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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
The banner, designed by Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt of Knoxville and a member of the D.A.R., consists of three vertical stripes of blue, white and red. Gebhardt explained that the blue stands for loyalty, justice, and truth; the white for purity; and the red for courage. On the white centre stripe is an eagle carrying in its beak blue streamers inscribed with the state motto, "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." The word Iowa is in red letters just below the streamers.
Nickname: The Hawkeye State.
Capital: Des Moines.
Constitution: The 29th State.
Statehood: December 28th 1846.
Motto: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
History:
The Iowa region was once the home of prehistoric Indians called Mound Builders. In 1673, the French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette were the first whites to see the region. France claimed Iowa as part of the vast area named Louisiana. The region became part of the U.S.A. in 1803.
Permanent settlements began in the Iowa region in 1833, following the defeat of Indians by the U.S. Army in the Black Hawk War.
Steamboating grew into a giant industry on the Mississippi River between 1850 and 1870. By 1870, four railways ran across the state. During the early 1900's, the railways provided new markets for industries, and new dams provided power. Between 1945 and the late 1960's, Iowa changed from a farm economy to an industrial-agricultural one. A farm slump that began in the 1980's seriously affected the future of many people in Iowa's small towns and rural areas.
Bird:
The Iowa General Assembly designated the eastern goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch and the wild canary, as the official state bird in 1933. It was chosen as the state bird because it is commonly found in Iowa and often stays through the winter. Seeds from dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed and evening primrose are the main source of food for the eastern goldfinch (carduelis tristis). In late July or early August, goldfinches build their nests from plant materials and line them with thistledown. The pale blue-white eggs of the eastern goldfinch hatch after two weeks and then, following two to three more weeks, the young birds leave the nest. The top of a male's head is topped with black and their bright yellow body also has black wings and tail. The female has a dull olive-yellow body with a brown tail and wings. The male goldfinch acquires the same dull plumage in the winter months.
Economy:
Agriculture: Hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle, dairy products.
Industry: Food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, primary metals.
Flower:
The 26th Iowa General Assembly designated the wild rose as the official state flower in 1897. It was chosen for the honour because it was one of the decorations used on the silver service which the state presented to the battleship USS Iowa that same year. Although no particular species of the flower was designated by the General Assembly, the wild prairie rose (rosa pratincola) is most often cited as the official flower. Wild roses are found throughout the state and bloom from June through late summer. The flower, in varying shades of pink, is set off by many yellow stamens in the centre.
Seal:
One of the initial acts of the first General Assembly in 1847 was to create the Great Seal of Iowa.
The two-inch diameter seal pictures a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. An eagle is overhead holding in its beak a scroll bearing the state motto: "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." The motto was the work of a three-member Senate committee and was incorporated into the design of the seal at their suggestion.
The Great Seal cannot be used without the permission of the governor. The state seal is retained in the custody of and under the control of the governor, who uses the seal for official documents and functions.
Tree:
The oak was designated as the official state tree in 1961. The Iowa General Assembly chose the oak because it is abundant in the state and serves as shelter, food and nesting cover for many animals and birds. It is difficult to find a tract of natural woodland in Iowa that does not have in it at least one species of oak. No other group of trees is more important to people and wildlife. Acorns, the nuts of oak trees, are a dietary staple of many animals and birds. Deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles and several kinds of woodpeckers are a few of the species that depend on acorns for a significant portion of their diet.
It is difficult to find a tract of natural woodland in Iowa that does not harbour at least one species of Oak. No other group of trees is more important to people and wildlife. Acorns, the nuts of Oak trees, are a dietary staple of many animals and birds. Wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles, and several kinds of woodpeckers are a few of the species that depend on acorns for a significant portion of their diet.
The Iowa region was once the home of prehistoric Indians called Mound Builders. In 1673, the French explorers Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette were the first whites to see the region. France claimed Iowa as part of the vast area named Louisiana. The region became part of the U.S.A. in 1803.
Permanent settlements began in the Iowa region in 1833, following the defeat of Indians by the U.S. Army in the Black Hawk War.
Steamboating grew into a giant industry on the Mississippi River between 1850 and 1870. By 1870, four railways ran across the state. During the early 1900's, the railways provided new markets for industries, and new dams provided power. Between 1945 and the late 1960's, Iowa changed from a farm economy to an industrial-agricultural one. A farm slump that began in the 1980's seriously affected the future of many people in Iowa's small towns and rural areas.
Bird:
The Iowa General Assembly designated the eastern goldfinch, also known as the American goldfinch and the wild canary, as the official state bird in 1933. It was chosen as the state bird because it is commonly found in Iowa and often stays through the winter. Seeds from dandelions, sunflowers, ragweed and evening primrose are the main source of food for the eastern goldfinch (carduelis tristis). In late July or early August, goldfinches build their nests from plant materials and line them with thistledown. The pale blue-white eggs of the eastern goldfinch hatch after two weeks and then, following two to three more weeks, the young birds leave the nest. The top of a male's head is topped with black and their bright yellow body also has black wings and tail. The female has a dull olive-yellow body with a brown tail and wings. The male goldfinch acquires the same dull plumage in the winter months.
Economy:
Agriculture: Hogs, corn, soybeans, oats, cattle, dairy products.
Industry: Food processing, machinery, electric equipment, chemical products, printing and publishing, primary metals.
Flower:
The 26th Iowa General Assembly designated the wild rose as the official state flower in 1897. It was chosen for the honour because it was one of the decorations used on the silver service which the state presented to the battleship USS Iowa that same year. Although no particular species of the flower was designated by the General Assembly, the wild prairie rose (rosa pratincola) is most often cited as the official flower. Wild roses are found throughout the state and bloom from June through late summer. The flower, in varying shades of pink, is set off by many yellow stamens in the centre.
Seal:
One of the initial acts of the first General Assembly in 1847 was to create the Great Seal of Iowa.
The two-inch diameter seal pictures a citizen soldier standing in a wheat field, surrounded by farming and industrial tools, with the Mississippi River in the background. An eagle is overhead holding in its beak a scroll bearing the state motto: "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain." The motto was the work of a three-member Senate committee and was incorporated into the design of the seal at their suggestion.
The Great Seal cannot be used without the permission of the governor. The state seal is retained in the custody of and under the control of the governor, who uses the seal for official documents and functions.
Tree:
The oak was designated as the official state tree in 1961. The Iowa General Assembly chose the oak because it is abundant in the state and serves as shelter, food and nesting cover for many animals and birds. It is difficult to find a tract of natural woodland in Iowa that does not have in it at least one species of oak. No other group of trees is more important to people and wildlife. Acorns, the nuts of oak trees, are a dietary staple of many animals and birds. Deer, wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles and several kinds of woodpeckers are a few of the species that depend on acorns for a significant portion of their diet.
It is difficult to find a tract of natural woodland in Iowa that does not harbour at least one species of Oak. No other group of trees is more important to people and wildlife. Acorns, the nuts of Oak trees, are a dietary staple of many animals and birds. Wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles, and several kinds of woodpeckers are a few of the species that depend on acorns for a significant portion of their diet.