Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 29, 1929, Iowa farmer and artist Norma “Duffy” Lyon, better known as ‘The Butter Cow Lady’, was born. From 1960 until 2006, Lyon crafted a buttery bovine for the Iowa State Fair each year. After a childhood in Tennessee, Lyon arrived at Iowa State hoping to study veterinary sciences; however, she instead studied animal science because the university did not allow women in the veterinary science program at the time. While in Ames, she studied sculp

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 29, 1961, engines roared and dirt flew at the “Sprint Car Capital of the World” as drivers competed in the first-ever Knoxville Nationals. The annual sprint car event held in Marion County represents the premier title in sprint car racing, drawing tens of thousands of fans each year and featuring around 100 race teams. With roots as a horse track, dating back to 1878, the Knoxville Raceway began hosting stock car races weekly in 1954 for the South

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 29, 1960, Clyde Kluckhorn passed away. One of the leading anthropologists of the 20th century, Kluckhorn was born in LaMars before helping redefine cross-cultural studies in the United States. Clyde Kluckhohn was born in Le Mars, Iowa, on January 11, 1905, the son of real estate and insurance broker Clyde Clofford and Caroline Maben, who died in childbirth. Adopted by his maternal uncle at age five, he began high school in Le Mars before attending

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 29, 1965, the Boone High School baseball team etched its name into Iowa sports history, crowning a remarkable season with a state championship powered by the incredible right arm of Jack Mustapha. In a feat that captured the imagination of baseball fans across Iowa, he threw his third consecutive no-hitter in the state finals, sealing Boone’s title in a run of pitching nearly unmatched in state tournament lore. After a perfect regular season where

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 28, 1981, actor Billy Aaron Brown was born in Clarinda. His path from Clarinda High School to Los Angeles and a career in film and television offers a compact story about how rural Midwestern places contribute to the broader cultural world. Clarinda already carried a reputation as the hometown of bandleader Glenn Miller, and the arrival of a future television and film actor adds another layer to the town’s cultural résumé. In that sense, Brown’s b

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 28, 1923, Mary Jane Odell Chinn was born in Algona. A journalist, lecturer, and politician, Chinn hosted a well-loved variety show in Des Moines and served as Iowa’s Secretary of State. After a childhood in Kossuth County, Chinn graduated as Valedictorian from Algona High School before studying at the University of Iowa. Moving to Des Moines for a job in broadcasting at KCBC-Des Moines while also writing a column for the “Plaintalk” newspaper call

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 28, 1953, (Patrick) Dan McCarney was born in Iowa City. A standout lineman for the Iowa Hawkeyes, McCarney went on to find success as an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes and as the head football coach at Iowa State. Growing up in Johnson County, McCarney stood out on the offensive line for Iowa City High School. Heading to the University of Iowa, McCarney contributed to the offensive line while serving as a team captain in 1974. McCarney stuck aro

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 28, 1935, the Iowa Highway Safety Patrol (today’s Iowa State Patrol) rolled out on Iowa’s roads for the first time. Following an act of the 46th General Assembly responding to a need to regulate traffic with an ongoing rise in the popularity of the automobile, Governor Clyde L. Herring signed a bill on May 7, 1935, creating a 53-person safety patrol. To form a safety school to train new officers, a call went out for candidates to apply. Over 3,000

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 27, 1897, Bernard Coyne was born on a farm between Oto and Anthon, Iowa, in Woodbury County. Throughout his 23-year life, Coyne grew to a (then) world record height of at least 8’2” tall. Coyne stood as the tallest ever eunuchoidal infantile giant, a condition also known as gigantism. Due to a 1929 flood, the records listing his length at birth no longer exist. However, by the time he reached his teens, Coyne grew to more than seven feet tall. Whe

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 27, 1931, massive hordes of grasshoppers swarmed across Iowa, devastating millions of acres of crops. Reports indicated the insects arrived in such numbers as to block out the sun, and the hungry swarms munched cornstalks clean to the ground, leaving many fields completely bare. Farmers had already suffered the ravages of the ongoing Great Depression, and the weather failed to cooperate with drought conditions present throughout the state during t

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 27, 1986, legendary Hawkeye hooper Bruce “Sky” King passed away. A foundational piece of the Lute Olson era at Iowa, King racked up double-doubles for points and rebounds in 24 out of 25 games during his senior season. Recruited to Iowa by Dick Schultz, King played three seasons under Olson. While at Iowa, King quickly turned into one of the Big Ten’s best big men, leading the team in scoring (298) and rebounding (228) during his sophomore season.

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 27, 2013, legendary pilot George “Bud” Day passed away. Born in Sioux City, Day became one of the most decorated airmen in history, renowned for his valor, resilience, and leadership across three major wars. Day’s journey began when he dropped out of high school during World War II and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, serving 30 months in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned home, earned a college degree from Morningside College,

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 26, 1974, crews broke ground on the UNI-Dome at the University of Northern Iowa’s Cedar Falls Campus. The home of various Panther sports teams, the facility also hosts the Iowa High School football state semifinals and finals annually, as well as a range of other events. After identifying the need for a new stadium for UNI athletics during the late 1960s, several years of fundraising culminated in the $7.5 million necessary for construction by 197

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 26, 1984, the founder of the American Institute of Public Opinion (better known as the Gallup Poll), George Gallup, passed away. From Jefferson to Princeton, from the Daily Iowan to the American Institute of Public Opinion, Gallup turned a childhood in “utterly normal Iowa” into a global revolution in the way democracies listen to their citizens. George Horace Gallup was born in Jefferson, Iowa, in Greene County, in November 1901, and spent his ea

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 26, 1918, author Eugene Burdick was born in Sheldon. A significant voice in postwar American literature and political thought, “The Ugly American” represents Burdick’s most enduring work. Burdick's service as a naval officer during World War II profoundly shaped his worldview. The interplay of idealism and harsh reality found in his writing was partly shaped by his experiences in the Pacific theater, where questions of global leadership, cross-cul

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 26, 1932, Fred Duesenberg, one of the famous Duesenberg brothers, passed away. August (Augie) and Friedrich (Fred) got their start building automobiles in Des Moines before founding a crucial American racing and luxury car manufacturer. Born in Germany, the boys immigrated to Rockford, North Iowa, with their mother after their father's death. As the bicycle craze took America by storm in the 1890s, Fred opened a bike shop in Rockford. A few years

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 25, 1981, Fred Vitt was named chairman of Fareway Stores, Inc., marking a new chapter for the beloved Midwestern grocery chain. Fred Vitt’s elevation to the role of chairman symbolized not just personal achievement but also the enduring family and community ethos at the heart of the Fareway legacy. Fareway’s origins date back to May 12, 1938, when Paul S. Beckwith, alongside co-founder Fred Vitt, opened the first store in Boone, Iowa. Their revolu

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 25, 1979, the Pella Chronicle announced Precision Pulley & Idler would start construction on a new primary facility in Pella. The company would grow from Marion County to represent a significant, if often overlooked, economic engine in southeastern Iowa. Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI) was founded only in 1977, part of a late twentieth-century wave of specialized industrial firms responding to expanding demand for materials-handling equipment in ag

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 25, 1871, Wilhelm Schneider of Davenport received the first US Patent for a modern carousel. Today, July 25th, is recognized as National Carousel Day. Two other Iowa inventors also contributed to rotary-style fun throughout the state’s history, and iconic Iowa carousels still welcome riders in Story City and Mount Pleasant. The idea for a carousel did not originate in the 1870s; instead, conceptual designs date back to the Byzantine Empire in 500

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 25, 1867, world-famous painter Alexander Rummler was born in Dubuque. Best known for his painting of the armistice that ended World War I, the artist also created numerous murals and other well-loved works. During an eastern Iowa childhood, Rummler attended private schools in Dubuque. Rummler moved to New York City at nineteen to study at the Art Students League of New York before going on to study at Académie Julian in Paris, France, with Jean-Pa

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 24, 1996, actress Virginia Christine (Ricketts) passed away. The inspiration behind her hometown of Stanton’s later coffee pot water tower (and later a cup and saucer), Virginia Christine built a successful acting career. The slogan “Mountain Grown” appears in the popular Folgers ads featuring Virginia Christine, but the actress was, in fact, Iowa-grown. Virginia Christine grew up in Montgomery, Polk, and Des Moines counties before graduating from

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 24, 2016, Des Moines mourned the passing of Kathleen J. “Kay” Compiano, better known as the “Kay” behind Johnny and Kay’s Restaurant, a beloved institution whose influence stretched far beyond its famed dining room. For decades, Kay helped shape what many considered the heart and soul of Des Moines' culinary scene, serving as a symbol of the post-war rise in American hospitality and Midwestern tradition. Johnny and Kay’s Restaurant was established

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: At around 5:00 a.m. on July 24, 1933, law enforcement quietly encircled the infamous American outlaws Bonnie and Clyde at Dexfield Park near the Dallas County town of Dexter. The ensuing firefight injured or killed each member of the gang, but Bonnie and Clyde managed to flee on foot. After meeting in their native Texas in 1930, the couple, according to accounts, quickly fell in love. However, Clyde’s career as a car thief was interrupted by his convictio

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 24, 1968, actress Laura Leighton was born in Iowa City. Leighton endeared herself to generations of television audiences through her performances on “Melrose Place” and “Pretty Little Liars.” Born Laurie Miller, the actress grew up in Johnson County and attended Iowa City West High School. She was a standout show choir performer, vocalist, and cheerleader for the Trojans before joining The Young Americans for their “Around the World in 80 Days Sho

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 23, 1975, Hawkeye great Emlen “The Gremlin” Tunnell passed away. A barrier-breaking athlete, Tunnel demonstrated courage and valor both on and off the gridiron while serving in World War II and establishing a Hall of Fame football career. Tunnell grew up in Pennsylvania and starred as a halfback at Radnor High School before initially enrolling at the University of Toledo. In 1942, Tunnell broke his neck in a football game against Marshall, but he

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 23, 1929, Ottumwa-born Jacob Schick patented the first electric razor. The founder of an iconic American company, Schick, also served a distinguished military career spanning the Spanish-American War and World War I. Following his Ottumwa origins, Schick found himself overseeing a railroad line running from Los Corrillos, New Mexico, to a coal mine owned by his father. Enlisting with the 14th Infantry Regiment in 1898 during the Spanish-American W

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 23, 1854, the founder of Muscatine, Iowa’s world-famous button business, John F. Boepple, was born. Credited with making Muscatine the “Pearl Button Capital of the World,” the industry produced 1.5 billion buttons annually at the peak of production. Born in Germany, Boepple learned to make buttons in his family business before embarking on a journey to America in 1887 to find suitable mussel shells for buttons. Searching rivers in Illinois before

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 23, 1969, Hallie Flanagan passed away. Flanagan directed the Federal Theatre Project during the New Deal while attempting to use government power to marry artistic innovation with social responsibility, revealing the possibilities and limits of publicly funded culture in the United States. Educated at Grinnell College and Radcliffe, and later a faculty member at Vassar, she moved in circles that fed directly into the New Deal coalition, including

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 22, 2018, Iowa lost a giant of journalism and a beloved community fixture: Donald Kaul, co-founder of the legendary RAGBRAI, passed away at 83. Kaul’s life was marked by sharp wit, progressive advocacy in his columns, and his central role in creating what is now the world's largest, oldest, and longest recreational bike ride. Kaul’s career as a columnist began after he graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in journalism. His satir

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 22, 1977, a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun killed 56-year-old retired police officer John Schweer while he worked security at a Council Bluffs car dealership. Officials arrested, charged, and convicted teenagers Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee. After 25 years in prison, the Iowa Supreme Court voted to overturn Harrington’s conviction based on suppressed evidence and recanted testimony. According to Harrington and several eyewitnesses, including