The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium was recently awarded an Inspire Iowa Cultural Tourism Grant award of $50,000 in support of summer 2025 traveling exhibit, Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic. Funding will support this new traveling exhibit, produced by Imagine, in addition to educational programming and a correlated regional marketing campaign designed to attract significant tourism to the River Museum and the region.
The Inspire Iowa Cultural Tourism Grant is funded through an appropriation by the Iowa Legislature. Funding is provided by the Iowa Tourism Office and the program is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, both of which exist within the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Ice Dinosaurs is making its debut in the Midwest with the River Museum being the third stop on its tour. The exhibit transports visitors back to the prehistoric era, uncovering the incredible dinosaurs and other creatures that roamed the frozen landscapes of Alaska millions of years ago. This thrilling exhibition presents a unique look at paleontology, climate science, and the survival of ancient species in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
Ice Dinosaurs brings stunning life-size reconstructions, fossils, and multimedia exhibits, inviting visitors to experience these magnificent creatures and learn about the mysteries of the Alaskan Arctic during the age of dinosaurs. Funding from Inspire Iowa will support a never-before-seen presentation by Dr. Gregory Erickson, co-Director of the Arctic Paleo-Research Consortium (APRC), a multi-national group of professional and citizen scientists who seek to unravel the mysteries of dinosaurian polar occupation, on June 14 at the River Museum. Aligned with the Inspire Iowa grant program's priorities to attract new visitors and showcase Iowa as a cultural tourism destination, funding from this award will support new and expanded promotional strategies aimed at attracting a broader audience for this new exhibit.
The River Museum welcomes nearly 200,000 guests annually, traveling from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. The opportunities for guest engagement as part of this exhibit, paired with a robust marketing campaign, project nearly 80,000 guests during the summer months, including a draw for travel from regional tourists and beyond.
Ice Dinosaurs opens May 24, 2025 and runs through September 15, 2025. The exhibit is included in general admission.
