The story of innovation along the Mississippi River is one of dynamic motion. The river has long been a force of change in America-shaping our land, our culture, and our people. It has swept up generations of makers in its current; inspiring them to invent, create, and innovate.
River of Innovation tells the story of how these women and men, from different times and places, weren't content to stand still. With the Mighty Mississippi flowing ever forward nearby, they were compelled to improve their world even as they left the past behind.
River of Innovation features the Iowa Marine Engine and Launch Works, a 19th-century belt-driven machine shop, preserved from its original location in Bellevue, Iowa, in addition to engaging interactives for guests of all ages and a MakerSpace dedicated to creating your own innovations.