For 100 years, the heartbeat of the University of Iowa campus has pulsed at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Jefferson Street, at a building originally meant to memorialize and honor veterans. Over the years, the historic venue has evolved to support everyday student life.
The Iowa Memorial Union (commonly known as the IMU) is a constant hub of experiences, traditions, and memories for generations of Hawkeyes. The facility has been home to a library, a bowling alley, and a hotel.
The IMU celebrated its centennial on Feb. 6, in conjunction with Dance Marathon, which raised nearly $1.7 million. A year of celebration will culminate in the Iowa Memorial Union Centennial Gala on Saturday, Feb. 14, honoring the past 100 years and the century ahead.
The anniversary arrives as the IMU is in the midst of an $81.4 million renovation. The final two phases are expected to be finished by August 2027.
While the IMU is a prominent University of Iowa fixture, here are five facts that you might not know:
It was one of the first student unions in the United States
Construction on the IMU began in 1924 on a three-acre barn plot following the end of World War I, after community leaders pitched a memorial to honor UI veterans. Construction was completed in 1925, and on Feb. 6, 1926, the building was officially dedicated.
When it opened, the IMU became a service center, offering dining, housing, and employment services. The facility was “one of 16 college union buildings in the U.S,” according to the University of Iowa.
Longevity is a common theme, as the IMU has only had six directors in its 100-year history.
The union’s first event was a military ball on Feb. 5, 1926, which became an annual tradition for many years after.
The IMU was a gift to the University of Iowa
The initial development of the IMU was financed through subscriptions, rent, and donations to an organization separate from the university, according to a 1969 thesis by Gearhart Alan Musselman called “A History of the Iowa Memorial Union.”
When ground first broke on the IMU, Iowa law did not allow the use of state funds for “non-academic buildings,” so the Iowa Memorial Union Corporation was created to raise money and manage the facility until it was paid off.
In 1943, the corporation’s board of trustees gifted the IMU to the University of Iowa.
The IMU is no stranger to renovations
While the ongoing renovations might be the largest to date, previous expansions and construction have addressed student needs through the years.
The original building initially included the main lounge, which still stands, a surrounding sun porch and office space. Additions in 1927 included a three-story east wing that added a lobby, meeting rooms, and space for the Triangle Club, “a social club that brings together University of Iowa faculty, administration, and the town business community.” The Triangle Club still hosts events today.
In 1955, a southern addition included recreation areas, more offices, student lounges and music rooms. Ten years later, in 1965, westward expansion towards Hubbard Park began, which included the Iowa House Hotel, a new ballroom, a theater, and themed meeting rooms.
In 1988, the IMU underwent a major renovation that better connected earlier sections with the 1965 renovations. A 2006 renovation introduced the east entrance, student-run organization offices, a new bookstore, and the outdoor amphitheater.
Iowa City’s historic flood ravages a chunk of the IMU
The 2008 Iowa River flood devastated the IMU’s ground floor, and from 2008 to 2015, it remained “offline.” The University of Iowa then launched a $21.6 million flood mitigation and recovery project to restore 83,000 square feet at the IMU and raise the area next to the Iowa River to two feet above the 500-year flood level.
The IMU has hosted MLK, Jr., Led Zeppelin and Duke Ellington
The IMU has been a hub for arts, cultural and political events over the past 100 years. It once was home to the Silver Shadow, a dry club where students could socialize and listen to music without alcohol. The facility even housed a six-lane bowling alley for 30 years, from 1954 to 1988.
The building has often been a unique musical backdrop, hosting modern stars like Billie Eilish in 2018 and Kendrick Lamar, as well as recognizable 20th-century icons such as Led Zeppelin, Louis Armstrong and the legendary Duke Ellington. Iconic poet Maya Angelou also made a trip to Iowa City, as did world champion boxer Muhammad Ali.
Several notable activists and political figures have visited the IMU over the years. Former senator John F. Kennedy visited Iowa City to watch a game of Hawkeye Football in 1959 before he announced his candidacy for president. Martin Luther King Jr., also visited the IMU the same year. Other notable visits include Senator Bernie Sanders and Turning Point USA Founder and Executive Director, the late Charlie Kirk, both in 2019.
While FilmScene’s ReFocus Film Festival is held today at venues across Iowa City, the event draws inspiration from a festival of the same name that first took place in 1965 at the IMU, enjoying a 14-year run. It was initially sponsored by the IMU’s student programming organization, and later became a student-led film and photography organization.
The ‘M’ in IMU has meaning
While student unions are fairly common on college and university campuses in 2026, not all are “memorials.” The IMU exists because of its “dedication to honor the fallen soldiers of World War I,” Associate Dean and executive director of Iowa Memorial Union Bill Nelson said.
The Veterans Plaza is prominently displayed in the Hubbard Commons. The IMU was also rented by the U.S. government during World War II to feed and entertain cadets in the Army Specialized Training Program.
A makeover for a historic hub of UI activity
Phase one of the $81.4 million renovation focuses on transitioning student health and student counseling services to the IMU. The 65-year-old Iowa House Hotel shuttered in February 2025 to make room for the services. Nelson said “well-being” is the first priority, then student and faculty “circulation and food service,” and “exterior” renovations.
The UI plans improve food service and wayfinding within the IMU, which includes a makeover of the main entrance along Madison. The renovated food court is expected to offer new food service options from national retailers.
Construction crews will also update the façade facing Hubbard Park, eliminating the parking spaces between the park and the IMU.
The project is part of the university’s 10 Year Master Plan to “modernize and improve campus,” according to UI Facilities Management.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached atJRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: 5 ways the IMU has shaped Hawkeye life in the last 100 years
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
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