Fairfield in Jefferson County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Starting Point of the Fairfield Covered Wagon Caravan
Iowa Historic Marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
1. Starting Point of the Fairfield Covered Wagon Caravan Marker
509 people, 471 horses, 40 covered wagons.
Overnight stops at Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, Monroe, and Des Moines. Caravan traveled 114 miles in 4 days to officially open the Centennial Iowa State Fair, August 28, 1954. 1854 stagecoach from Wells Fargo Lines, St. Joseph, MO., to Deadwood, S.D., carried 16,000 letters of official United States mail which were sent to all parts of the world probably the last official government mail to be carried by stagecoach in the State of Iowa.
First Iowa State Fair Fairfield, Iowa, 1854.
Erected 1955 by Fairfield Jayceettes.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Postal Mail and Philately, and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 41° 0.409′ N, 91° 57.811′ W. Marker is in Fairfield, Iowa, in Jefferson County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and West Burlington Avnue (Business U.S. 34), on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. The marker is near the southwest corner of
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fairfield Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (about 800 feet away); McElhinny House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Company of Jefferson County Civil War Volunteers Drill Ground (approx. Ό mile away); Dragoon Trail Historical Site (approx. 5.7 miles away); Stockport Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 12.4 miles away); Brighton Freedom Rock Veterans Memorial (approx. 13.9 miles away); a different marker also named Dragoon Trail Historical Site (approx. 15½ miles
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
2. Iowa State Fair Centennial Time Capsule
Also see . . . The Great State Fair (Iowa PBS).
Excerpt: Iowa's first fair was in Fairfield in October 1854. Six acres of land, a 250-foot-long shed, and a dirt racetrack hosted the simple livestock show of 100 horses, 11 pigs, and a handful of grain and implement displays. Nearly 10,000 Iowans traveled by foot, horseback, and covered wagons to this educational and social event. The main and only feature of entertainment was a women's riding competition.(Submitted on March 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 20, 2025
3. Starting Point of the Fairfield Covered Wagon Caravan Marker
Looking northeast. Central Park is in the background. The Iowa State Fair bicentennial time capsule is inside the brick marker base.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
