Iowa, northern state of America nicknamed Hawkeye State. According to ablogtophone, the state has an area of 145,743 km² and more than 3 million inhabitants. The state capital is Des Moines.
The name of the state already shows that the territory used to be populated by Native Americans. The state is named after the Ioway Indian tribe, also known as Iowa. Its nickname, Hawkeye State, refers to Native American leader Black Hawk (1767-1838). During the War of 1812, the Indian fought on the side of the British against the United States, hoping to drive the white settlers from the Native American territory.
So before Europeans colonized the area, Iowa was populated by various Native American tribes such as the Ioway. Whites first visited the area in 1673. Frenchmen Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first to visit Iowa. The state was in French hands until 1763. Spaniards took over the area in that period, but had to cede it to the French again in 1800. In 1803 the area came into American hands through the so-called Louisiana Purchase, in which America bought an area of 2.1 million km² from France for 15 million dollars.
Only after the so-called Black Hawk War (1832) in which the whites fought various Indian tribes did Iowa become more massively populated by the whites.
According to bestitude, Iowa joined the United States on December 28, 1846, as the 29th. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the state joined the Union of Northern States.
Flag and motto of Iowa
The red white blue colored flag of the state features an image of an eagle holding a ribbon. On this ribbon is written the motto of the state: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain. The flag, which dates from 1921, has the colors red, white and blue as a reference to the French past.
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
From 1846 to 1869, Mormons – members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – traveled across the territory of the United States of America to find their promised land. They originally settled in the settlement of Nauvoo, Illinois, but their leaders did not agree with the location and therefore organized another move. The area of today’s Salt Lake City was blindly chosen.
The plan for this move included building a winter base on the Missouri River. In April 1847, 149 Mormons set out on a long and painful journey, which initially actually followed the route of the already well-known Oregon Trail. However, once they crossed the Rocky Mountains, they turned south and continued to the Great Salt Lake, where they arrived in July of that year.
By 1869, more than 70,000 members of this church had walked along this path, later called the Mormon Trail. The loss of life was by no means great, thanks mainly to the excellent paramilitary organization, discipline and mutual aid. Mormon caravans thus suffered far fewer losses than pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail. During the journey, the Mormons managed to build many interesting structures, especially churches, on the trail.
When the Mormons arrived at the Great Salt Lake, they were somewhat disillusioned with the surrounding landscape, which was very inhospitable, desolate, and surrounded by mountains on all sides. However, within just one year, they managed to build an efficient irrigation system here, and within ten years, prosperous agriculture was already operating in the desert. The Mormon Church is still very widespread and successful today, with around seven million people worldwide.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area
Silos & Smokestacks is a National Historic Landmark located in Northeast Iowa. The local landscape has a great tradition of agriculture, which is why you will come across farms, old mills, vineyards and other farms at almost every turn.
In addition, you have the opportunity to get to know the local and traditional way of life. Agritourism is widespread here, and those interested can stay directly on the farm and help with the daily work. The main activities on the farm include taking care of the animals, including feeding them, cleaning them, milking the cows and many others.
In addition, there is beautiful nature in the surroundings, which allows for numerous hiking trips to explore. Wide steppes here alternate with deep forests and wild river valleys, such as the Mississippi River.