The play of young children in Linn Countyhas literally changed the course of human history, and made major contributions to human culture.

In the 300 Block of 14th Street NE In the 300 Block of 14th Street NE (near Coe College) a child from a single (near Coe College) a child from a single

parent family...parent family...

draws an oak leaf and wins a local art contest...

...prompting a career in art

…that produces the world’s most famous painting.

On 5th Avenue SE, two children play in their yard...

throwing a toy in the air, again and again...

...sparking an interest that leads...

...to the world’s first airplane .

A Cedar Rapids girl (whose father is a cook at the Roosevelt Hotel) loves books and reading from

an early age.

She goes on to college at a time when this opportunity is denied

most women...

And later becomes the partner to W.E.B. DuBois, one of the most influential thinkers

of the 20th Century-

sharing in his life and important work.

In the heart of Wellington Heights, on the

1700 Block of Grande Avenue SE

a child is fascinated with

electrical experiments...

...and grows up to build a radio

used in the first moon landing.

A young child living 845 Second Avenue S.E. is drawn to

the arts. He loves reading, playing the piano, putting on

plays and taking pictures.

He grows up to write for the New York Times, chronicle the Harlem Renaissance (through extensive photographs) and become close friends with

Langston Hughes and Gertrude Stein.

Here’s what “Choice Literary Journal” said about a child who grew up at 1602 5th Avenue SE:

“A child of little means was nurtured and cared for in ways that would allow him to pursue

an education and live a life defined by its creative spirit.”

He was instrumental in establishing the “Writers’ Workshop” at the University of Iowa which nurtured the talents of 28 Pulitzer Prize winners including:

• Phillip Roth

• Jane Smiley

• Kurt Vonnegut

• Flannery O’Connor

• Marilyn Robinson

• Robert Bly

• W.P. Kinsella

• John Irving

• Rita Dove

• Jorie Graham

A 3 year old’s A 3 year old’s family moves into family moves into Cedar Rapids from Cedar Rapids from their rural farm...their rural farm...

where at a young age, the girl develops an interest

in numbers and math...

3 + 3 = 6

...and as an adult she plays an important part in developing Excel

software for Microsoft.