On Sept. 25, 1925, a large boulder with a bronze plaque was placed at the corner of Fourth Street and Grimes Avenue to commemorate a piece of Fairfield history — the site of the very first Iowa State Fair.
The marker was a gift from the Log Cabin Chapter and Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, dedicated to preserving the site where the fair was first held Oct. 25–27, 1854.
Fairfield played a central role in the origins of the Iowa State Fair. The first two state fairs were held here, following years of local agricultural exhibitions organized by the Jefferson County Agricultural Society. On its busiest day, the inaugural fair drew some 8,000 visitors who each paid 25 cents admission in 1854. Contests ranged from livestock and crops to domestic manufacturing and even female horsemanship. By the second year in 1855, attendance swelled to 12,000.
Seventy-one years later, the DAR ensured that Fairfield’s role in state history would not be forgotten. The boulder remains in place today, marking the original fairgrounds between West Grimes and West Lowe avenues and North Second and North Fourth streets.
Thank you to Jake and Jason with the Carnegie Historical Museum for helping me highlight our county with glimpses into the past every week. Look forward to hearing more about our history every Monday on the radio at 104.3 KRKN at 9 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM, with a news and sports broadcast. Articles will be made available either on Monday or Tuesday.
