A gigantic map of all the cool plaques in the world. A project of 99% Invisible.

First Land-Grant

Iowa started an education revolution as the first state to accept the 1862 Morrill Act terms. The act allowed Iowa to sell federal land to finance a new college open to all regardless of wealth,...

Iowa started an education revolution as the first state to accept the 1862 Morrill Act terms. The act allowed Iowa to sell federal land to finance a new college open to all regardless of...

    Library Boy and Girl

    Artist: Christian Petersen (Danish-American, 1885-1961) Title: Library Boy and Girl 2008 casts from 1944 plaster maquettes Media: Bronze   Petersen's Library Boy and Girl depict two students...

    Artist: Christian Petersen (Danish-American, 1885-1961) Title: Library Boy and Girl 2008 casts from 1944 plaster maquettes Media: Bronze   Petersen's Library Boy and Girl depict two students...

    • art sculpture

    Largest Grant Wood Murals

    Grant Wood's largest murals are located in Iowa State's Parks Library. Wood, best known for his painting American Gothic that depicts a stoic farm couple, was commissioned by Iowa State in the...

    Grant Wood's largest murals are located in Iowa State's Parks Library. Wood, best known for his painting American Gothic that depicts a stoic farm couple, was commissioned by Iowa State in...

      Atanasoff-Berry Computer

      Vacuum Tubes from the Atanasoff-Berry Computer The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) was the first computer to utilize electronics in carrying out computer operations and digital arithmetic...

      Vacuum Tubes from the Atanasoff-Berry Computer The Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC) was the first computer to utilize electronics in carrying out computer operations and digital...

      • computer history

      First Water Tower West of the Mississippi

      The 168-foot-tall Marston Water Tower was the first elevated steel water tank west of the Mississippi River when it was erected in 1897. It is named for Anson Marston, Iowa State's first...

      The 168-foot-tall Marston Water Tower was the first elevated steel water tank west of the Mississippi River when it was erected in 1897. It is named for Anson Marston, Iowa State's...

        First Artist-in- Residence

        Christian Petersen was the first artist-in-residence at a university in the United States when he sculpted at Iowa State from 1934 through 1955. Petersen is becoming recognized as one of the best...

        Christian Petersen was the first artist-in- residence at a university in the United States when he sculpted at Iowa State from 1934 through 1955. Petersen is becoming recognized as one of the best...

          A Faster Fax

          In 1971, Iowa State electrical engineering doctoral student David Nicholas invented a process to more efficiently convert text into digital information. Facsimile machine manufacturers adopted the...

          In 1971, Iowa State electrical engineering doctoral student David Nicholas invented a process to more efficiently convert text into digital information. Facsimile machine manufacturers adopted the...

            Kissing Under the Campanile

            Iowa State University Campaniling This beloved campanile was built in 1898 and is home to the Stanton Memorial Carillon.  The carillon bells ring daily and tradition states that a student...

            Iowa State University Campaniling This beloved campanile was built in 1898 and is home to the Stanton Memorial Carillon.  The carillon bells ring daily and tradition states that a...

              Chemical Analysis Innovation

              "Pioneering work in inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy at Iowa State led to an analysis tool that's standard in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Developed in 1966 by professor and Ames...

              "Pioneering work in inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy at Iowa State led to an analysis tool that's standard in thousands of laboratories worldwide. Developed in 1966 by professor and...

                First Statistical Laboratory in the US

                Iowa State University First Statistical Laboratory Established in 1933, the Statistical Laboratory at Iowa State was the first research and consulting institute of its kind in the country.  Early...

                Iowa State University First Statistical Laboratory Established in 1933, the Statistical Laboratory at Iowa State was the first research and consulting institute of its kind in the country. ...

                  World's Hardiest Roses

                  Revered by rose lovers, legendary Iowa State University horticulturist Griffith Buck developed more than 90 rose varieties from the late 1940s to his retirement in 1985. His roses are considered...

                  Revered by rose lovers, legendary Iowa State University horticulturist Griffith Buck developed more than 90 rose varieties from the late 1940s to his retirement in 1985. His roses are...

                    Birthplace of the Computer

                    The world's first electronic digital computer was built on the Iowa State campus from 1939 through 1942 by John V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics, and Clifford Berry, an...

                    The world's first electronic digital computer was built on the Iowa State campus from 1939 through 1942 by John V. Atanasoff, a professor of physics and mathematics, and Clifford Berry,...

                      Largest Student-Run Festival

                      Iowa State University Largest Student-Organized Festival Veishea, founded in 1922, is the nation's largest student-run celebration.  The name is an acronym for the colleges at Iowa State in...

                      Iowa State University Largest Student-Organized Festival Veishea, founded in 1922, is the nation's largest student-run celebration.  The name is an acronym for the colleges at Iowa State...

                        First Land-Grant Home Economics College

                        In 1871, Iowa State became the first land-grant institution in the nation to teach "domestic science." In 1872, Mary B. Welch, wife of Iowa State President Adonijah Welch, became the first...

                        In 1871, Iowa State became the first land-grant institution in the nation to teach "domestic science." In 1872, Mary B. Welch, wife of Iowa State President Adonijah Welch, became the...

                          Innovative Baler

                          Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented a...

                          Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented...

                            First Ag Engineering Degree

                            The first agricultural engineering degree in the world was granted at Iowa State University in 1910. J. Brownlee Davidson led the development of the discipline which applied engineering and...

                            The first agricultural engineering degree in the world was granted at Iowa State University in 1910. J. Brownlee Davidson led the development of the discipline which applied engineering...

                              Birthplace of Cooperative Extension

                              In 1903, the nation's first cooperative agricultural extension program was launched when Iowa State professor Perry Holden, a group of farmers in Sioux County, and the county's board of...

                              In 1903, the nation's first cooperative agricultural extension program was launched when Iowa State professor Perry Holden, a group of farmers in Sioux County, and the county's board...

                                Fountain of the Four Seasons

                                University Museums gratefully acknowledges the major donors who funded the 1998 conservation of   FOUNTAIN OF THE FOUR SEASONS by Christian Petersen   Estate of Edith and Tersten Lagerstron...

                                University Museums gratefully acknowledges the major donors who funded the 1998 conservation of FOUNTAIN OF THE FOUR SEASONS by Christian Petersen   Estate of Edith and Tersten Lagerstron...

                                  Lake Laverne

                                  THIS LAKE WAS A GIFT IN 1916 TO IOWA STATE COLLEGE FROM DR. LAVERNE W. NOYES ALUMNUS 1872 MANUFACTURER AND PHILANTROPIST   Submitted by Bryan Arnold @nanowhiskers

                                  THIS LAKE WAS A GIFT IN 1916 TO IOWA STATE COLLEGE FROM DR. LAVERNE W. NOYES ALUMNUS 1872 MANUFACTURER AND PHILANTROPIST   Submitted by Bryan Arnold @nanowhiskers

                                    First Veterinary Medicine College

                                    In 1879, Iowa State University established the first public college of veterinary medicine in the United States. In 1903, Iowa State began offering the nation’s first four-year professional...

                                    In 1879, Iowa State University established the first public college of veterinary medicine in the United States. In 1903, Iowa State began offering the nation’s first four-year professional...