Today In History
5 Fun Facts About December 31 In Iowa History
1. In 1846, Iowa officially became the 29th state to be admitted into the Union on December 28. But it wasn't until December 31 of that year that the state's first governor, Ansel Briggs, was officially inaugurated. 2. On December 31, 1851, the first issue of the Iowa State Register...
5 Fun Facts About December 30 In Iowa History
1. In 1846, Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to the Union. It was named after the Iowa River, which was named after the Ioway people who inhabited the area. 2. In 1913, the Iowa State Capitol building was completed after 14 years of construction. The building is...
5 Fun Facts About December 29 In Iowa History
1. The railroad was introduced in Iowa on December 29, 1854. The Dubuque and Pacific Railroad opened for passenger service, running a 21-mile route from Dubuque to Dyersville. The railroad was an important development for Iowa, allowing for faster transportation of goods and people. 2. Iowans celebrated the first-ever Kwanzaa...
5 Fun Facts About December 28 In Iowa History
1. On December 28, 1846, the Iowa Territory was established. At the time, the territory consisted of the land that would later become the state of Iowa, as well as parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas. 2. Charles City, Iowa experienced a rare and deadly tornado outbreak on December 28,...
5 Fun Facts About December 27 In Iowa History
Here are 5 interesting facts about December 27 in Iowa history: 1. On December 27, 1845, Iowa became the 29th state to join the United States. It was originally part of the Louisiana Purchase and was organized as the Iowa Territory in 1838 before becoming a state. 2. A major...
5 Fun Facts About December 26 In Iowa History
Here are 5 interesting facts about December 26 in Iowa history: 1. The Battle of Westport concluded in Missouri on December 23, 1864, but on December 26, the Confederate Army of Missouri under Maj. Gen. Sterling Price retreated through the Iowa border town of Bedford. The skirmish, which lasted only...
5 Fun Facts About December 25 In Iowa History
1. On December 25, 1862, the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou took place during the American Civil War. Iowa troops played a significant role in the Union victory, with several soldiers earning Medals of Honor for their bravery. 2. In 1875, on December 25th, a major blizzard swept through Iowa, causing...
5 Fun Facts About December 24 In Iowa History
1. Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846, but four days earlier, on December 24, the Iowa Territorial Capitol was destroyed by a fire. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but it resulted in the loss of important government records. 2. In 1863, during the height of...
5 Fun Facts About December 23 In Iowa History
1. The first recorded land sale in Iowa occurred on December 23, 1836. The sale took place in Burlington and the land was sold by the government to private individuals for the first time in Iowa history. 2. Iowa Governor William Larrabee was born on December 23, 1832, in Ledyard,...
5 Fun Facts About December 22 In Iowa History
1. In 1950, a devastating fire broke out at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marshalltown, Iowa, destroying the historic building. The fire was believed to have been caused by faulty wiring in the church's basement. 2. On December 22, 1854, the first train arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, marking...
5 Fun Facts About December 21 In Iowa History
1. On December 21, 1846, Iowa was admitted as the 29th state in the United States. 2. In 1862, during the Civil War, the Battle of Black River Bridge took place in Mississippi. Several Iowa regiments participated in the battle and helped secure a Union victory. 3. On December 21,...
5 Fun Facts About December 20 In Iowa History
1. Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846. However, on December 20, 1846, President James K. Polk had signed the Iowa Admission Act, which officially made Iowa a state the following week. 2. The deadliest tornado in Iowa's history occurred on December 20, 1871. The tornado, which traveled from...