Today In History
5 Fun Facts About March 12 In Iowa History
1. In 1857, the first recorded train robbery in U.S. history occurred in Iowa. A group of bandits boarded an Ohio & Mississippi train near Fairfield and stole over $100,000. 2. On March 12, 1925, Iowa governor John Hammill signed a bill legalizing the sale and use of contraceptive devices...
5 Fun Facts About March 11 In Iowa History
1. In 1845, the first legal hanging took place in Iowa, in the city of Bloomfield. A man named John Lee was executed for the murder of his wife. 2. Just four years later in 1849, the first steam-powered sawmill was established in Iowa. This helped to fuel the rapidly...
5 Fun Facts About March 10 In Iowa History
1. Iowa became a state: On March 10, 1845, President John Tyler signed the bill that admitted Iowa as the 29th state in the United States. 2. The Great March Flood: On March 10, 1965, a devastating flood hit Iowa. The flood waters caused millions of dollars in damages and...
5 Fun Facts About March 9 In Iowa History
1. In 1934, Iowa marked a significant moment in its history by implementing the first state sales tax law in the United States. The tax law applied a levy of 2% of the cost of many goods and services, including admissions, amusement charges, and sales of tangible personal property. 2....
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...