Ever wondered where Star Trek’s James T. Kirk was born?
Riverside claims to be the birthplace of the future USS Enterprise captain, who will be born sometime in 2228. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, asserts in his book The Making of Star Trek that the character of James Tiberius Kirk was born in the state of Iowa. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Kirk himself tells Dr. Taylor he is from Iowa.
This building in Riverside, Iowa houses The Voyage Home Riverside History Center
In March 1985, when the city was looking for a theme for its annual town festival, Steve Miller, a member of the Riverside City Council who had read Roddenberry’s book, suggested to the council that Riverside should proclaim itself to be the future birthplace of Kirk. Miller’s motion passed unanimously.
