Today In History
5 Fun Facts About March 20 In Iowa History
1. On March 20, 1854, the Iowa State Agricultural Society was established in Muscatine, Iowa. The society was formed to promote scientific and practical agriculture in the state and to hold annual fairs to showcase Iowa's agricultural products. 2. In 1895, on March 20, the Iowa State Legislature passed an...
5 Fun Facts About March 19 In Iowa History
1. Iowa Governs for the First Time March 19, 1849, marked the first time the newly formed Iowa government convened for its first regular session. The state's constitution had been adopted on August 3, 1846, so the government had been functioning for over two years. 2. The Death of Iowa's...
5 Fun Facts About March 18 In Iowa History
1. In 1923, the Iowa State Highway Commission was created. It was responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining the state's highway system. Today, the Iowa Department of Transportation oversees the state's transportation infrastructure and services. 2. On March 18, 1937, a severe flood hit Iowa and several other Midwestern states....
5 Fun Facts About March 17 In Iowa History
1) The first St. Patrick's Day parade in Des Moines occurred in 1982 and was organized by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. 2) In 1896, the Iowa Legislature declared St. Patrick's Day a legal holiday, making Iowa one of the first states to do so. 3) Cedar Rapids has...
5 Fun Facts About March 16 In Iowa History
1. In 1881, the first game of what would later become the Iowa State Cyclones football team was played on March 16 against Grinnell College. The Cyclones won the game 24-0. 2. On March 16, 1926, the Iowa State Highway Commission was created. This commission was responsible for planning, constructing,...
5 Fun Facts About March 15 In Iowa History
1. Iowa's First Librarian Was Appointed on March 15, 1838 On March 15, 1838, the Iowa Territorial Library was established, and its first librarian was appointed. John Frost, a lawyer from Pennsylvania, was selected as the library's first librarian. The Iowa Territorial Library was opened to the public later that...
5 Fun Facts About March 14 In Iowa History
1. Iowa became a state on March 3, 1845. This day is significant in Iowa history because it marks the official beginning of its statehood. Iowa's statehood was approved by the US Congress on December 28, 1846, and it officially became a state on August 6, 1846. 2. The Iowa...
5 Fun Facts About March 13 In Iowa History
1. In 1936, the Great Flood of 1936 began in Iowa. The flood caused extensive damage to homes, crops, and roads, and resulted in the evacuation of thousands of residents. It was one of the worst natural disasters in Iowa history. 2. In 1942, a B-17 bomber crashed near Tabor,...
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....