Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 23, 1897, Buffalo Center became the first consolidated school system west of the Mississippi River, bringing scattered rural pupils into a shared graded school system. The decision showed how a small Iowa community could rethink the one-room schoolhouse model and set a precedent for rural education far beyond Winnebago County. For much of the nineteenth century, rural Iowa education rested on township districts and small, ungraded schools. By 18

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 23, 1936, Bob “The Heater from Van Meter” Feller recorded his first win as a Major League Baseball pitcher. A 1962 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and 18-year MLB pitcher who led the American League in wins six times and won the 1948 World Series, Feller stands as one of the greatest Iowa athletes of all time. Born in Van Meter to a farmer and a schoolteacher, Feller had a father who started rolling a baseball for baby Bob before the child could

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 23, 1986, the longest-ever John Deere strike started in Waterloo and Dubuque. Also, initially involving the Deere facility in Milan, Illinois, the 163-day strike and lockout shut down fourteen facilities throughout the country. As the Farm Crisis gripped the agricultural sector of the American economy during the early 1980s, Deere & Company experienced consistent losses. After the 3rd Quarter losses reached $39.6 million ($97,900,000 in modern d

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 23, 1973, baseball player Casey Blake was born in Des Moines. A four-sport standout at Indianola, Blake went on to a twelve-year major league career. At Indianola, Blake put together one of the greatest athletic careers in Iowa high school history. A standout in baseball, football, track, and basketball, Blake garnered honors as the Des Moines Register’s top male athlete for 1991. A state qualifier in the hurdles, a first-team all-state basketba

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 22, 1995, the All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart, Iowa, was devastated by an arson fire that shook the small community and marked a tragic moment in the town’s history. The fire, deliberately set by Charles Willard of Des Moines, caused catastrophic damage to the nearly century-old church, leaving only the exterior walls standing while the interior was gutted. All Saints Catholic Church, built in 1908, was more than just a place of worship—it

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 22, 1905, actor Wade Crosby was born in Cedar Rapids. Best known for his roles in Tales of Robin Hood and Westworld, the Iowa-born actor built a successful career during Hollywood's Golden Age. The son of a prominent Linn County attorney named Jim Crosby, Wade grew up in Cedar Rapids. After his father's death, Crosby headed west to Los Angeles, where he cut his teeth working on sets as a painter and designer while pursuing acting roles. During h

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 22, 1982, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts took the stage at the Iowa State Fair, delivering a performance that left a lasting impression on the fair’s music history. By this time, Joan Jett had established herself as a formidable force in rock music, known for her rebellious attitude, raw energy, and powerful voice. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ rise to fame was marked by their 1981 album I Love Rock ’n Roll, which featured the iconic title track

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 22, 1900, a real hootenanny came together as the first official National Hobo Convention got underway in Britt. For 122 years and counting, hobos and hobos-at-heart have gathered in the Hancock County town and crowned the Hobo King and Queen. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, itinerant workers traveled the rails of the United States seeking daily work. Riding the rails throughout the country, hobos began to come together for a convention in

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 21, 1964, the Baseball Writers' Association of America elected Algona native and baseball pioneer James Leslie (J.L.) Wilkinson to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Founder and executive of the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, Wilkinson also founded the All-Nations Baseball Club in Des Moines in 1912. After spending his earliest years in Algona, Wilkinson developed a love for baseball when he moved to Des Moines as a child. A star pitcher who

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 21, 1970, Johnny Cash and June Carter took the Grandstand Stage at the Iowa State Fair for two shows. Over 23,500 Iowans packed in as the ‘Man in Black’ and his bride sent the rollicking crowd down in a ‘ring of fire.’ Cash and Carter packed audiences for shows starting at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., with viewers paying between $3 and $5 for reserved seats. Their show featured cameos by Carl Perkins and the Tennessee Three, as well as the Statler B

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 21, 1985, legendary Hawkeye running back Shonn Greene was born. A unanimous All-American, Doak Walker Award, and Jim Brown Trophy winner, Greene helped the Hawkeyes win the 2009 Outback Bowl. Born and raised in New Jersey, Greene headed west to Iowa after racking up 1,378 yards during his senior season at Winslow Township High School. After spending a year at Kirkwood Community College, Greene dominated the 2008 season while rushing for at least

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 21, 1989, Andre the Giant was arrested in Cedar Rapids. Charged with assault and criminal mischief after altercations with a cameraman, the incident at the Five Seasons Center shed light on the challenges faced by performers living larger-than-life personas both inside and outside the ring. Born André René Roussimoff in 1946 in rural France, André the Giant suffered from acromegaly, a disorder that caused abnormal growth and resulted in his extr

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 20, 1897, Railroad executive and innovator Ralph Budd was born on a farm in Black Hawk County, Iowa, near Washburn. Budd sparked the diesel-electric revolution when he introduced the Zephyr streamliner. During a rural childhood focused on hard work and Presbyterian faith, Budd’s family relocated to Des Moines when he was thirteen. After attending North High School and Highland Park College, he joined the Chicago Great Western Railroad as an assi

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 20, 1926, early professional baseball player Cal McVey passed away. Born in Montrose, McVey went on to become the youngest member of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings, baseball’s first openly all-professional club. Born on August 30, 1849, less than three years after Iowa entered the Union, he spent his early childhood in southeastern Iowa before his family relocated to Indianapolis. There he developed into a gifted athlete and played for amateu

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 20, 2006, Guthrie Center-born CEO of Hardee’s, Jack Laughery, passed away. His career linked an Iowa upbringing to the national spread of fast-food restaurants, a business transformation that reshaped roadside dining and franchise ownership. Raised in Guthrie Center, Laughery graduated from the University of Iowa in 1957, worked for Connecticut General Insurance Company, and served in the U.S. Army before entering the restaurant business. In 196

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 20, 1804, Sergeant Charles Floyd of the far-famed Lewis & Clark Expedition died in Iowa. The only member of the Corps of Discovery to perish in the attempt to reach the Pacific, Floyd finds remembrance in the Sergeant Floyd Monument (US National Historic Landmark) in Sioux City. Born in 1772 in Kentucky, Floyd was related to Virginia Governor John Floyd and possibly even William Clark. Floyd, a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army,

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 19, 1835, the 1st United States Dragoons arrived back at First Fort Des Moines (Montrose) following a successful expedition spanning over 1,000 miles exploring Iowa for the United States government. Arriving in Iowa during the late fall of 1834, Kearny’s men struggled through a bitterly cold winter before orders arrived for a summer campaign into Iowa’s interior. Orders instructed Companies B, H, and I to proceed to the Des Moines River Confluen

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 19, 1951, actress Randi Oakes was born in Sumner. A fashion model and actress, Oakes gained national fame while playing Officer Bonnie Clark on the television series CHiPs. Oakes grew up in Randalia. During high school, she traveled to Des Moines twice a week to attend modeling school. After winning Miss Iowa Model of the Year as a 17-year-old, Oakes moved to New York City. Oakes quickly rose to the top of the modeling world and caught the eye o

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 19, 1968, Iowa Hawkeye running back Nick Bell was born. A gifted runner, blocker, and receiver, Bell bruised Big 10 defenses while helping lead Iowa to the 1991 Rose Bowl. Overcoming an asthmatic condition as a child, Bell starred at Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas after moving to running back as a senior. Heading east to play for Hayden Fry, Bell arrived in Iowa City and ended up sitting out due to Proposition 48 while he worked to overcom

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 19, 1985, Breadeaux Pizza officially became a chain by opening a store in Council Bluffs. Established in Corning, Iowa, in 1985, Breadeaux quickly expanded to become a staple in rural communities across the state, known for its signature French crust. In 1984, Jim Larkin worked for the Casey’s in Corning, Iowa. When the local pizza place went out of business, he decided to start making pizza in the convenience store’s small kitchen. “We had this

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 18, 1977, the City of Iowa City hired Linda Eaton as the city’s first female firefighter. After the birth of Eaton’s son Ian, a legal battle ensued when the department refused her request to breastfeed during her personal break time at the firehouse. A graduate of West Liberty High School, Eaton stood out as a popular student and star basketball player during her teenage years. After high school, Eaton sought well-paying jobs and became the firs

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 18, 1944, the Sioux City Herald reported on Marie Mountain Clark of Iowa, who served as a pilot in the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II. The WASP program was a pioneering initiative that trained women to fly military aircraft, relieving male pilots for combat duty. Born on February 8, 1915, in a modest farmhouse in West Liberty, Iowa, Marie grew up in West Des Moines, where her family pioneered dairy farming through th

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 18, 1956, the City of Clive was officially incorporated in Polk County. An important location in Iowa’s coal-mining past, Clive is today an important suburb on the edge of the Des Moines Metro area. Following the dispossession of the Sauk and Meskwaki during the first half of the 1800s, the lands now encompassed by Clive entered the American record as the Flynn Farm in 1870. The Union Land Company, led by Jefferson Polk and Fred Hubble, laid a n

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 18, 1975, the Beach Boys made their debut on the Grandstand stage at the Iowa State Fair, beginning a longstanding relationship with Iowa fans that would see them return to the fair six more times. Known worldwide for their signature surf rock sound and harmonies, the band’s 1975 performance brought a taste of California’s sun-drenched musical style to the heartland. By 1975, the Beach Boys had already secured their reputation as pioneers of the

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 17, 1935, Gardner “Mike” Cowles Jr., originally from Algona, bought the ‘Cardiff Giant,’ a 10-foot-tall, 3,000-pound. ‘Petrified Man’ is at the center of one of the world’s greatest-ever archaeological hoaxes. Cowles grew up in Algona before attending Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University. He was a co-owner of the Cowles Media Company (Des Moines Register, Des Moines Tribune, Minneapolis Tribune, Minneapolis Star, Look Magazine). In 193

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 17, 1973, Elton John performed at the Iowa State Fair, a notable moment in the fair’s musical history that brought one of the era’s most dynamic artists to a Midwest audience. At that time, Elton John was already an international superstar, known for his virtuosic piano playing, flamboyant stage presence, and a string of hit songs that blended rock, pop, and theatrical flair. His performance at the fairgrounds in Des Moines was part of his 1973

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: Hanford “Jack” MacNider promoted to brigadier general. A celebrated veteran of World War I, a former national commander of the American Legion, an assistant secretary of war, and a diplomat, MacNider left a legacy of service. Born in Mason City on October 2, 1889, he attended Milton Academy and graduated from Harvard in 1911 before returning home to work in his father’s bank. His military experience began with the Iowa National Guard during the 1916–1917

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 17, 1975, Daytona 500 winner Dewayne Louis “Tiny” Lund of Harlan, Iowa, died in a crash during the Talladega 500. A larger-than-life driver with a misleading nickname, Lund won the Daytona 500 in 1963 and captured the NASCAR Grand American Championship title three times. Growing up in Shelby County, Lund started racing on motorcycles, midget cars, and sprint cars. He found success at the Shelby County Speedway before graduating from high school.

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 16, 1857, Abigail Gardner married Cassville Sharp. The lone survivor of her family during the event commonly known as the “Spirit Lake Massacre,” Abbie Gardner spent the rest of her life as an author and entrepreneur who influenced how Iowans remember one of the state’s most significant moments of frontier violence. The most tragic moment of Gardner’s life unfolded in March 1857, when Inkpaduta, a Wahpekute Dakota leader, and his band reached th

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 16, 1906, the Mason Automobile Company debuted its first car. Financed by Des Moines lawyer Edward R. Mason and built by Fred and August Duesenberg, the vehicle gained fame by climbing the west steps of the Iowa State Capitol. Edward R. Mason, a descendant of the famed innkeepers of Bentonsport, Iowa, who ran an underground railroad stop along the Des Moines River at the Mason House Inn, served as a clerk for the United States Circuit Court befo

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 16, 1990, Garth Brooks stepped in at the last minute as a replacement for Ricky Van Shelton at the Iowa State Fair. Brooks brought all his “Friends in Low Places” to the grandstand for a sold-out show as he continued his rapid rise toward country stardom. After Van Shelton’s successful appearance co-headlining alongside Reba McEntire on the Iowa State Fair Grandstand in 1989, bookers proved eager to bring back the country star. When the initial

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 16, 1835, Iowan and longest-ever serving United States Cabinet Member James “Tama Jim” Wilson was born. The Secretary of Agriculture for three Presidents (William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft), Tama Jim also taught at Iowa State and served in the Iowa House and the United States House of Representatives. Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Wilson grew up as one of fourteen children before moving to the United States in 1852. Arrivin

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 15, 1812, legend holds that Potawatomi leader Waubonsie protected an American family during an Indigenous attack on Fort Dearborn. The namesake of one of Iowa’s most beloved state parks, Waubonsie’s legacy helps illustrate the challenges Indigenous leaders faced during the era of American settlement and how we remember those choices today. Waubonsie, also rendered Wabaunsee or Wabanzi, was born sometime between the mid-1750s and mid-1760s, thoug

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 15, 1830, William Clark completed negotiations at Prairie du Chien to establish a ‘Neutral Ground’ in northeastern Iowa between the Dakota and the Sauk/Meskwaki. Surveyed by Nathaniel Boone, the government moved the dispossessed Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) of Wisconsin into the area. Following the initial exploration of the Iowa Territory by military personnel and surveyors, the first Multinational Treaties took place in 1825. The resulting treaties es

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 15, 1926, actress Georgann Johnson was born in Decorah, Iowa. Known for her roles on stage, television, and in movies, Johnson shone in productions including “Midnight Cowboy” and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Growing up in Winneshiek County, Johnson’s father owned Peter Johnson & Son Plumbing and Heating on Decorah’s Washington Street. After high school, Georgann Johnson earned her BA from Luther College before obtaining a Master of Arts in Orat

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 15, 1904, American puppeteer Bil Baird was born. Best known for his work on “The Sound of Music,” Baird entertained young and old alike over a long career following a childhood in Mason City. Baird grew up in Cerro Gordo County and traced his love of puppets back to the time his father made him a simple string puppet. In 1921, he attended a local performance of Tony Sarg's Rip Van Winkle, which further cemented his interest. Baird soon began cre

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 14, 1871, Cloid Smith, founder of America’s first major popcorn company (American Pop Corn Company/Jolly Time), was born in Sioux City, Iowa. The popcorn pioneer founded the company in his hometown in 1914. Born on a farm that grew popping corn, Cloid Smith eventually grew tired of the prices he would get for his product. Starting in the basement of his Sioux City home, Cloid enlisted his son, Howard, to hand-shell popcorn before personally appr

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 14, 1952, Supply Chain Stores Inc. announced the results of a customer contest to rename the popular Iowa grocery store chain. The winning entry: Hy-Vee. In 1917, David Vredenburg entered the grocery business by operating a store for the Lamoni-based General Supply Company. In 1921, Charles Hyde started working at a store operated by Vredenburg and his partner Lewis in Woodbine. By 1930, Vredenburg decided to form the General Supply Company and

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 14, 2024, the Lighthouse Inn Supper Club, a storied restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was tragically destroyed by a fire. Marking the end of a 112-year legacy as one of the oldest dining establishments in the state, the restaurant originally opened in 1912 at 6905 Mt. Vernon Road SE in Cedar Rapids. It became the oldest supper club in Iowa. The historic venue was renowned not only for its longevity but also for its colorful past, including ties

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 14, 2001, a downtown Des Moines construction project opened a startling window onto Iowa’s distant past. As workers drilled for an Allied Insurance and Farmland Insurance parking ramp, their auger struck mammoth bones deep beneath the city, a reminder that the paved streets and office buildings of the capital stand above an ancient landscape once traveled by Ice Age animals. Long before Des Moines existed, the Raccoon River valley formed part of

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 13, 1920, Neville Brand, an actor known for roles in many westerns, was born in Griswold, Iowa. A decorated World War II veteran, shined on the silver screen in the golden age of American Westerns. After his birth in Griswold, Brand spent much of his childhood in Kewanee, Illinois. Brand enlisted in the United States Army at the onset of World War II. At the same time, serving with the 83rd Infantry Division (Thunderbolt Division) in the Ardenne

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 13, 2014, perhaps the most significant historian of Iowa’s past, Dr. Dorothy Schwieder, passed away. The first woman ever appointed as a professor in the Department of History at Iowa State, Schwieder researched and wrote prolifically about the history of the Hawkeye State. Although born and raised in Presho, South Dakota, as the ninth child in a ten-child family, she eventually enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan. She studied under eventual Presidentia

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 13, 1944, First Lieutenant John W. Colsch lifted his B‑26 Marauder, “Purring Panther,” from an English airfield for what he and his crew believed would be their final combat mission before heading home. That day’s mission ended not in homecoming but in catastrophe when a bomb from another aircraft severed the wing of Colsch’s Marauder, sending his plane and a companion ship into fatal dives. Born in New Albin, Iowa, on April 28, 1918, he graduat

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 13, 1949, the Des Moines Coliseum burned to the ground. The main public event venue in Iowa’s capital city from 1908 through 1949, the Coliseum welcomed concerts, presidents, and many memorable moments for Iowans. Located at First and Locust, the Coliseum was built with public subscriptions from 500 locals, helping raise the $160,000 needed for construction. The main hall held crowds of up to 8,500. In 1936, several partitions were removed, incr

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 12, 2010, water finally began to recede in Ames after a record crest on the South Skunk River. Three nights of storms from August 8–11 dropped on the order of ten inches of precipitation across central Iowa, turning familiar creeks into walls of water and closing key corridors like Interstate 35 south of Ames. In Ames, earlier floods in 1975, 1993, and 2008 had already demonstrated the dangers of building near Ioway Creek and the South Skunk Riv

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 12, 2009, the Garst Farm near Coon Rapids officially gained listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The site of the infamous Iowa visit by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, the property today serves as the office of the Whiterock Conservancy. After graduating from Coon Rapids High School in 1915, Roswell Garst spent several years attending different colleges throughout the Midwest. In 1921, Garst found himself back in Iowa working t

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 12, 1950, Iowa conservationist Ada Hayden passed away. A botanist, teacher, and preservationist from Ames, Hayden recognized that Iowa’s original grasslands were disappearing beneath the plow long before many people treated their loss as a public concern. Born near Ames on August 14, 1884, she was encouraged by Iowa State botanist Louis H. Pammel to pursue the study of plants. She earned a botany degree at Iowa State College in 1908, completed a

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 12, 1924, Delhi’s Lieutenant Frank Albrook sustained fatal injuries when a plane he piloted crashed. A former Iowa State wrestler, Albrook displayed great courage as a pioneering member of the United States Air Service before his death. After growing up in the eastern Iowa town of Delhi, Albrook left Delaware County to enroll at Iowa State. A standout wrestler during his time with the Cyclones, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1917. Al

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 11, 1968, Jimi Hendrix rocked the Coliseum in Davenport. An iconic Iowa music venue, the building has also hosted acts such as the Everly Brothers, the Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King over the decades. The original Coliseum of Davenport was built in 1898 to accommodate the 18th annual Saengerfest. The event, featuring 10 German singing groups, welcomed more than 12,000 spectators. As part of the festival, organizers built a 4,000-seat aud

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On August 11, 1862, the 32nd Iowa Infantry Regiment mustered at Boone. Over the course of the American Civil War, 322 men serving with the 32nd Iowa died while serving in the Red River Campaign, the Battle of Pleasant Hill, and the Battle of Nashville. After enlisting at the county seat of Boone County, the men headed east to Camp Franklin in Dubuque before descending the Mississippi. Led by Colonel John Scott of Nevada, Iowa, the regiment initially serve