1. Birth of James Van Allen: December 9, 1914, marks the birth of James Van Allen in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He went on to become a renowned physicist and space scientist and was best known for his work in the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts.

2. Iowa Statehood: On December 9, 1846, Iowa was officially granted statehood, becoming the 29th state in the United States.

3. Train Disaster in Tabor: On December 9, 1910, a train carrying performers for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show derailed in Tabor, Iowa. The accident resulted in many deaths and injuries, and it remains one of the worst train disasters in Iowa history.

4. Death of Herbert Hoover: On December 9, 1964, Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, passed away in New York City. Hoover was born in West Branch, Iowa, and his Presidential Library and Museum can still be visited there today.

5. Annals of Iowa Established: The first issue of The Annals of Iowa, a scholarly publication dedicated to the history of Iowa, was published on December 9, 1863. The journal continues to be published today, and its archives contain a wealth of information about the state's history.