Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 3 In Iowa History
1. Iowa State University was established on October 3, 1858. Originally named the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, it was the first land-grant college in the United States, established under the Morrill Act. 2. On October 3, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke at the dedication of the Herbert...
5 Fun Facts About October 2 In Iowa History
1. Des Moines Register, Iowa's largest newspaper, was founded on October 2, 1849. It has won numerous Pulitzer Prizes and is still in publication today. 2. Iowa State University, located in Ames, Iowa, was officially established on October 2, 1862, as part of the Morrill Act, which provided federal land...
5 Fun Facts About October 1 In Iowa History
1. First Iowa City Charter On October 1, 1853, the Iowa Legislature approved the first charter of Iowa City, making it the first city in the state to receive such a designation. This allowed for local government to be established and for city officials to make decisions concerning municipal affairs....
5 Fun Facts About September 30 In Iowa History
1. On September 30, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation designating Iowa as the 29th state to adopt his Emancipation Proclamation, which had taken effect on January 1 of that year. The proclamation declared all slaves in rebel territory "forever free," and though it was initially met with resistance...
5 Fun Facts About September 29 In Iowa History
1. On September 29, 1846, Iowa became the 29th state admitted to the United States. Iowa is often referred to as the "Hawkeye State" and is known for its agricultural production of corn, soybeans, and pork. 2. On September 29, 1908, the National Balloon Race started in Des Moines. This...
5 Fun Facts About September 28 In Iowa History
1. In 1844, Iowa delegate to Congress, Augustus C. Dodge, successfully lobbied for the construction of the first railroad west of the Mississippi River. This railroad, which would span from Davenport to Iowa City, was a major step forward in Iowa's transportation infrastructure. 2. On September 28, 1863, the Battle...
5 Fun Facts About September 27 In Iowa History
1. In 1847, the first Presbyterian church in Dubuque, Iowa was organized. 2. In 1859, the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River, connecting Dubuque, Iowa, and East Dubuque, Illinois, opened. 3. In 1904, the first carillon in Iowa was installed in the Campanile at Iowa State College (now Iowa...
5 Fun Facts About September 26 In Iowa History
1. In 1850, the first railroad in Iowa was established when a line was laid from Davenport to Iowa City. This event marked a significant moment in the state's history as transportation became faster and more efficient. 2. A 1905 article in the Des Moines Register reported on a football...
5 Fun Facts About September 25 In Iowa History
1. On September 25, 1969, the University of Iowa's Hawkeye Marching Band was featured on the cover of Time magazine. The band was selected as the "Best of the Big Ten" and was featured in the story "Bands: The Sound of Success." 2. Iowa City's Englert Theatre reopened on September...
5 Fun Facts About September 24 In Iowa History
1. In 1908, the first public library in Des Moines was opened on September 24. It was located in the City Hall and was called the "Des Moines Public Library". Today, it is known as the Des Moines Public Library and has several branches throughout the city. 2. In 1929,...
5 Fun Facts About September 23 In Iowa History
1. On September 23, 1846, the first steam-driven boat, the "Nominee," made its way from Davenport to Keokuk on the Mississippi River, marking the beginning of commercial transportation by steamboat in Iowa. 2. In 1908, the first Iowa State Fair was held in Des Moines on September 23, which would...
5 Fun Facts About September 22 In Iowa History
1. Iowa State Fair: On September 22, 1868, the first Iowa State Fair was held in Des Moines. It is now one of the largest state fairs in the United States, attracting more than one million visitors annually. 2. Tornado Outbreak: On September 22, 2006, a tornado outbreak hit eastern...