Iowa is a heartland state of rolling prairies, covered bridges, and charming small cities anchored by a surprisingly vibrant Des Moines arts and food scene. Home to the world-famous Iowa State Fair, Grant Wood country, the Field of Dreams movie site, and the historic Amana Colonies, Iowa rewards visitors who look beyond the cornfields to find genuine Midwestern character.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Iowa.
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1
Indigenous peoples including the Iowa (Ioway), Sac, Fox, Potawatomi, and Sioux tribes inhabit Iowa for thousands of years; effigy mounds built along Mississippi bluffs
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2
French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet become the first Europeans to enter present-day Iowa via the Mississippi River
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3
Iowa becomes part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase from France
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4
Lewis and Clark Expedition travels along Iowa's western boundary (Missouri River) and camps in present-day Iowa
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5
Iowa Territory opens to white settlement after the Black Hawk Purchase; first permanent American settlements established
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6
Iowa becomes the 29th US state; Iowa City designated as first capital
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7
Amana Society, a German religious communal society, establishes seven colonies in Iowa County; operates communally for 77 years
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8
Capital moved from Iowa City to Des Moines; University of Iowa established in Iowa City
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9
Iowa sends 76,000 men to fight for the Union in the Civil War; no battles fought on Iowa soil but significant economic and demographic impact
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10
Iowa becomes the most productive agricultural state in the US; John Deere and other machinery manufacturers transform farming
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11
Amana Colonies reorganize from communal to corporate structure during the Great Depression
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12
Iowa State University professor John Atanasoff credited with creating the first digital computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC)
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13
First Iowa Presidential Caucuses inaugurate Iowa's permanent role as the first-in-the-nation primary event
Historical sites
Places where Iowa's past comes alive.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Where: Harpers Ferry
Admission: Adult: $10 (≈$10) | Child: Free
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Where: West Branch
Admission: Adult: $10 (≈$10) | Child: Free
Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark
Where: Amana
Admission: Adult: $8 (≈$8) museum | Child: $4 (≈$4)
Living History Farms
Where: Urbandale
Admission: Adult: $18 (≈$18) | Child: $12 (≈$12)
State Historical Museum of Iowa
Where: Des Moines
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Iowa State Capitol
Where: Des Moines
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Iowa's story.
State Historical Museum of Iowa
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Admission: Adult: $23 (≈$23) | Child: $16 (≈$16)
Putnam Museum of History & Natural Science
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Admission: Adult: $13 (≈$13) | Child: $9 (≈$9)