1. On September 23, 1846, the first steam-driven boat, the "Nominee," made its way from Davenport to Keokuk on the Mississippi River, marking the beginning of commercial transportation by steamboat in Iowa.

2. In 1908, the first Iowa State Fair was held in Des Moines on September 23, which would become an annual tradition and one of the largest and most popular state fairs in the country.

3. On September 23, 1922, the Iowa-Iowa State football rivalry began, with the Hawkeyes defeating the Cyclones 14-10 in their first meeting in Iowa City. The heated rivalry continues to this day.

4. During World War II, the first class of Women's Army Corps (WAC) officers was commissioned at Fort Des Moines on September 23, 1942. These women played an important role in the war effort and paved the way for future generations of female soldiers.

5. On September 23, 2019, the Iowa City Council declared a climate crisis and committed to transitioning to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050, joining other cities across the country in taking action to address the urgent threat of climate change.