The German-immigrant carpenter whose family firm has been building Des Moines since 1855.
Charles H. Weitz, a German immigrant carpenter, settled in Des Moines and founded what became The Weitz Company in 1855 — making it one of the oldest continuously operating general contractors in the United States.
For generations the Weitz family built much of Des Moines, from early commercial blocks to modern towers, before the firm expanded nationally.
A great deal of built Des Moines — offices, hotels, hospitals, and civic buildings — passed through Weitz hands over 170 years. The firm's longevity makes it a living piece of Iowa business history.
The Weitz name endures in central Iowa philanthropy and in the company's continued presence in the market it started in.
The Weitz Company is based in Des Moines, Iowa. One of the oldest general contractors in the United States; still building across the country
1855.
Charles H. Weitz — German immigrant carpenter who founded the firm in 1855
Curious about your own family's story? We trace it through the public record and write it up as a documented history.
See how it works →This profile presents only publicly reported facts, drawn from the sources above. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the family or its companies.