IOWA
Capital City: Des Moines
HISTORY
Iowa became a state on December 28, 1846. Native Sauk and Meskwaki tribes were driven west and settled there in the 1700s. The first Europeans to this area were French Explorers in 1673. In 1803 the U.S obtained the land as part of the Louisiana Purchase. In the early 1800s Iowa was known as the Indian Territory.
STATE SYMBOLS
State Snack: S'mores
State Insect: The Honey Bee
State Fish: Channel Catfish
State Rock: Geode
State Flag: Iowa
State Tree: Bur Oak
State Flower: Wild Prairie Rose
State Bird: Eastern Goldfinch
PLACES TO SEE IN IOWA
Shrine of the Grotto
The Shrine of the Grotto is considered to be the largest shrine in the world. The shrine was created by Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein. Father Paul came to the U.S when he was only 20 years old from Germany. People call the Shrine of the Grotto the 8th wonder of the world.
Des Moines Art Center
Lake Okobojii
The Des Moines Art Center was founded in 1916, but was opened on June, 2 1948. Some artists showcased there are Isabel Bishop, Cindy Sherman, and Louis Stettner.
Lake Okoboji was named when the Dacotah Indians called it "Okoboozhy". It's a large chain of glacia-carved lakes. West Okoboji is the second largest lake in the chain covering 3850 acres. Arnolds Park is an amusement park that was started in 1889 and is still in operation today. Other attractions to the Lake include boating, fishing and dining.
STATE FACTS
Iowa was the 29th State to join the United States. It's the 26th largest state with an area of 56,276 square miles. It's nickname is the "Hawkeye State." According to Ripley's Believe It or Not, Snake Alley in the city of Burlington is the most crooked street in the world. On the Iowa Quarter, there is a picture of a schoolhouse and a teacher and students planting a tree. Some famous Iowans include John Wayne, Johnny Carson and Herbert Hoover. More hogs are raised in Iowa than any other state and Iowa also grows more corn than any other state.