October 2, 1860 – The Iowa State Fair kicks off its first visit to Iowa City – running four days during the first week in October.
Most folks don’t realize that the world-renowned Iowa State Fair – which began in 1854 – didn’t start off in Des Moines – but in Fairfield. As a matter of fact, the Fair stayed in communities throughout eastern Iowa for 25 years before making it to Des Moines in 1879!
After two-year stays in Fairfield (1854-55), Muscatine (1856-57), and Oskaloosa (1858-59), The Seventh Iowa State Fair came to Iowa City – and the good people of Johnson County were certainly ready to host the event. 1860 was a pivotal year for both Iowa and the nation. A young senator from Illinois – named Abraham Lincoln – was running for President, and in October – one month before the election – his rival Stephen A. Douglas was scheduled to speak in Iowa City. But before that big event, the first week of October 1860 – October 2nd through the 5th – was set aside for all Iowans to come to the fair. While the autumn weather was a bit wet, still the crowds came – with over 8,000 attending The Trial of Speed – featuring Iowa’s three fastest stallions.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE.
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