As a Midwestern state, Iowa forms a bridge between the forests of the east and the grasslands of the high . More than 1,070 are . These are just some of the interesting Iowa facts to know about. Ninety-two percent of Iowas land is covered with farms. A woman named Lucinda committed suicide and is reported to linger on Stony Hollow Road. Iowa is a place of museums and aquariums. Featuring live demonstrations of farm life from the 1700s to the 1900s, Living History Farms is a major educational attraction just outside of Des Moines. Image: Wikimedia. The bridge was built to allow traffic of all varieties to cross over railroad tracks. This is the place to go if youre a serious athlete needing state-of-the-art facilities and instruction. Since 1973, this location has hosted the worlds longest, biggest, and oldest recreational bicycle touring event. Reports say that the apparition of a 12-year-old girl in a rocking chair was seen rocking next to her grave. He hosted one of the longest-running television shows, The Tonight Show. Some say is it the voice of the only woman who ever graduated from the school who died in World War I. 6. Developed by Engineering Professor Partha Sarkar, the simulator helps scientists study the effects of tornadoes for better planning on communities they threaten. Iowa State University professor, John Vincent Atanasoff, and student Clifford Berry, built the first electronic digital computer. A popular midwestern treat, called scotcheroos, is made with rice cereal, peanut butter, and chocolate. This small gypsy cemetery is said to be haunted by a gypsy queen, who is guarded by a murder of crows. With an area of 1.26 sq mi, approximately six hundred people call it home. The Mississippi, Missouri, and Big Sioux Rivers all flow through the outer borders of Iowa. Designated a Ripley's Believe it or Not Odd Spot, Snake Alley in Burlington, Iowa is one of the most crooked streets in the world. Iowa State University was established in 1858 as an agricultural college. One of the leading African American oriented newspapers in the Midwest, the Iowa Bystander, was founded in 1894. [7], 27. Many tales abound, such as one that says shortly after her burial, thieves tried to dig up Minnesota State University Mankato is said to have a ghost who rings buzzers and another who steals toilet paper in the Crawford Dorm. If and when she appears she drops a rose at your feet, there is a belief you will perish the very next day. The trampoline soared in popularity and is still a common fitness and recreation device used today. The winding road of Snake Alley was constructed in 1894 as an experiment intended to replicate European vineyard paths. 2. West Okoboji and East Okoboji lakes the deepest lake in the states. A Missouri tax collector was detained in Iowa for attempting to collect money from residents of the contested Land. It features exhibits, shows, music, food, and carnival rides. If you go to the bridge late at night, you might be able to hear the woman crying. Sac City, Iowa, is home to the worlds largest popcorn ball. Interesting facts about Iowa 1. Edinburgh Manor is known for being "one of the most haunted places" and one of. The mounds are now a National Historic Site and are considered sacred to Native Americans. The petrifications, shells, and minerals that make up this Grotto make it the largest of its kind in the world. The Stage Coach Inn was built in 1856 by John and Martha Moorhead; The Inn served a stage coach stop and the first court house in Ida County Iowa and was also the church, School as well as the first hospital in Ida grove were amputations sometimes accrued on the Local legend maintains that a woman once killed her 3 kids here. kodathedreamer. The plains have become ideal locations for wind farms, and 28 of them now cover the state. Our cost of living is much lower than average. Featuring a rich history and culture, there are many fun facts about Iowa that make the region a worthwhile visit. Locals tell a story of harrowing events that happen at 8:47 p.m. on December 23. This historic mansion is currently operated as a museum by the Blue Earth County Historical Society, and staff claim that even after the building has closed down for the night, some still walk the halls of the old house. They are the worlds first set of surviving septuplets. There have even been recordings of these voices on multiple occasions. She is also known to touch people and tug at clothing if her Cemeteries near Spencer, IA Iowa is bordered by the states of South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. 31st president of USA was born and brought up in Iowa, Herbert Clark Hoover was president of the united states from 1929 to 1933 and was born in Iowa. With an inclination of 296 feet up, it takes passengers to Fenelon Place from Fourth Street through 189 feet. The delicious red apple of today is incredibly different from the original apple. The state flower of Iowa is the wild rose (fun fact: the province of. The deaths occurred during its history of being a "poor farm" in the 1800s and as a psychiatric facility in the 1900s. Portrait of Iowa tribal man While most people tend to think of corn as Iowa's most famous crop, a lesser-known interesting fact about Iowa is its history of apple agriculture. I do my best to verify the accuracy of all content published here. Iowa is nicknamed the Hawkeye State, after Hawk-eye, the scout in the 1826 novel. People visit the Dribble House in costume to take photos, intimating the famous painting. "Children of the Corn" now tops many lists of creepy and cool Iowa facts. Visitors to the site have reported strange activity that has led some to believe it's haunted. It wasnt actually an island until 1939, when the construction of a lock and dam system flooded the lowlands west of the town. Its the oldest water tower in Iowa and one of the top ten oldest water towers in the united states. The 4th street of Dubuque is the Fenelon Place Elevator, dubbed the shortest, steepest scenic railway. Before European colonization, there were thousands of Iowa people across the great plains. Giant sloth bones and exhibits can be found at the University of Iowa Museum of Natural History. This section comprises of top interesting facts about Iowa, especially if you are visiting. Love Iowa? Sergeant Charles Floyd died during the expedition in what is now known as Sioux City, Iowa. Astronaut footprints on the moon can last . According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the state has more than 85,000 farms and the average farm size in Iowa in 2017 was 351 acres. The dam submerged the lowland on the west side of town thus separating Sabula from the rest. If you are looking for an athletes institute with all modern facilities and training, this is where to go.[10]. The road is now considered a historic marvel and one of many weird Iowa facts. The contents of the candy bar will be gone, but the wrapper will still be completely intact and unopened. The Iowa facility is known as the worlds top dance and gymnastics school. Bats in Iowa have an important job as the state's natural pest control. In 2010, a man and his two sons were hunting for blackberries when one of the boys spotted a ball near a creek. Others have seen unusual green lights as well as bloodstains vanishing from the walls. Nevertheless, it was a monumental achievement and went down in the record books of Iowa facts and history. Des Moines resident F.A. A type of prairie rose with bright pink petals, they can be spotted in the meadows and wildlands around Iowa. Youll have to eat somewhere else, though. Both governors made battle threats, and militias and volunteers were mobilized to the border. Lights turn on by Legend has it that Rodriguez, an electrician who was electrocuted in the 1940s during the building of the auditorium, haunts the area by flickering the lights and turning them off and on. In a 2012 tour of the US, now China president. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good book, or just binge watching Netflix. Farms produce enough food to feed over 300 people. 5. Contrary to popular belief, not all of Iowa is flat, especially 640,000 acres on the western side. Check out these 10 Little Known Haunted Places, as soon as possible. 29. In the futuristic series, Star Trek, Captain James T. Kirk was portrayed as being born in Riverside, Iowa in 2223. In Ottumwa, its technically illegal for men to wink at women they dont know. While they were pushing A motel once stood in this vacant lot, but it has since been demolished. Iowan artist Grant Wood painted the iconic piece in 1930. Many homes, schools, and other public buildings have storm shelters. It is the 106th largest city in the United States, with a population of 214,000 (metro 559,000). Its a natural water cave worth visiting. Lets take a closer look at 8 of the most haunted places in Iowa: When in Burlington, Iowa, if you venture about eight miles north near the Mississippi River you may find yourself on Stony Hollow Road. Industrial farming has started to take its toll on Iowa's soil, so many scientists are working towards regeneration techniques. birthplace of former US President Herbert Hoover, National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Donald Trump sued several key Iowa counties. Benson was born in 1905 in Ladora, Iowa. The Palace Theater was built by Herman Jochims in 1915, and his wife Maude played piano to accompany the silent films shown there. She was supposedly going to meet the man of her dreams outside of town to elope. Thousands of years later Native American tribes including the Dakota Sioux, Illini, Ioway, Missouria, and Otoe lived on the land.. French explorers reached the area in 1673, and in 1682 the land was claimed by France.Over the next century Spain and France fought multiple wars over the region, and control of the land shifted . After the US acquired the area in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, Iowa fell into the large District of Louisiana to the north. The town now has a small plaque dedicated to the fictional character that fans are known to visit. Peoplewho live in Iowaor who come fromIowaare referred to as Iowans and upon occasion, they are referred to as Hawkeyes. The Iowa DNR does not issue permits for factory farms as required by the Clean Water Act, as shown in a July 2012 EPA study. In an orchard in 1880, a new variety of apples was discovered that would become known as the Red Delicious. The first moving train robbery in the world happened on July 21, 1873 in Adair, Iowa. 37. The statescapital is Des Moines. Iowa has the most pigs of any state and is the nation's top pork producer. In contrast to the Young Drift Plains, which are flat and well-suited for farming, the Driftless Area is primarily composed of pine forests and cliff faces. Most importantly it is a state well known for its corn production. Although most people think of corn when they think of Iowa, they're surprised to learn that Iowa is also known for wine. Iowa is known as the Corn State, the Tall Corn State, and the Land Where the Tall Corn Grows. Worlds first electronic digital computer, Professor John Atanasoff and student Clifford Berry (both USA) created theworlds first electronic digital computer the AtanasoffBerryComputer(ABC) at Iowa State University, USA, between 1937 and 1942. The US began removing natives from the area and encouraging settlers to go there. Others claim any contact with the statue, even walking beneath it, will result in a horrible fate or loss. This particular ghost apparently has a tremendous appreciation for chocolate. Sarah/Flickr Our cost of living is much lower than average. Iowa also leads the US in ethanol production. Much of Iowa was mapped by Zebulon Pike, the Pikes Peak guy. One of the authors of the Nancy Drew series was born in Iowa: Mildred Wirt Benson. The Black Angel was created as a representation of a dream had by Ruth Dodge before her death in 1916. Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, South Dakota, and Minnesota all share borders with Iowa. Off-campus, the affiliated ISU Research Park is a 400-acre complex of research, learning, and business innovation. They worked on the computer from 1937 to 1942 at the University of Iowa. Iowa State Facts Entered Union: Dec. 28, 1846 (29th State) Organized as territory: June 12, 1838 Present constitution adopted: 1857 Fun Facts State abbreviation/Postal code: Iowa/IA Nickname: The Hawkeye State Origin of name: From the Iowa River, which was named after the Ioway (or Bxoe) people. We hear you like all things creepy we do too. About those hogsyeah, there are a lot of them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At one time the bridge was not far from the town of Tara. The Red Delicious apple, in particular, was first recognized in 1872 in Madison County, Iowa. The store owners even caught paranormal activity on their security cameras. Iowa even had a regiment called the Greybeards because the men were all considered elderly, including one octogenarian. Local urban legend claims that if you call her name three times, she will arrive, and if she gives you a rose, you will die the next day. Stony Hollow Road is not a happy place if you know of the legend of Lucinda. Paranormal investigators have flocked to Edinburgh Manor over the years to study and document alleged hauntings. Twelve years after the book was first published, a local court and publisher succeeded in having the nickname formally recognized. The first bread slicing machine was invented in Iowa by Otto Frederick Rohwedder. Iowa is the Ice Cream capital of the world. Black Hawk County in Iowa is also named for the famed warrior. By entering your email address you agree to our, 60 Interesting & Fun Facts About Iowa State You Need to Know, Iowa has over 30 million acres of farmland, The Iowa State Fair attracts over a million visitors a year, Inventor Otto Frederick Rohwedder was from Iowa, The Iowa State Bird and Flower is the Goldfinch and Wild Rose, Iowa hosts the longest recreational bicycle event in the world, Beneath all the cornfields of Iowa lies hundreds of prehistoric caves, The world's first electronic digital computer was built in Iowa, Iowa is a major hub of insurance and financial institutions, Iowa had the first public veterinary school in the United States, The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium resides in Iowa, Famous author Mildred Wirt Benson was from Iowa, The canine kennel cough vaccine was developed in Iowa, President Herbert Hoover was born in Iowa, Drones are being used to fight food waste in Iowa, The Black Angel Monument in Iowa is believed to be haunted, Iowa's Mason House Inn is a "Ghost Hunting" site, Stony Hollow Road is among the "most haunted places" in Iowa, Creepy cult classic "Children of the Corn" was filmed in Iowa, Iowa State University is the state's largest research university, Iowa has served as a filming location for some of Hollywood's biggest hits, The heavy metal band Slipknot came from Iowa, Famous television host Johnny Carson was from Iowa, Iowa's State Flower, the Wild Rose, is actually 3 different flowers, Iowa is the proclaimed future birthplace of Star Trek's Captain Kirk, Iowa is a wild mushroom hunter's paradise, Iowa has one of the most crooked streets in the world, Iowa has the world's largest wooden nickel, Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood is from Iowa, The Iowa State Capitol is the only State Capitol with 5 domes, Infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde once had a shootout in Iowa, Iowa's name comes from the Native American Tribe Iowa, Iowa was the 29th state inducted into the union of the United States, There are historical sites from the Underground Railroad in Iowa, Iowa's Effigy Mounds National Monument has ancient Native American Burial Mounds, Iowa was a historical stop on the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Iowa is home to the largest non-governmental seed bank in the United States, The University of Iowa holds important clinical trials in the fight against cancer, Iowa inducted the first female lawyer in the United States, Iowa has some of the best soil in the country, invented the automatic bread-slicing machine, Wild Rose was designated as the state flower, American Goldfinch was declared the state bird of Iowa, RAGBRAI, is an 8-day group bike ride across the state, 358,000 tourists visit Iowa's wine country, real-life backdrop for the famous American Gothic painting, Tulip Festival to pay homage to the early Dutch settlers, built the first electronic digital computer, There are thousands of insurance and finance companies headquartered in Iowa, first public veterinary school in America, one of the largest concentrations of veterinary professionals, over half of the state's electricity comes from wind generation, Dr. William Switzer created the first kennel cough vaccine, spanning several decades, and he became both an icon and controversial figure, flying drones over fields after harvest to ensure no crop is left behind, Black Angel was created as a representation of a dream had by Ruth Dodge, birthplace home is now a historic landmark, hosted one of the longest-running television shows, Iowa Organic Association is leading the way, officially designated as the state flower in 1897, Iowa has over 50 varieties of wild mushrooms, one of the most crooked streets in the world, giant sloths roamed the wildlands of present-day Iowa state, Elijah Wood was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, established in 1858 as an agricultural college, the University of Northern Iowa was founded in 1876, Iowa was officially signed into the union, believed to have been constructed during a prehistoric period, cultural associations with the Effigy Mounds, Sergeant Charles Floyd died during the expedition, home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, groundbreaking cancer research and treatment, Arabella Mansfield became the first female lawyer, leading the way in tornado research with its tornado simulator, 30 Fun Things to Do in Memphis for Couples, 35 Cincinnati Date Ideas That Will Impress Your Partner, 35 Omaha Date Ideas to Wow Your Other Half, Best Time to Visit San Francisco, California, 16 Landmarks in Oahu, Hawaii You Must Visit, 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Tennessee State to Discover, 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Florida State You Should Know, 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About South Carolina State to Know, 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Ohio State to Know, 50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Maine State to Know. 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