National Mississippi River Museum

A visit to Dubuque would not be complete with a visit to the River Walk downtown and the adjacent National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. The River Walk is a relatively new development to improve the waterfront and provide recreational facilities on the river which includes the Museum and convention center. There is also a casino, hotel and restaurants.

We enjoyed a pleasant stroll along the walk in really wonderful weather.

The museum is devoted to the history and future of the Mississippi River system. There are many new exhibits and activities for kids to appreciate the river and how to protect it in the future. We enjoyed the several short movie presentations and the history section of the museum with special interest in the steam dredge William M. Black. They have a woodworking shop and other craft demonstrations along with an art display of the many steamboats that plied the river.

For the real enthusiasts, there is a research library available.

For anyone interested in the importance of the river on the history of the region, this is a must see.

http://www.mississippirivermuseum.com/