Did you know there was a national holiday that celebrates roller coasters?

Happy National Roller Coaster Day! You may be like me and wonder "What's the point of National Roller Coaster Day?" How should you celebrate if you don't find yourself at an amusement park today?

It turns out that National Roller Coaster Day was created to commemorate Edwin Prescott when he patented the first vertical loop roller coaster in 1889, according to the National Day Calendar.

*This is a stock roller coaster photo, not the "first loop."

Oldest Rollercoasters

The world's first roller coasters are believed to have been built in the 17th century and they were purposely constructed with hills of ice near Saint Petersburg, Russia. The ice would rise 70 to 80 feet high and would face 50-degree dops. Wooden supports were also added to help reinforce the structure.

If you're a fan of roller coasters and are looking for some of the most exciting thrills in Iowa, I've found the tallest roller coasters in the state that you can add to your bucket list. Maybe you've already been on some of these!

Tallest Roller Coasters in Iowa

Thrill seekers across the state of Iowa have some incredible options if they're looking for a fun day at the amusement park. There are tons of roller coasters for you to choose from. While there are tons of great rides in the state of Iowa, there is 1 that stands taller than the rest.

The Monster can be found in Altoona, Iowa, at the Adventureland Theme Park. According to Coaster101, the Monter's highest point is a whopping 133 feet high.

To put this in perspective, the Statue of Liberty is 151 feet and 1 inch tall if you measure from the feet of the statue to the tip of the torch. If you remove the platform the statue stands on, this roller coaster is almost as tall as the statue!

If you've never been on The Monster, here's a small taste of what the ride would be like!

Notable Mentions

While The Monster stands the tallest, some other roller coasters in Iowa might make you feel a bit squeezy if you're afraid of heights. After a quick Google search, these are some of Iowa's tallest roller coasters.

• Dragon Slayer - 112 feet and can be found at Adventureland
• Tornado - 93 feet and can be found at Adventureland
• Matugani - 79 feet and can be found at Lost Island Theme Park
• Outlaw - 67 feet and can be found at Adventureland.

How many of Iowa's tallest rollercoasters have you ridden and do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments! Happy National Roller Coaster Day.