[VIDEO] Iowa: Weird & Interesting State Facts

View Full

Weird & Interesting State Facts Playlist

View Full

Weird & Interesting State Facts Playlist

Iowa: Cornfields, Curious Laws, and UFO Capital Claims

Transcript:

Welcome to Iowa—the Hawkeye State! While it’s often associated with corn, tractors, and wide-open fields, Iowa is full of strange laws, quirky traditions, and some truly surprising landmarks that make it one of the most interesting stops on our 50-state tour.

Let’s start with some weird laws. In Mount Vernon, it’s illegal to throw a red rag at a bull. In case you’re wondering—yes, that’s still technically on the books. And in Ottumwa, men must not wink at women they don’t know. Apparently, flirtation regulation is real in Iowa.

Now let’s talk about unusual landmarks. Ever heard of the Villisca Axe Murder House? It’s the site of a grisly unsolved crime from 1912, and today, it’s open for ghost tours and overnight stays—if you dare. And then there’s Riverside, Iowa, which proudly claims to be the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek. There’s even a monument and an annual Trek Fest!

So what makes Iowa truly unique? It’s the only state where the presidential race unofficially begins—thanks to the Iowa Caucuses. It’s also home to Le Mars, the Ice Cream Capital of the World, where Blue Bunny churns out millions of gallons of ice cream every year. And let’s not forget Iowa’s Museum of Broken Relationships—yes, that’s a real thing.

From haunted houses to sci-fi shrines and laws against winking, Iowa proves there’s much more to this heartland state than corn. Like, comment, and subscribe for more weird and interesting facts from all 50 U.S. states!