Learn about 10 innovators & inventors from Iowa

There are several amazing innovators and inventors from Iowa, some of whom may surprise you. Here are 10 you need to know.

Iowa has been home to many notable residents over the years, from gifted artists to groundbreaking inventors. Some of the people on this list will be instantly recognizable, like George Washington Carver and Carrie Lane Chapman Catt. Others may surprise you, either because you didn’t know they hailed from Iowa or because you didn’t realize they were responsible for creating that thing. The nicest part about learning something new, though, is that it opens a door to a world you didn’t know existed before now.

Below, I’m briefly diving into 10 innovators and inventors from Iowa who contributed in both big and small ways. I’ll also point you in the direction of additional resources for each in case you want to take a closer look at someone who particularly resonates with you.

To learn more about other trailblazers and inventors who studied in Iowa, click here. And, for those who are generally curious, here are 8 things you didn’t know were invented in Iowa.

Now, let’s get started!

Sharen Brower

Sharen Brower was born in Ida Grove in 1948. She taught art at Newell-Fonda Schools and was known for the art she painted on local barns, which she referred to as her “memory pictures.” She primarily used watercolors, but she developed an interest in soy-based inks because she wanted to prevent the paint from rubbing off over time. She applied for a patent for her soy ink idea in 1990, which was approved, though she encountered some hiccups along the way.

To learn more about Sharen’s fight to secure her soy ink patent, click here. You can also read through her obituary if you’d like to learn more about her as a person.

George F. Nissen

The inventor of the trampoline, George F. Nissen, was from Cedar Rapids. He admired circus acrobats when he was young, and he followed this love in his own way by becoming a national intercollegiate tumbling champion in the 1930s. He designed and invented the first trampoline model in 1931, and went on to produce them full-time in 1940.

For more information on George, his love of gymnastics, and how this joyful invention came to be, read through this insightful summary.

Carrie Lane Chapman Catt

It would be impossible to talk about innovators without talking about Carrie Lane Chapman Catt. She was an 1880 graduate of Iowa State College and went on to become one of the most legendary figures in the fight for women’s civil rights in the US. Carrie understood the importance of local elections and worked to secure women the right to vote through them. She later went on to organize the League of Women Voters.

Additional facts about Carrie’s inspiring life, work, and legacy can be found here.

George Washington Carver

Scientist and inventor George Washington Carver may have been born in Missouri, but he was the first African-American graduate of Iowa State College, and the first to serve on its faculty. Before he studied agriculture at the school, he actually studied piano and art at Simpson College. Who knows what might have happened if he continued to study the arts instead!

To learn more about George’s significant agricultural contributions, including his peanut products, here’s a condensed version of his biography.

Patrick J. Lawler

What happens when a farm kid doesn’t enjoy working on the farm? Well, the invention of the corn picker, of course! Patrick J. Lawler was tired of picking corn by hand, so he started sketching ideas for a machine that could pick corn for him in 1880. By 1885, he had built the first model of his invention with some help from Chicago lawyer John F. Barry. The rest, as they say, is history.

PBS has some more fun facts about Patrick, and this article provides an even more detailed account of how he designed and created his invention.

Writers & artists 

In addition to scientific minds, Iowa has produced some impressive writers and artists who deserve equal attention. I’ve followed Iowa PBS’s lead and selected a few to highlight, but there are many more out there for you to discover on your own as well.

Nellie Verne Walker

Born in Red Oak, Nellie Verne Walker went on to become a gifted sculptor after first picking up a chisel and hammer to help carve gravestones in her father’s shop. Her most notable work is her statue of James Harlan, though she created many beautiful sculptures (and gravestones) throughout her long life. The Des Moines Register highlighted her incredible career and artistic journey for Iowa History Month, which you can read all about here.

Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling 

Political cartoonist Jay Norwood Darling, who was commonly known by his nickname, “Ding,” lived and worked in Sioux City. He won two Pulitzer Prizes for his work, helped found the National Wildlife Federation, and worked for several Iowa publications, including the Sioux City Journal and the Des Moines Register and Leader.

Take a closer look at some of his famous drawings, then learn more about his life and career by clicking here and here.

Simon Estes

Simon Estes is an “internationally-acclaimed bass baritone” who was born in Centerville. He originally enrolled at the University of Iowa to study medicine in 1957, but went on to devote his time to studying vocal music with faculty member Charles Kellis instead. Simon then went on to study at Juilliard, thanks to funds that were raised for him by the good people of Iowa.

Learn more about Simon and his international opera career here, here, and here.

Bix Beiderbecke

Hailing from Davenport, Leon Bismarck “Bix” Beiderbecke was a famous jazz musician who was primarily known for playing piano and cornet. He went on to become a composer and was celebrated for his pure, inventive approach to creating music, which inspired countless other jazz musicians in the 1920s.

Click here and here to read more about Bix’s life, music, and impact.