The Civic Center Historic District (1988) includes the buildings on either side of the river from the Scott Street Dam to the Center Street Dam,  most of which were influenced by the City Beautiful Movement. The World Columbian Exposition had been held in Chicago in 1893, and it opened America’s eyes to the City Beautiful Movement, which advocated that a beautiful city would inspire its inhabitants to moral and civic virtue.  Beaux Art architecture was used at the Exposition and was considered the standard for good design. Des Moines has six buildings still standing along the river as a part of the master plan created for the city during that time.