public funds for ongoing operations. It is governed by a five-member elected Board of Trustees. With approximately 1,400 employees, Mary Greeley is one of the largest employers in Story County.

Bandshell Park, also known as City Park and Music Pavilion, is located in Ames, Iowa, United States. It is a nationally recognized historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. At the time of its nomination it consisted of six resources, which included one contributing building, one contributing site, two contributing structures, one contributing object, and one non-contributing object. The park, located to the east of the central business district, was gift to the city in 1884 from the C&NW Land Company. The full city block was the first park established in Ames.The first bandstand was the wooden structure that was built at the end of the 19th century. It was replaced by the present band shell in 1935. The Modern Movement structure was designed by Grover M. Pratt, an architect who was also a member of the faculty at Iowa State College. The contractor was Fred Fisher of Ames, and J. R. Jones constructed the copper roof. Other historic resources in the park include a concrete bench (c. 1935), the pedestrian paths, and a vehicular drive that serves the band shell. There is also a playground apparatus in the park, but because of its more recent construction it is not considered a historic object.

Ames () is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines in central Iowa. It is best known as the home of Iowa State University (ISU), with leading agriculture, design, engineering, and veterinary medicine colleges. A United States Department of Energy national laboratory, Ames Laboratory, is located on the ISU campus. According to the 2020 census, Ames had a population of 66,427, making it the state's ninth most populous city. Iowa State University was home to 27,854 students as of spring 2023, which make up approximately one half of the city's population. Ames also hosts United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sites: the largest federal animal disease center in the United States, the USDA Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Disease Center (NADC), as well as one of two national USDA sites for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which comprises the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and the Center for Veterinary Biologics. Ames also hosts the headquarters of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

James H. Hilton Coliseum, commonly Hilton Coliseum, is a 14,267-seat multi-purpose arena located in Ames, Iowa. The arena opened in 1971. It is home to the Iowa State University Cyclones men's and women's basketball teams, wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball teams.

The Iowa State Center is located just southeast of Iowa State University's central campus in Ames, Iowa. It is a complex of cultural and athletic venues. The Center consists of the following: Hilton Coliseum, Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater, Scheman Building, and Jack Trice Stadium.

Ames High School is the sole public high school in Ames, Iowa, United States. It is in the Ames Community School District.