State Historical Society of Iowa

Fleet of Snow Plows in Iowa, Date Unknown

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Multiple orange snow plows parked in a line on a gravel lot. The trees in the background show that it’s late spring or summer.
Courtesy of Iowa DOT, Date Unknown

Description

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, there are 114,486 miles of roads in Iowa, and when it snows, they all have to be plowed. But in the summer, these trucks undergo maintenance and then sit and wait for the snow to fly.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • Was this image taken in a rural area or an urban area? Use evidence from the image to support your answer.
  • Compare and contrast this image to the snow plow in rural Iowa, the train with the snow blade and the wagons removing snow in New York. How is this snow removal the same and how is it different?
  • What does the box on the back of the truck carry that drivers spread on roads during icy weather?

Citation Information 

Iowa Department of Transportation, Date Unknown. Courtesy of Iowa DOT