Do you remember the Great A-E Cow Caper? October 18, 2007, a cow caper unfolded on the East Side of Des Moines after vandals damaged the iconic Annie the Cow and her calf Eric statues from the corner of Hubbell and University.

Do you know where the Hawkeyes called home before Kinnick Stadium? On October 18, 1890, the first football game took place at Iowa Field in Iowa City.

Did you know an Iowan invented the Sherman Tank? On October 18, 1974, Brigadier General Joseph M. Colby, known as “The Father of the Sherman Tank,” passed away.

Did you ever stop at George the Chili King? On October 18, 1966, George the Chili King Sr. passed away. Originator of one of Iowa’s most iconic restaurants, George the Chili King started an intergenerational restaurant reign in Des Moines.

Do you remember Hawkeye running back Shonn Greene? On October 18, 2008, legendary Hawkeye running back Shonn Greene broke out for 217 rush yards and four touchdowns while averaging nearly nine yards per carry as Iowa beat Wisconsin to capture the Heartland Trophy.

📍Beeds Lake State Park - Hampton, Iowa

Check out my new article on the Dragoon Trail in Iowa in the latest issue of Iowa History Journal!

Have you heard of suffrage advocate Mary Newbury Adams? On October 17, 1837, Mary Newbury Adams, a leader in the fight for women’s suffrage, was born.

Did you know the actress from “Creature from the Black Lagoon” was from Waterloo? On October 17, 1926, actress Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams) was born in Waterloo.

Do you remember when gymnast Shawn Johnson inspired Iowans with her Olympic performance? On October 17, 2007, Iowans celebrated “Shawn Johnson Day” after the teenage gymnastics phenom captured the all-around Gold Medal at the World Artistic Gymnastic Championships.

📍Backbone State Park - Dundee, Iowa

Did you know six Iowans went to Harper’s Ferry with John Brown? On October 16, 1859, Abolitionist John Brown and 20 additional men, including six Iowans, invaded the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry.

Have you ever met Cy Cardinal? On October 16, 1954, Cy the Cardinal made his debut at an Iowa State pep rally.

📍Stephens State Forest - Chariton, Iowa

Do you remember the Mayor’s playing days in Ames? On October 15, 1972, legendary Ames and Iowa State men’s basketball star Fred Hoiberg was born.

Do you remember Drake coach Maury John? On October 15, 1974, legendary Drake and Iowa State men’s basketball coach Maury John passed away. The all-time wins leader at Drake University, John took the Bulldogs to the 1969 Final Four and posted a career record of 528-214.

Did you know an Iowan helped raise the flag on Iwo Jima? On October 15, 1999, a Marine Corps investigation uncovered the role of Brooklyn, Iowa’s Corporal Harold Keller and five other Marines in raising the American flag over Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Did you attend the Crossover at Kinnick? On October 15, 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes hosted more than 55,000 fans at Kinnick Stadium to shatter the NCAA attendance record for women’s basketball.

📍Loess Hills State Forest - Onawa, Iowa

Have you ever heard of agricultural innovator Perry G. Holden? On October 14, 1865, Perry Greeley Holden, the first Head of the Agricultural Extension at Iowa State and the first professor of agronomy in the United States, was born.

Did you know Waterloo once hosted a fancy banquet in the sewer? On October 14, 1903, 450 guests arrived for a black-tie event held in a Waterloo sewer.

📍Horseshoe Bluff - Dubuque, Iowa

Did you know Abraham Lincoln appointed an Iowan to the US Supreme Court? On October 13, 1890, Samuel Freeman Miller, Iowa’s first appointee to the United States Supreme Court, passed away.

What do you know about early aviation in Iowa? On October 13, 1910, the far-famed early airplane innovator “Captain Tom” Baldwin made Iowa’s first flight in Iowa City with his “Red Devil.”

📍Silo Mural - Fort Dodge, Iowa

Did you know Iowa State played a key role in the Manhattan Project? On October 12, 1945, General Leslie R. Groves, director of the Manhattan Project, arrived at Iowa State to award the “E” Award for Excellence in Production to the Ames Project.

Have you ever read anything by Iowa author Paul Engle? On October 12, 1908, long-time director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, Paul Engle, was born in Cedar Rapids.

Do you remember the time Cyclone Seneca Wallace scrambled 135 yards to score a 12-yard touchdown? On October 12, 2002, legendary Iowa State Quarterback Seneca Wallace scrambled for “The Run” against Texas Tech.

Happy Dedication Day (and Homecoming) to all the Waldorf Warriors! On October 11, 1903, a large crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of Waldorf College in Forest City. Forerunner of today’s Waldorf University, the college grew out of a local hotel war to offer education for Iowans.

Have you ever heard about Iowa’s land rush? On October 11, 1845, formal dispossession of the Sauk and Meskwaki in Iowa reached a climax as eager Americans prepared to dash across the Des Moines River to stake claims on the river’s western bank.

Did you know a guy from Webster City once won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction? On October 11, 1977, far-famed Iowa writer MacKinlay Kantor died. A notable journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and short-story author, Kantor received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956.

📍Plymouth, Iowa

Did you know a kid from Ankeny set the state field goal record before kicking for an NCAA championship? On October 10, 1997, Ankeny High School Kicker Todd Sievers hit a 63-yard field goal to set the state record.

Have you ever visited the National Cattle Congress? On October 10, 1910, the first National Cattle Congress (then Iowa Dairy Cattle Congress) came together in Waterloo.

📍Ledges State Park - Boone, Iowa

Do you have a favorite Iowa Superman? On October 9, 1979, actor Brandon Routh was born in Des Moines, Iowa. Raised in Norwalk, Routh went on to a successful acting career, including an iconic appearance as Superman in the 2006 film “Superman Returns.”

Have you ever visited Valley Junction? On October 9, 1893, the city of Valley Junction was incorporated. Today, the downtown heart of West Des Moines, Valley Junction, is formed around the switching facilities and repair shops at the meeting point of three lines on the railroad.

📍Rush Lake - Laurens, Iowa

Do you know about the triumph and tragedy of Jack Trice? On October 8, 1923, Iowa State University’s first African-American athlete, John G. (Jack) Trice, died of injuries sustained while playing football for the Cyclones.

Have you ever had the chance to run on the ‘Big Blue Oval’ in Des Moines? On October 8, 1904, Drake Stadium was dedicated in Des Moines.

Do you remember Hawkeye quarterback Drew Tate? On October 8, 1984, Hawkeye quarterback Drew Tate was born. Tate is known for his 56-yard game-winning touchdown to Warren Holloway to lift the Hawkeyes to a win over LSU in the 2005 Capital One Bowl.

📍Volga River State Recreation Area - Fayette, Iowa

What do you know about the Hawkeye Ironmen? On October 7, 1939, Nile Kinnick threw three touchdown passes to Erv Prasse as the Hawkeye Ironmen came from behind to beat Indiana.

Do you know anything about the Ioway? On October 7, 1837, Ioway (Báxoje) leaders Na’je Nine (Non-chi-ning-ga) and Ñiyu Mañi (Neo-Man-Ni) presented American officials with a map asserting claims over traditional lands in Iowa.

What do you know about the framing of Iowa’s Constitution? On October 7, 1844, 72 delegates met at the Old Stone Capitol in Iowa City, Iowa Territory, for the purpose of framing a state constitution.

Do you remember when Robertson helped the Cyclones beat Kansas? On October 7, 1989, Cyclone cornerback Marcus Robertson forced a fumble for a touchback to secure ISU's win over Kansas.

📍Des Moines, Iowa

Did you know an Iowan once won the LPGA Championship? October 6, 1962, Sioux City’s Judy Kimball finished off a Saturday round with a 71 at the LPGA Championship at the Stardust Country Club in Las Vegas.

Have you ever taken a drive on the White Pole Road? On October 6, 1913, the White Pole Auto Club (formerly Southwestern Iowa Auto Club) applied to make the “White Pole Road” the first Iowa State Highway Commission-certified autoroute in the state.

📍Crystal Lake, Iowa