John Vincent Atanasoff was a scientist at Iowa State University
in Ames, IA. He wanted to invent a machine that could figure hard
math problems. At a table in a small caf Atanasoff worked out some
ideas to create the modern computer. The university gave him a
little money and an assistant, Clifford Berry. In early trial runs
the small computer worked, so they went on to the full scale model.
When World War 2 started the men left Ames to get government jobs.
In the 1950s other inventors (wanting to invent the computer) saw
what John and Clifford had done. They had basically created the
modern day computer!
Slide 4
The Blue Bunny Factory is located in Lemars,IA. The company was
founded in 1913. The factory produces 100 million gallons of ice
cream a year. It produces more ice cream than any other company in
the world! AWESOME!
Slide 5
Corn is one of Iowas main crops. Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and
Michigan produce 50% of corn grown in the U.S. Corn is grown in
every continent except Antarctica. The Corn Belt includes the
states Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio,
Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, and
Kentucky.
Slide 6
Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. The city was founded in
1843, but became Iowas state capital in 1851. It was named after
the Des Moines River. Des Moines was originally called Fort Des
Moines, but it changed to Des Moines in 1857.
Slide 7
The Effigy Mounds are located in Allamakee/Clayton county in
Iowa. An effigy mound is a raised pile of earth built into the
shape of animals, symbols, religious figure, or human figure.
Effigy Mounds were built in the Late Woodland Period (AD
350-1300).
Slide 8
Iowas state flower is the Wild Rose. It became the state flower
in 1897. The Wild Rose grows from June to late summer. The flowers
petals are varying shades of pink with yellow stamen in the middle.
The Wild Rose has been around for around 35 million years. It grows
naturally throughout North America. The flowers petals and rose
hips can be eaten and have been used in medicines since ancient
times.
Slide 9
Geodes are Iowas state rock. The outer part of a geode is
usually limestone and the inside is usually crystal and/or
chalcedony deposits. Some geodes can be completely filled with
crystal, being solid all the way through.
Slide 10
Herbert Hoover was born in West Branch,IA. He was the 31 st
president of the United States. Herbert Hoover was the first
president to live west of the Mississippi and is still the only
Iowan president.
Slide 11
The Iowa Hawkeyes are the team that represents the University
of Iowa in Iowa City. The team participates in Division 1 in the
NCAA and are members of the Big Ten Conference. Their current
football coach is Kirk Ferentz.
Slide 12
John Wayne was born in Winterset,IA. In over 50 years and 200
films John became the greatest figure of the American art, western.
He won an Oscar in 1964 for best actor in the movie True Grit.
Slide 13
MacKinlay Kantor was born and raised in Webster City, IA. He
was a journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. Kantor has written
more than 30 novels and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956.
Neat!
Slide 14
Cloris Leachmen was born in Des Moines,IA. Leachmen has acted
in many films like: Young Frankenstein, and Texasville. She has
also acted in television shows like: Malcolm in the Middle, and
Phyllis. Leachmen has won 8 Primetime Emmy awards (more than any
actor), 1 Daytime Emmy award, and 1 Academy award.
Slide 15
Mary Jane Odells family has lived in Iowa for generations. Mary
Jane won the Emmy for outstanding individual achievement, twice.
When she was a teenager she was voted Miss Merry Christmas. Mary
Jane was also the first women to be elected secretary of
state.
Slide 16
Norman Borlaug from age 7 to 19 lived on a farm in west
Protivin,IA. Borlaug was an American agronomist, humanitarian, and
Nobel laureate. He was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize,
Presidential Medal of freedom, Congressional Gold Medal, and the
Padma Vibhushan, Indias 2 nd highest civilian honor.
Slide 17
Iowas state tree is the Oak tree. It became the official state
tree in 1961. The Oak tree was chosen because it provides shelter,
food, and nesting for wildlife. Its is hard to find a natural
woodland in Iowa without one type of Oak in it.
Slide 18
The television show American Pickers stars Mike Wolfe and Frank
Fritz. They go around the country picking antiques and collectibles
out of peoples barns, sheds, you name it. Mike and Frank then sell
the items they bought at their store in Le Clair,IA. The show runs
on the History Channel.
Slide 19
The Quaker Oats Company was founded in 1901, and is located in
Cedar Rapids, IA. The company makes $10,081,972,025 a year! The
Quaker Man is not a real person but a representation of a man
dressed in Quaker garb. The Quaker Man has also been mistaken as
Benjamin Franklin.
Slide 20
Ragbrai stands for Register's Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
It is a non- competitive bike ride across Iowa that draws riders
for across the U.S. and overseas. They ride from and Iowan
community on Iowas western border to another community on Iowas
eastern border. WOW! I didnt know that!
Slide 21
Shawn Johnson was born in Des Moines, IA. Miss Johnson competed
in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. She won 1 gold, and 2
silver medals. In 2009 Shawn won Dancing with the Stars with her
partner Mark Ballas.
Slide 22
Beaconsfield is the smallest town in Iowa. Its population is a
whopping eleven and is located in Ringgold County.
Slide 23
The University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, and was
established February 2, 1847. The University of Iowa (U of I) is
the oldest university in the state. Its mascot is Herky the
Hawkeye. (See picture of Herky on slide letter I.)
Slide 24
Abigail Van Buren had never written professionally until one
day she contacted the the San Francisco Chronicle saying that she
could write a better advice column than the one that was currently
in the paper. She and the editor exchanged a few letters and she
got interviewed. Since she was Abigail Van Buren she became Abby.
The column became a instant success. Abigails twin sister, Esther
Pauline, also became an advice columnist writing as Ann Landers.
When Van Burens health declined her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, took
over the advice column.
Slide 25
In 1849 Wyatt Earp and his family settled in Pella, IA. Wyatt
is known for his gunfight at the O.K. Corral along with Doc
Holliday and two of his brothers, Vigil and Morgan Earp. In the
30sec. gunfight they killed 3 cowboys whom they had been fighting
with for months. Today Wyatts reputation in the Old West is the
toughest and deadliest gunman of his day.
Slide 26
The Xenia Rural Water District provides water to members part
of eleven counties west and northwest of Des Moines. The District
owns six wastewater lagoons and one active wastewater
facility.
Slide 27
The Yucca plant is found in western Iowa, along the Missouri
River. It lives in Iowas prairies where there is rich, fertile
soil. WHOA!
Slide 28
The Blank Park Zoo is the only accredited zoo in Iowa. It is
located in Des Moines and is home to over 800 creatures. Cool!