116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Piece of History: Frontier Days brings Western spirit to Cedar Rapids
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
In July 1925, Cedar Rapids was swept up in a whirlwind of cowboy hats, rodeo thrills, and Western pageantry as the city celebrated its first Frontier Days. Modeled after the famed Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming, Cedar Rapids aimed to rival the original. Mayor J. F. Rall issued a proclamation urging residents to don ten-gallon hats, and the local stores advertised special outfits just for the event.
Frontier Days was held at the newly developed Frontier Park (now known as Hawkeye Downs). The 118 acres of land included a half-mile dirt track and grandstand space for 12,000 spectators.
While the rodeo was the first use of the space, it was planned for circuses, athletic meets, fairs, livestock expositions, and of course, racing.
Frontier Days brought in top rodeo talent from across the country and prize money for the event totaled $15,000 (the equivalent of about $270,000 today). The Cedar Rapids Amusement Association spared no effort, recruiting more than 70 cowboys and cowgirls to participate in riding, bulldogging, and roping contests. Special showcases included an Old West Pageant each night, with trick and fancy shooting, wild horse and mule bucking, and a staged attack of a wagon train.
Still active nearly a century later, Hawkeye Downs continues to host races and events, carrying forward the spirit of community, spectacle, and bold ambition first kindled in 1925.
Want to hear more? Attend "Celebrating 100 Years of Hawkeye Downs" at 12:30 p.m. May 27 at Hawkeye Downs for a special edition of The History Center’s “Chew on This.” Tickets are $8 and Jenny Thielman from The History Center will present.
Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org
Daily Newsletters