National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

The museum's mission is to make sense of the Mississippi in all its dimensions, as a natural wonder, a highway of commerce, a home to wildlife, and a force in American history. Its exhibits move from the river's source and its ecology to the steamboats, barges, and industries that made it a spine of the continent.

That story runs deep in this place. The Mississippi Valley is homeland to Native peoples of the region, including the Meskwaki, the Sauk, and the Ho-Chunk, whose long relationship with the river runs back countless generations and continues today. The museum sets the river's human story in that long context.

The aquariums are the heart of a family visit, tanks that recreate the river and its backwaters and put visitors face to face with the catfish, sturgeon, gar, and other creatures that live beneath the surface of the Mississippi. Larger habitats reach beyond the river to wetlands and other waters.

Live animals bring the exhibits alive. Otters tumble and swim, alligators bask, and birds of prey and other creatures give visitors a close look at the wildlife of the river and its wetlands. It is hands-on and lively, especially popular with children.

Beyond the aquariums, the museum explores the human history of the Mississippi, from the age of steamboats to the barges and locks that move freight today. Boatbuilding, river trades, and the culture that grew up along the water all find a place in the galleries and on the historic harbor grounds.

The setting itself is part of the lesson. The museum stands in the Port of Dubuque, a working harbor turned lively riverfront, where you can watch the river traffic pass and feel the pulse of a place shaped by the water. It roots the exhibits in the living river just outside.

Dubuque is Iowa's oldest city, a river town of brick and limestone climbing steep bluffs above the Mississippi. Its heritage as a lead-mining and river-commerce center left a rich legacy of historic architecture, and its setting at the corner of three states gives it long views over the water.

A museum visit pairs beautifully with the rest of the city, from the Fenelon Place Elevator that climbs the bluff to the historic downtown and the riverfront walkways. It makes a full and rewarding day in one of the most scenic towns on the Upper Mississippi.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.