Iowa is located in the Midwestern United States and is known for its rolling hills, fertile soil, and agricultural production. It’s also home to the first presidential nominating caucuses, which draw national attention every four years. Though small in size, Iowa has a rich history and culture that can stump even longtime residents with tricky riddles. Test your knowledge of the Hawkeye State with these 37 riddles about Iowa – complete with answers!
Riddles about Iowa’s Geography
Riddle 1
Q: I’m a famous bluff overlooking the Mississippi River on Iowa’s eastern border. Locals nicknamed me the “Little Grand Canyon.” What am I?
A: Pike’s Peak State Park
Riddle 2
Q: I’m a unique landform in northwestern Iowa made up of hundreds of steep, dome-shaped hills. What am I?
A: The Loess Hills
Riddle 3
Q: I’m Iowa’s highest point above sea level at 1,672 feet. Look for me in Osceola County. What landmark am I?
A: Hawkeye Point
Riddle 4
Q: I’m a limestone gorge cutting through trees and cliffs in northeast Iowa’s Pictured Rocks County Park. What am I?
A: The Pictured Rocks
Riddle 5
Q: I’m a rock formation on the banks of the Iowa River near Marshalltown. I’m shaped like a massive pipe organ. What am I?
A: Pipe Organ Rock
Riddles about Iowa’s Cities and Towns
Riddle 6
Q: I’m Iowa’s capital and most populous city. Look for me along the Des Moines River in central Iowa. What city am I?
A: Des Moines
Riddle 7
Q: I’m a small eastern Iowa town known for my covered bridges. One of my wooden bridges is the oldest of its kind in the world. What historic town am I?
A: Madison County
Riddle 8
Q: I’m an Iowa city right on the Mississippi River across from Illinois. I inspired the fictional “River City” in the musical The Music Man. What city am I?
A: Davenport
Riddle 9
Q: I’m a Midwestern city split by the Missouri River on the Nebraska border. I’m Iowa’s longest city from north to south. What city am I?
A: Council Bluffs
Riddle 10
Q: I’m an eastern Iowa city known as the “Buckles of the Corn Belt” for my history in the farming machinery industry. John Deere is headquartered here. What city am I?
A: Moline
Riddles about Iowa Culture and Heritage
Riddle 11
Q: I’m a museum in Waterloo showcasing some famous paintings by Iowa native Grant Wood, including “American Gothic.” What museum am I?
A: The Cedar Falls Center for the Arts
Riddle 12
Q: I’m a musical set in Iowa that debuted on Broadway in 1957. My most famous song is “Ya Got Trouble.” What musical am I?
A: The Music Man
Riddle 13
Q: I’m a novel by Iowa native Bill Bryson about his humorous childhood experiences growing up in Des Moines in the 1950s and 60s. What book am I?
A: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
Riddle 14
Q: I’m a sci-fi novel and 2009 film directed by Iowa native Phil Johnston. I’m about a boy named James trying to save his town from space aliens. What story am I?
A: The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
Riddle 15
Q: I’m a 1989 film starring Kevin Costner about Ray Kinsella, an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield. What movie am I?
A: Field of Dreams
Riddles about Iowa Sports
Riddle 16
Q: I’m a Major League Baseball team located in Des Moines. I’m the AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Who am I?
A: The Iowa Cubs
Riddle 17
Q: I’m an annual college football game between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. It’s been described as one of the most intense rivalries in sports. What game am I?
A: The Cy-Hawk Game
Riddle 18
Q: I’m a prestigious annual track and field meet for high school students, held in Des Moines since 1910. What event am I?
A: The Drake Relays
Riddle 19
Q: I’m a professional men’s tennis tournament held annually in Des Moines. Top players like Andy Murray, John Isner and Milos Raonic have won my championship. What tournament am I?
A: The Hy-Vee Open
Riddle 20
Q: I’m a NASCAR racetrack located in Newton, Iowa. I host the Hy-VeeDeals.com 250 and Prairie Meadows 200 races. What track am I?
A: The Iowa Speedway
Riddles about Iowa Foods
Riddle 21
Q: I’m a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich popularized in Iowa. I’m made by pounding a seasoned pork tenderloin thin and coating it in breadcrumbs before frying. What am I?
A: The Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Riddle 22
Q: I’m a creamy fermented dairy product created in Iowa in the 1940s by Alvena and Margie Schnoor. Today I’m one of the Hawkeye State’s best-known foods. What am I?
A: Iowa-style yogurt
Riddle 23
Q: I’m a fizzy lemon-lime soda invented by Clayton Townsend in 1929 and popularized across Iowa. What carbonated beverage am I?
A: Townsend’s Sipp
Riddle 24
Q: I’m a flavorful hotdish casserole made with ground beef, elbow macaroni and cream of mushroom soup. I was created in Iowa in the 1950s. What dish am I?
A: Tater Tot Hotdish
Riddle 25
Q: I’m a sweet corn and egg based custard pie known as one of Iowa’s classic desserts. What pie am I?
A: Iowa Corn Pie
Riddles about Iowa’s Economy and Industries
Riddle 26
Q: I’m a global agriculture company headquartered in Des Moines. My name comes from a merger of two farm equipment companies in 1902. What company am I?
A: John Deere
Riddle 27
Q: I’m an insurance and financial services company based in Cedar Rapids. I was founded as an agricultural insurer in 1939 by a man named Henry B. Tippie. What company am I?
A: Aegon USA
Riddle 28
Q: I’m a biofuels company headquartered in Sioux Falls that operates Iowa’s largest ethanol plant in Council Bluffs. What company am I?
A: Poet Biorefining
Riddle 29
Q: I’m a manufacturing company headquartered in Pella that makes windows and doors. I also produce wind turbine blades. What company am I?
A: Pella Corporation
Riddle 30
Q: I’m an engine-powered equipment manufacturer headquartered in Dubuque. My subsidiary, John Deere Power Systems, produces diesel engines. What company am I?
A: Deere & Company
Riddles about Iowa’s Colleges and Universities
Riddle 31
Q: I’m a public research university in Iowa City founded in 1847 – it was the first university established in the state. Top areas of study include medicine, law, business and engineering. What university am I?
A: The University of Iowa
Riddle 32
Q: I’m a public land-grant university in Ames known for agriculture, engineering, and science programs. I developed the first electronic digital computer in the 1930s. What university am I?
A: Iowa State University
Riddle 33
Q: I’m a private Presbyterian university located in Decorah. I was the first college in Iowa to admit women and people of all races. What university am I?
A: Luther College
Riddle 34
Q: I’m a private liberal arts college located in Grinnell known for strong academics. I’m named after a leading abolitionist and social reformer. What college am I?
A: Grinnell College
Riddle 35
Q: I’m a Catholic university located in Dubuque and affiliated with the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Notable alumni include NFL player Bob Jeter. What university am I?
A: The University of Dubuque
Riddles about Iowa’s Politics and Government
Riddle 36
Q: I’m an important presidential nominating event held in Iowa every 4 years before primaries begin. I’m the first major contest of the primary season. What am I?
A: The Iowa Caucus
Riddle 37
Q: I’m an Iowa politician who served as governor in the 1930s and 40s. I’m best known for opposing government waste and corruption. What was my nickname?
A: “Watchdog of the Treasury”
Conclusion
How did you do with these riddles about the great state of Iowa? From its rolling plains to its booming agricultural industry, Iowa has a unique culture and heritage that can be challenging to decipher, even for residents. But now you have the inside scoop on everything from its famous landscapes and cities to its beloved foods, sports teams, and colleges. Next time you’re travelling through the Hawkeye State or talking with an Iowan, you can impress them with your newfound knowledge and puzzle them with a tricky riddle or two of your own! Iowa’s complex history and diversity are what make it such an interesting place to live or visit.
