This is a new childs book we are putting online on the Iowa History Site. Below is part of Chapter 1. The entire chapter will be online on the Iowa History Site. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ STORIES OF IOWA FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CHAPTER I IOWA IN THE BEGINNING Did you ever wonder what Iowa was like in the days of long ago, before any white man had come to this region? Of course there were no houses here, nor telephone poles, nor railroads, nor cities, nor even any roads. Then only the Indians and the wild animals lived in what is now Iowa. But the story of Iowa began long before any Indians lived here. Once upon a time, long, long, long ago, all Iowa was under the sea. During this period there were millions of little shell-covered animals living in the shallow parts of the ocean. As they died they sank to the bottom and slowly, shell by shell, layers of limestone were formed. Have you ever seen ledges of limestone along the rivers or creeks in your part of Iowa? In many places throughout the state this limestone is quarried and used for buildings or bridges; or it is crushed to be used in road making or burned to make lime for plaster.