They eventually will be joined by three other types of great apes: bonobos, gorillas and chimpanzees. Then Iowa can boast that this great state houses all five types. That’s right — five. Because humans are great apes, too.

That’s just one of those facts Iowans might have gone through an entire lifetime not knowing if the Great Ape Trust of Iowa research center hadn’t located here. According to Rob Shumaker, director of orangutan research for the trust, humans didn’t evolve from any type of ape around today. "They evolved and we evolved," he said.

But apes each have different temperaments, different personalities, different capabilities. Just like humans. And they aren’t monkeys. Monkeys are different.

There’s so much to learn about great apes, and that’s the goal of this facility. Shumaker said he’s most interested in how their minds work and then imparting that knowledge to people — something Iowans can be first in line for when they visit the facility on scheduled tours.

The apes aren’t the only exciting thing about the facility. It’s also the other newcomers, like Shumaker, who now lives in Des Moines with his wife and child. He loves the state; he’s met his neighbors; he’s heard good things about the schools; and he plans to stay for a long time. Great minds are accompanying the great apes to Iowa.