Iowa Union forms as club for men of faculty and student body
Housed in former Unitarian Church (NE corner of Clinton St. & Iowa Ave.) until 1913
1913-1914
Brunswick Bowling Parlor Building (121-123 Iowa Ave.) becomes temporary Union headquarters in Dec. 1913
Union membership at 500 males; activities include Friday night dances at Old Armory, concerts, and debates
1914
Union moves to St. James Building (SE corner of Clinton St. & Iowa Ave.) in March
Costs $3,000 to obtain lease and remodel hotel to house Union
Facilities provide dormitory-style room and board with areas to study, relax, and recreate
1916
Fire destroys St. James Building in April
Union continues to sponsor events in other campus buildings after fire until WWI interupted efforts to obtain a new building
1919
President Walter A. Jessup advocates for construction of Student Union on campus as memorial to servicemen who died in World War I
Alumni Association forms an Iowa Memorial Union Corporation to raise $1 million for construction
1920s
1920
Locations considered for IMU: West bank of Iowa River adjacent to Quadrangle; Center of North Capitol Street; Plot at northwest corner of Jefferson & Madison Streets
1924
Construction begins on first unit of IMU
1925
Unit I completed: Includes 130'x90' Main Lounge, offices, and snack bar
Unit II construction begins: Includes lobby, conference rooms, meeting rooms, space to be leased to Triangle Club, and YMC
IMU is one of 16 college union buildings in the US
Assumes role of service center, offering Union Dining Service, housing and employment service, general hospitality, meeting facilities, and Union Browsing Library
1926
Unit I dedicated on Feb. 6
IMU first used as headquarters for freshman Registration Week in Sept.
1927
Unit II completed and dedicated in March
Union activities include smokers from various colleges, games, tournaments, tea dances, U Band concerts, U Sings, student presidential convention, and homecoming
Two units of IMU now in use; Facilities included Main Lounge, a library, WSUI studio, soda fountain and 500' roof deck for summer use
1930s
1930
Women first admitted as members of the Student Union Board
1936
Silver Shadow, a nonalcoholic nightclub, opens in Union Cafeteria
Class of 1935 establishes fund to make Mark Twain room; Pilot wheel arrives for room in 1937, and is put in River Room foyer until 1967
1938
IMU transitions to more of a cultural center than student/campus activities center
1940s
1942-43
IMU is used by Army Specialized Training Program for feeding and recreation for cadets and trainees during WWII
To serve military trainees, Union cafeteria, catering service and Triangle Club dining room all closed to the public until 1944
Women begin to be employed by IMU as information desk clerks, waiters
Board of Trustees of IMU Corporation gives IMU to University of Iowa
1950s
1950
Discussion of construction new facilities begin
1952
Danforth Chapel construction completed (dedicated Jan. 1953)
1955
Unit III construction completed and open: Adds recreation area, snack bar, office space, student lounge, music, and library rooms
1960s
1962
$4.2 million construction project for Units IV, V, VI begins
1964
Soapbox Soundoff begins as forum for students to speak their minds about topics such as the Barry Goldwater presidential candidacy, Vietnam War and cost of food in Union Cafeteria
Thieves Market first organized to bring together student-produced artwork
1965
Virtually new IMU opens with Units IV, V, VI completed in July
Unit IV Additions: New main kitchen, River Room cafeteria, State Room, private dining room
Unit V Additions: 112-room "Iowa House" Guest House
Unit VI Additions: 21 conference/meeting rooms, Second Floor Ballroom, small theater
New meeting rooms on Second Floor named in honor of famous Iowans; Rooms on Third Floor named for Big Ten/Ivy League Universities
1967
Wheel Room opens as tribute to many types wheeled transportation that have been important in Iowa
IMU used as site for student demonstrations, housing Students for a Democratic Society and becoming the site of several arrests
1980s
1988
$10.5 million renovation links the additions of 1920 and 1965 on the second and third floors; Project creates Terrace Lobby entrance, improves food service areas, establishes Student Activities Center, and creates University Book Store
IMU celebrates 65th Anniversary in October
1989
November issue of "American School and University" cites the 1988 IMU renovation as one of six outstanding college union projects
2000s
2005
IMU begins construction on Phase I of $24 million renovation project
2008
June 13th, the IMU closed due to flooding of the Iowa River
November 1st, the first through third floors of the IMU reopened to the public. The ground floor remains closed
