The Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) has received several grants this summer that will benefit the Mathias Ham Historic Site and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. These funds will support programs, new exhibits, and renovations to DCHS’s facilities.
State Historical Society of Iowa - $32,000 - State funding will help replace the sprinkler system of the William M. Black National Historic Landmark. Being one of 25 historic landmarks in Iowa, the preservation of the vessel is essential. The story of our waterways and the part they played in the history of the state of Iowa has importance on a local, regional, and national level. This project is supported in part by the State Historical Society of Iowa Historical Resource Development Program.
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Conservation Education Program - $21,305 - REAP funds will support development, implementation, and evaluation of the Rivers to the Sea conservation education interpretation and programs. The interpretation will go hand-in-hand with new messaging being updated as part of the space’s current reimagining.
City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs GARE Grant Program - $2,000 - The new focal point of the Rivers to the Sea project is a Marshallese hand-built outrigger canoe that will be built by Dubuque’s Marshallese community. The exhibit will serve as the new introductory exhibit to the River Museum’s Rivers to the Sea Gallery. These funds will help pay for the materials required to craft the boat. These traditional canoes, while not used anymore, are treasured by the Marshallese community as a source of national pride and preserve the cultural heritage of their people. The Rivers to the Sea Marshallese canoe build is made possible through City of Dubuque's Arts and Culture GARE re-granting program.
Anderson Corporate Foundation - $5,000 - The reimagined Rivers to the Sea exhibit will feature a wider variety of aquatic life that will reflect a global scope. The goal is to inspire stewardship through this gallery by conveying critical conservation messaging rooted in advocacy, sustainability, and global research.
City of Dubuque Arts & Cultural Affairs Special Projects grant program - $3,400 - A special production of A Christmas Carol is coming to the Mathias Ham Historic Site in December 2022. This grant will support this interactive holiday production. Audiences will follow the actors from room to room in the Mathias Ham House as the tale unfolds. A unique cultural experience is offered through this play that melds historic interpretation and performing arts. A Christmas Carol is made possible through the City of Dubuque's Arts and Culture Special Projects grant funds.
The James B. & Melita A. McDonough Foundation - $2,500 - The Dubuque County Historical Society is one of 800 museums, zoos, and aquariums nationwide that participate in the Museums for All program. This program assists those below the federal poverty threshold to access these organizations. This project is supported in part by The James B. & Melita A. McDonough Foundation.