Historic Northern Iowa
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 43° 26.714 W 093° 21.268
15T E 471317 N 4810320
Historical marker located at welcome center along I-35 in northern Iowa.
Waymark Code: WM1Z4X
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 08/07/2007
Views: 66
Historic Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa landforms result from the action of 3 separate glacial ice
sheets. Clear lake, south of here, is one of the many Iowa lakes formed by
glacial action. Pilot Knob, a glacially formed hill west of here, is one
of highest points in northern Iowa and was used as a landmark by early
travellers.
Much of the Western two-thirds of Iowa was prairie when the first settlers
arrived. Pioneers in this area travelled through grasses 5 to 7 feet tall.
Many of them referred to this experience as "a voyage through an ocean of
grass." A remnant of this prairie may be seen at the Hayden Preserve near
Lime Springs, about 50 miles east of here.
One noteworthy Iowan, born in Cresco in 1914, is Norman Borlaug, recipient
of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize and many other international awards for his work
in increasing world wheat production. Another northern Iowan of note is
Hamlin Garland (1860-1940), acclaimed for his novels of late 19th century farm
life. Garland wrote over 30 novels, including a Pulitzer Prize winner, A
Daughter of the Middle Border. ~ text of the marker