Today In History
5 Fun Facts About June 20 In Iowa History
Here are five interesting historical events that happened on June 20 in Iowa: 1. In 1919, the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress. This amendment gave women the right to vote, and Iowa was one of the first states to ratify it. 2. On June...
5 Fun Facts About June 19 In Iowa History
1. Juneteenth: June 19th is known as Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all slaves were free. Although slavery had officially ended two years prior with the Emancipation Proclamation, it took...
5 Fun Facts About June 18 In Iowa History
1. In 1953, the city of Cedar Rapids experienced a devastating flood that caused over $20 million in damages. This flood is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Iowa's history. 2. In 1964, the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines hosted a concert featuring The Beatles. This concert...
5 Fun Facts About June 17 In Iowa History
1. The first official flight of an airplane in Iowa occurred on June 17, 1911, when aviator Arthur Welsh flew a biplane over Des Moines. 2. On June 17, 1882, the first African American woman to earn a medical degree, Dr. Rebecca J. Cole, gave a lecture at the State...
5 Fun Facts About June 16 In Iowa History
1. On June 16, 1884, the first roller skating rink was opened in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was called "The Palace" and quickly became a popular destination for local residents to enjoy an evening of skating. 2. In 1922, the Iowa state flag was officially adopted on June 16th. The...
5 Fun Facts About June 15 In Iowa History
Here are 5 interesting facts about June 15 in Iowa history: 1. In 1886, the first railway bridge over the Mississippi River opened in Clinton, Iowa. The Chicago & North Western Railroad built the bridge, which linked the Iowa-Illinois Quad Cities region and facilitated transportation and trade. 2. On June...
5 Fun Facts About June 14 In Iowa History
1. The birth of Harriet Harlan, the first woman elected to the Iowa Legislature, occurred on June 14, 1825, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her family later moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where she became involved in politics and social reform efforts. 2. On June 14, 1870, the first woman suffrage meeting...
5 Fun Facts About June 13 In Iowa History
1. On June 13, 1865, Iowa was the first state in the Union to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude. 2. June 13, 1914, was the day that celebrated Iowa artist Grant Wood completed his first painting, "Near Sundown," which depicted a farmstead...
5 Fun Facts About June 12 In Iowa History
1. June 12, 1887: The Dedication of the Iowa State Capitol Building On June 12, 1887, the Iowa State Capitol Building was dedicated in a ceremony attended by thousands. The building, which cost over $2.9 million (equivalent to over $80 million today) to construct, was designed by renowned architect John...
5 Fun Facts About June 11 In Iowa History
1. In 1915, the Iowa State Capitol building was officially dedicated. Built in the Beaux-Arts style, the building stands as an iconic symbol of the state's political power. 2. In 1945, the Iowa State Fairgrounds served as the site of a war bond rally attended by retired General Douglas MacArthur....
5 Fun Facts About June 10 In Iowa History
1. The first public demonstration of the telephone in Iowa took place on June 10, 1878, in Cedar Rapids. Alexander Graham Bell made a call to his assistant Thomas Watson in Boston, and the successful call was heard by delighted spectators. 2. On June 10, 1912, the first automatic sprinkler...
5 Fun Facts About June 9 In Iowa History
1. In 1856, the first permanent settler arrived in what is now the city of Cedar Falls. William Sturgis was a blacksmith from Indiana and established a blacksmith shop and farm on the Cedar River. 2. On June 9, 1912, the deadliest tornado in Iowa's history struck the city of...