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5 Fun Facts About February 25 In Iowa History
1. In 1837, the Iowa Territory was established by an act of Congress, paving the way for Iowa statehood in 1846. 2. On February 25, 1959, the plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all on board. This tragedy later became...
5 Fun Facts About February 24 In Iowa History
1. In 1868, Iowa State University was established as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm, becoming the first land-grant institution in the country. Today, the university is a leading research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. 2. In 1887, Frank Gotch was born in Humboldt,...
5 Fun Facts About February 23 In Iowa History
1. In 1847, the Iowa territorial legislature passed a bill to establish the state's penal institution, which would eventually become known as the Iowa State Penitentiary. The prison opened in Fort Madison in 1839 and is still in operation today. 2. On February 23, 1867, the Iowa State University was...
5 Fun Facts About February 22 In Iowa History
1. In 1954, the University of Northern Iowa became the first accredited institution of higher education in the state to offer night classes. 2. On February 22, 1975, the first Super Bowl played on artificial turf was held at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Iowa native and University of...
5 Fun Facts About February 21 In Iowa History
1. On February 21, 1837, Iowa became the 29th state to join the Union. The state was primarily settled by immigrants from Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands, and its name comes from the Native American word "ayuhwa," which means "beautiful land." 2. In 1862, the Civil War Battle of...
5 Fun Facts About February 20 In Iowa History
1. On February 20, 1915, the Iowa State Men's Basketball team played their first game at the new State Gymnasium in Ames, defeating Grinnell College 38-13. The State Gymnasium was hailed as a state-of-the-art facility at the time and is now known as the State Gym. 2. In 1954, Senator...
5 Fun Facts About February 19 In Iowa History
1. On February 19, 1837, Iowa Territory was established by an act of Congress. Prior to this, Iowa had been part of the larger Michigan Territory and then the Wisconsin Territory. 2. On February 19, 1864, the Union Army won a decisive victory over Confederate forces at the Battle of...
5 Fun Facts About February 18 In Iowa History
1. On February 18, 1865, Iowans celebrated the state's admission to the Union with the first state-wide celebration in history. The festivities included a procession with floats and a grand ball at the state capitol building. 2. In 1879, the first electric streetcar in Iowa began service in Des Moines...
5 Fun Facts About February 17 In Iowa History
1. On February 17, 1854, the first railroad in Iowa began operation between Davenport and Muscatine. The Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company started running trains on a 25-mile track in order to transport passengers and goods across the state. 2. In 1869, on February 17, railroad tycoon Jay Gould...
5 Fun Facts About February 16 In Iowa History
1. On February 16, 1916, Iowa Governor George W. Clarke signed a bill that established the Iowa State Highway Commission, making Iowa the first state in the country to have a centralized agency responsible for establishing a statewide highway system. 2. In 1933, the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team defeated the...
5 Fun Facts About February 15 In Iowa History
1. On February 15, 1965, the first YMCA in Iowa City was opened. The Iowa City YMCA has since provided recreational and fitness activities for the surrounding community. 2. In 1893 on this day, the first Iowa legislature received an address by Governor Horace Boies, who discussed the importance of...
5 Fun Facts About February 14 In Iowa History
1. Iowa Becomes a State: February 14, 1846 marks the day that Iowa became the 29th state in the United States. Prior to statehood, Iowa was a part of the Wisconsin Territory. 2. Historic Blizzard: On February 14, 1899, a massive blizzard hit Iowa, bringing snow drifts up to 20...