Des Moines Post Office

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, a delivery driver noticed something peculiar in the mail sorting area. Among letters and packages, nestled between envelopes addressed to Iowa farms, lay an old, dusty calendar featuring nothing but smiling cows. No one could recall it ever being there before. Curious, he picked up the calendar and overheard a fellow worker joking that maybe it was from a neighbor’s prank—someone who thought cows were Des Moines’ unofficial mascots. By lunchtime, everyone had a copy of the cow calendar, and for weeks afterward, whenever someone received a package, they’d ask, ‘Is it from our anonymous dairy friend again?’

2. Late one night, a postal worker heard an odd humming sound coming from inside the mailroom. Curious, he investigated and found nothing out of place—until he noticed tiny letters floating through the air around him. Suddenly, a small envelope buzzed past his ear and landed on his desk with a little thud. Confused, he opened it—and read just one word: ‘Coffee.’ Turns out, someone was trying to tell him they were out of break room supplies. The postal worker laughed, shook his head, and went off to get some much-deserved caffeine.

3. Late one night, a postal worker opened a package and smelled something strange—a scent like freshly baked cookies wafting through the air. Curious, he followed the aroma until it led him to an undelivered box marked only with an old stamp. Inside was nothing but a small note that read: ‘To my beloved Des Moines, thank you for always being sweet.’ The next day, everyone in town received a free cookie delivered by a smiling delivery driver. It turned out to be a prank from a regular who worked late nights and loved making people happy.

4. Late one night, a postal worker opened a package and felt a sudden chill. Inside lay a letter addressed to no one, its ink glowing faintly in the dark. The letter read: 'To whom it may concern, please deliver me to the person who needs me most.' The next morning, everyone in town received identical letters. Turned out, someone had accidentally sent a batch of Christmas wishes instead of returns. It became Des Moines’ annual tradition—everyone delivered their packages anonymously, spreading cheer like never before.