Iowa State Center facts for kids
The Iowa State Center is a special place in Ames, Iowa, located right next to Iowa State University. It's a group of buildings where people enjoy cultural events, sports, and shows. Think of it as a hub for entertainment and learning! The Center includes five main spots: Hilton Coliseum, Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater, Scheman Building, and Jack Trice Stadium.
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Building a Dream: The Iowa State Center Story
The idea for the Iowa State Center came from James Hilton, who was the president of Iowa State University back in 1954. He wanted to create a big complex for education, culture, and sports. To make this dream come true, the ISU Foundation was started in 1958. This group helps raise money for the university.
It's interesting to know that the state government didn't pay for any of the construction. All the money came from donations! The very first donation was just two dollars. But then, a very generous person named C. Y. Stephens gave one million dollars. Stephens Auditorium is named after him because of his amazing gift. The entire center sits on a large area of land, about 76 acres, which used to be farm fields for the university.
| Building Name | Finished In | Cost to Build | Seats This Many |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher Theater | 1974 | $900,000 | 454 |
| Hilton Coliseum | 1971 | $8.1 million | 14,356 |
| Jack Trice Stadium | 1975 | $7.6 million | 61,500 |
| Scheman Building | 1975 | $5.3 million | - |
| Stephens Auditorium | 1969 | $4.9 million | 2,747 |
Exploring the Iowa State Center Buildings
Stephens Auditorium: A Place for Performances
Stephens Auditorium is named after Clifford Y. Stephens, who gave a lot of money to help build it. Construction began in 1965 and finished in 1969. The first shows were performed by the famous New York Philharmonic Orchestra during a week-long festival. This beautiful auditorium has 2,747 seats. In 2004, it was even called the "Building of the Century" by a group of architects in Iowa!
Hilton Coliseum: Home of the Cyclones
Hilton Coliseum is named after Dr. James H. Hilton, the university president who first thought of the Iowa State Center. It was finished in 1971. This big arena can hold about 14,000 people for sports games and up to 15,000 for concerts. The very first event held here was an agriculture conference. The first sports game was a men's basketball match where Iowa State beat Arizona!
Fisher Theater: Student Stage
Fisher Theater is named after J. W. Fisher, who was a big supporter of the university and the Iowa State Center. This theater was completed in 1974. It has 454 seats and is mostly used by Iowa State students for their theater and dance shows. It's a great place for young performers to shine!
Jack Trice Stadium: Football Fun
Jack Trice Stadium was finished in 1975 after two years of building. It was first called Cyclone Stadium. But in 1997, its name was changed to honor Jack Trice. He was the first African-American athlete at the school and the only ISU athlete to pass away from injuries during a game. The first game played here was a Cyclone victory against Air Force in September 1975. The stadium is mainly used for NCAA college football games, but it also hosts concerts sometimes.
Scheman Building: Meetings and Art
The Scheman Building is named after Carl Scheman, an Iowa State graduate who also gave a lot of money to the Iowa State Center. It was completed in 1975. This building is used for many different things, like small and large conferences, important meetings, dinners before shows, and even wedding parties!
Inside the Scheman Building, you'll also find the Brunnier Art Museum. This museum is special because it's the only one in Iowa that focuses on a collection of decorative arts. It's also one of the few museums in the country located within a complex that has both performing arts and conference spaces.
Images for kids
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Main entrance to Hilton Coliseum
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North entrance to Stephens Auditorium
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South entrance of Fisher Theater
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Main entrance of Scheman Building
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Jack Trice Football Complex
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