5 fun facts you didn’t know about Cedar Falls, Iowa

5 fun facts you didn’t know about Cedar Falls, Iowa

Whether you’re from the area, in town for work, or just driving through, there are plenty of fun things to learn about and cool places to explore in Cedar Falls. Here are some fun facts you may not have known about the small college town in northern Iowa: 

Cedar Falls has a big sister

Cedar Falls and neighboring Waterloo have been considered sister cities for over 150 years. According to KCRR radio, there was a nearby town named Cedar Valley in the 1800s, but it dissolved after it lost its railroad depot and was struck by fire.

Cedar Falls is home to one of the country’s few Ice House Museum 

According to its website, the Cedar Falls Ice House Museum is the only museum in the U.S. that tells the story of ice harvesting in an original ice house! The 100-foot historic building was used for ice harvesting from 1921 to 1934. Now, it serves as a small museum located at the corner of Franklin Avenue and 1^st Street. Admission is $5 and it’s open from May through mid-October on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Wrestling star and Olympic gold medalist Dan Gable is from the area 

Dan Gable grew up in the Cedar Valley before wrestling at Iowa State, becoming a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, winning a world gold medal and then an Olympic gold medal. He has been the head wrestling coach for the University of Iowa, three Olympic teams and six world teams. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is in Waterloo, right next door to Cedar Falls. 

Soda Fountain Spigots and Double Flue Chimneys were invented in Cedar Falls

Regardless of how relevant they are today, we can thank Cedar Falls for double flue chimneys and soda fountain spigots, according to CedarFallsTourism.com. Neighboring towns have taken credit for gas tractors (visit the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum) and clip on bowties. Other cities in Iowa gave us the first automatic electronic computer, sliced bread, Blue Bunny Ice Cream, vending machines and Pinterest.

Cedar Falls was originally named Sturgis Falls 

Cedar Falls was founded in 1845 by William Sturgis and subsequently named Sturgis Falls. But rumor has it, the town’s first postmaster, Charles Mullan, wrote “Cedar Falls” when he requested a post office be established in the area. Ultimately, Sturgis Falls merged with Cedar City – a small old town across the Cedar River – so today the name makes sense. The town still hosts a week-long Sturgis Falls Celebration every year. 

Don Hummer Trucking has jobs available in Cedar Falls and is headquartered about 60 miles southeast in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We offer CDL-A drivers great pay, consistent miles and home time you can count on. 

Let us know your favorite things about Cedar Falls in the comments below or contact us! Or apply for one of our CDL-A truck driver jobs today!