Today In History
5 Fun Facts About March 8 In Iowa History
1. On March 8, 1857, several women employed in a New York City garment factory staged a protest demanding better working conditions and higher pay. This event would later become known as International Women's Day, celebrated worldwide on March 8. 2. March 8, 1837, marked the day that Iowa became...
5 Fun Facts About March 7 In Iowa History
1. On March 7, 1896, the Iowa State men's basketball team played its first-ever game, winning 56-4 against Grinnell College. 2. On March 7, 1955, the University of Iowa's President Virgil Hancher announced plans to build a new art museum on campus, which would eventually become the University of Iowa...
5 Fun Facts About March 6 In Iowa History
1. On March 6, 1843, Iowa’s first governor, John Chambers, gave his first message to the Iowa Legislature. The speech addressed issues such as the state’s constitution, internal improvements, and tariffs. 2. In 1873, the state’s first public school for children with disabilities, the Iowa Institution for Feeble-Minded Children, opened...
5 Fun Facts About March 5 In Iowa History
1. On March 5, 1860, the first Republican State Convention was held in Iowa, marking the beginning of a state tradition of being a Republican stronghold. 2. March 5, 1933, marks the day when Iowa Governor Clyde Herring declared a state of emergency during the Great Depression and halted all...
5 Fun Facts About March 4 In Iowa History
1. The Iowa Constitution was ratified on March 4, 1857, making Iowa the 29th state to join the Union. The constitution was created by a convention of delegates who met in Iowa City the previous year. 2. On March 4, 1875, the Iowa State Capitol building caught fire and burned...
5 Fun Facts About March 3 In Iowa History
1. Iowa became a state: On March 3, 1845, Iowa officially became the 29th state in the United States. The territory had been part of the Louisiana Purchase and was originally known as the Iowa District. 2. The first basketball state tournament: The first Iowa high school basketball state tournament...
5 Fun Facts About March 2 In Iowa History
1. In 1847, the Iowa Territorial Legislature authorized the formation of the Iowa City Municipal Fire Department, making it the first officially recognized fire department in the state. 2. On March 2, 1917, Iowa Governor William L. Harding signed the bill establishing the first state-owned and operated tuberculosis sanatorium in...
5 Fun Facts About March 1 In Iowa History
1. On March 1, 1867, the first railroad bridge was completed across the Mississippi River at Clinton, Iowa. This allowed for increased transportation and commerce between Iowa and Illinois. 2. In 1913, a historic snowstorm hit Iowa on March 1st, dumping up to 2 feet of snow in some areas...
5 Fun Facts About February 29 In Iowa History
Here are five interesting facts about February 29 in Iowa history: 1. Leap Day Blizzard of 1888: On February 29, 1888, a massive blizzard struck Iowa and other states in the Midwest. The storm killed hundreds of people and caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. 2. John Lewis was...
5 Fun Facts About February 28 In Iowa History
1. In 1849, Iowa City was designated as the permanent capital of Iowa. Prior to this, different cities had served as the capital on a rotating basis. 2. In 1861, the Iowa State University was officially established, originally named the Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. 3. On February 28,...
5 Fun Facts About February 27 In Iowa History
1. In 1917, the first Iowa National Guard troops were called into federal service for World War I. Many Iowans served in the war effort on the Western Front, and their contributions are memorialized in monuments and museums throughout the state. 2. On February 27, 1933, a devastating tornado tore...
5 Fun Facts About February 26 In Iowa History
1. In 1863, the state of Iowa established the first state-supported school for the deaf, which later became the Iowa School for the Deaf. The school, located in Council Bluffs, continues to provide education and services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing. 2. On February 26, 1919,...