1. Birth of Grant Wood: July 7, 1891 marks the birth of famous painter Grant Wood, who was born in Anamosa, Iowa. Wood is best known for his regionalist artwork, including the iconic painting "American Gothic."

2. University of Iowa founded: On July 7, 1847, the University of Iowa was founded in Iowa City. Originally known as the State University of Iowa, it is the oldest university in the state and has a prestigious reputation in fields such as creative writing and medicine.

3. Louis Massey elected governor: On July 7, 1936, Louis Massey was elected governor of Iowa. Massey served one term as governor, from 1937 to 1939. He was also the first Iowa governor to fly in an airplane for official business.

4. Iowa tornado outbreak: On July 7, 1978, a severe thunderstorm outbreak produced multiple tornadoes across Iowa, causing significant damage and several fatalities. The storms were part of an outbreak that affected several Midwestern states over a three-day period.

5. Iowa State Fair begins: The Iowa State Fair, one of the largest and most famous state fairs in the country, traditionally begins in mid-August. However, in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair was cancelled for the first time in over 75 years. On July 7, 2021, fair officials announced that the fair would return in 2021, albeit in a modified format.