Alumni Hall, Ames,
IA 50011-2011, USA
www.iastate.edu

History:
Iowa State University was officially founded on March 22, 1858, when Iowa decided to establish a State Agricultural College and Model Farm. Story County was selected as a site on June 21, 1859, and the original farm of 648 acres was purchased for a cost of $5,379. The Farm House, the first building on the Iowa State campus, was completed in 1861, and in 1862, the Iowa legislature voted to accept the provision of the Morrill Act. Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts was founded on the ideals that higher education should be accessible to all and that the university should teach liberal and practical subjects. These ideals are integral to the land-grant university.
The first class entered at Ames in 1869, and the first class (28 men and 2 women) graduated in 1872. Iowa State was and is a leader in agriculture, engineering, extension, home economics, and created the nation's first state veterinary medicine school in 1879.
In 1959, the college was officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The focus on technology has led directly to many research patents and inventions including the first binary computer (the ABC), Maytag blue cheese, the round hay baler, and many more.
Beginning with 30 students and Old Main, Iowa State University now has approximately 27,000 students and over 100 buildings with world class programs in agriculture, technology, science, and art.
Iowa State University is a very special place, full of history. But what truly makes it unique is a rare combination of campus beauty, the opportunity to be a part of the land-grant experiment, and to create a progressive and inventive spirit that we call the Cyclone experience. Appreciate what we have here, for it is indeed, one of a kind. As our faculty, staff, and students go out into the wider world outside of Ames (physically and electronically), we will accomplish great things.

Colleges:

• Agriculture
• Business
• Design
• Engineering
• Graduate
• Human Sciences
• Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Veterinary Medicine