1. On April 2, 1849, the Iowa state legislature officially established the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The university is now one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the Midwest, with a reputation for excellence in research and education.

2. On April 2, 1872, the first Arbor Day was celebrated in the United States, in the town of Sterling, Iowa. The holiday was created to encourage the planting of trees and other vegetation, and has since been adopted by many other states and countries around the world.

3. In 1946, the Iowa State House of Representatives impeached three state Supreme Court justices on charges of misconduct. The case was ultimately overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court, but it remains one of the most high-profile examples of judicial impeachment in U.S. history.

4. On April 2, 1976, Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray signed a law banning the sale and use of fireworks in the state. Iowa remains one of only a handful of states with such a ban in place, and many residents cross the border into neighboring states to purchase fireworks for the Fourth of July.

5. In 2014, April 2 was declared Autism Awareness Day in Iowa, as part of a larger effort to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders and improve access to services for individuals and families affected by the condition. The proclamation was signed by Governor Terry Branstad and has been observed annually since then.