Throughout 1989, Iowa City celebrated its 150th birthday – with the biggest celebration coming on May 4-5-6. Read more here. But earlier – throughout that same year – the Iowa City Press-Citizen published various articles surrounding the sesquicentennial celebration, and here, we offer an intriguing 8-page overview that was published on February 17, 1989 entitled… Chronology – a chronological listing of area businesses complete with trivia questions spanning Iowa City’s 150-year history. We’ve added some links along the way that are associated with the trivia questions that Iowa City’s historian – Irving B. Weber offered. Enjoy!
Read more about Governor Robert Lucas and Plum Grove.
Read more about SUI’s President’s Home.
Read more about Chauncey Swan & the founding of Iowa City.
Read more about John R. Rague and the design for Iowa’s new capitol building.
Read more about Jesse Berry and his role in Iowa City’s first school.
Read more about small Johnson County communities such as Lone Tree, Oxford & Solon.
Read more about Governor Samuel J. Kirwood.
Read more about Mark Twain and his1869 (not 1867) visit to Iowa City.
Read more about The Plug (BCR&N) and other Iowa City railroads.
Read more about Iowa City’s first mayor and those that followed.
Read more about The Interurban (CRANDIC) and other Iowa City railroads.
Read more about Teresa Feldevert and the Black Angel in Oakland Cemetery.
Read more about Iowa City’s strong heritage as a city of education – The Athens of Iowa.
Read more about the big July 4th, 1840 celebration in Iowa City.
Read about Chauncey Swan‘s response to the California Gold Rush.
Read about the early years of University of Iowa Football.
Read more about Iowa City’s Slezak National Hall (Narodni Sin).
Read more about roads in Johnson County and the Red Ball Route.
Read more about Prohibition in Iowa and across Johnson County.
Read more about Iowa City’s earliest hotels – including the Lean Back Hall.
Read more about The Jefferson Hotel – which opened in 1913.
Read about Coralville‘s earliest days which included the Clarksville Mill.
Read more about the Iowa City Rock Island Depot & The Hawkeye Express.
Read more about the Forest Evashevski era in University of Iowa football.
Read more about SUI’s Science Hall (Calvin Hall) and its big move.
Read more about Whetstone’s Drug Store and other downtown businesses in the 1880’s.
Read more about the Bridges of Iowa City.
Read more about Iowa’s famous artist – Grant Wood.
Read more about Iowa City’s first woman mayor – Emma J. Harvat.
Read more about the SUI Armory built at the foot of the Iowa River.
Read more about Iowa City’s Centennial Celebration in 1939.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief return to 1989 and Iowa City’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.
Kudos to the amazing resources below for the many quotes, photographs, etc. used on this page.
Chronology, Iowa City Press-Citizen, February 17, 1989, pp 29-37
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