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Collection Spotlight

Collections

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artifacts from collection
diver helmet
Diver's Helmet
Whale vertebra
Whale Vertebra
Graves Dollhouse
Graves Family Dollhouse
lead shot
Lead Shot
decanter
Steamboat Decanter
Windlass
Windlass
bank notes
Bank Notes
Green Dress
Green Dress
Garrison Cap
Garrison Cap
Wool Swimming Suits
Wool Swimming Suits
Lillian Clark Cary Poem
Lillian Clark Cary Poem
Anti-Slavery Alphabet Pamphlet
Anti-Slavery Alphabet Pamphlet
Bertha Lincoln Heustis's Mink Capelet
Bertha Lincoln Heustis's Mink Capelet
Minn of the Mississippi cover
Minn of the Mississippi
19-foot Boa Skin
19-foot Boa Skin
Fly Dubuque Bumper Sticker
Fly Dubuque Bumper Sticker
Busy Bee Sign
Busy Bee Sign
World War I Gas Mask
World War I Gas Mask
Windowpane Oysters (Capiz Shell)
Windowpane Oysters (Capiz Shell)
Fire Safety Net
Fire Safety Net
Cane Sword
Cane Sword
Sad Iron Trivet
Sad Iron Trivet
Boxing Robe
Boxing Robe
Wedding Dress
Wedding Dress
Dubuque City Hall
Dubuque City Hall
Elk Chocolates Banner
Elk Chocolates Banner
Melody Mill photo
Melody Mill photo
Piece of the USS Cairo
Piece of the USS Cairo
COVID-19 vaccine vial
Small but Mighty: COVID-19 vaccine vial
Scroll Saw
Scroll Saw
Chris E. Kleis Root Beer Bottle
Chris E. Kleis Root Beer Bottle
WW1 Memorial Flag
WW1 Memorial Flag
Statue from Madison Park
Statue from Madison Park
Straightedge
Benjamin Provoost's Straightedge
Civil War Surgical Kit
Civil War Surgical Kit
Ladies of the GAR button: Lillian Clark Cary
Ladies of the GAR button: Lillian Clark Cary
De Griselles Plate
De Griselles Plate
Quilt
Quilt
Winter Painting by Joseph Walter
Winter Painting by Joseph Walter
World War II V-Mail
World War II V-Mail
Wicker Casket
Wicker Casket
Stereoview “High Water”
Stereoview “High Water”
St. Mary's School Drum
St. Mary's School History & Drum
Indian Club
Indian Club
Finley Violin
Finley Violin
Old Prescott School
Old Prescott School
1897 Main Street Dubuque - Image
1897 Main Street Dubuque - Image
John Burton's Money Belt
John Burton's Money Belt
The Lincoln Chair
The Lincoln Chair
World War II Mess Kit
World War II Mess Kit
Miss Korn Krisp Doll
Miss Korn Krisp Doll

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

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350 East 3rd Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001

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  • 563-557-9545
  • 800-226-3369

info@rivermuseum.org

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  • Collection Spotlight
  • Donate an Object
  • Research Requests
guests looking at tidepool

Tidepool Touch Tank Now Open

Get up close and personal at our Tidepool Touch Tank and touch Sea Stars, Sea Anemones, and more!

youth campers

Inspire Stewardship

Donations to the River Museum support conservation efforts and expand educational opportunities.

wyoming toad

Toad-ally in love!

The Wyoming Toad was once a critically endangered species-at one point, there were only seven toads in the wild. Since 2008, the River Museum has helped breed and release 50,000 Wyoming toad tadpoles back to Wyoming.

collections storage

How many objects are in our collection?

The Dubuque County Historical Society has 26,000 artifacts, but that number changes often through new donations and deaccessions.

educator with school kids

So many ways to learn

From on-site adventures to outreach programs that rock, the River Museum provides a wide variety of fun historic, cultural, and STEM-related programs for youth.

building exterior

Guess What

The River Museum opened in 2003, and is the flagship entity of the Dubuque County Historical Society which was founded in 1950.

Conservation

Take action through advocacy, research and engagement

We are doing our part to save species, preserve and restore the Mississippi River and its watershed, and promote environmental sustainability.

Learn More
young boy with magnifying glass

Membership

Free admission, reciprocal perks, and exclusive benefits!

Learn how your membership inspires stewardship of our rivers and history for individuals and families from around the world.

Learn More
young Girl

Buy Tickets

Every admission ticket is actually a two-day pass!

Part museum, part aquarium, part science center—it’s the total package for family fun!

Learn More
Family looking at exhibit

Support

Together, more is possible.

Every donation supports mission-driven educational experiences, conservation efforts, and historic preservation.

Learn More
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