Dubuque Things to Do Tips by Stephen-KarenConn

This very tall and imposing clock sits in the center of downtown Dubuque. The clock, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has stood over the city for over 130 years. The present clock is actually the second Town Clock for Dubuque, replacing an earlier one which collapsed in the 1870s.

The Town Clock blends well with the other old architecture of the city, giving it a distinctive charm which we found delightful.

A small traffic circle takes vehicles around the clock and the encircling Town Clock Plaza. The Plaza is a popular venue for concerts and other special community events.

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Directions: In the very heart of Downtown Dubuque. Just look up and you'll see it.
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_Clock_(Dubuque)

I've seen literally hundreds of county courthouses during my travels, but can't think of a one that is any more ornate or beautiful than that you will see in Dubuque, Iowa's first county.

The current courthouse was built in 1891 to replace an earlier courthouse built in 1839. It is the most dominant landmark in the downtown Dubuque area, standing between the Mississippi River and the main downtown business district. It has a gleaming golden dome, topped by a 14-foot statue of Lady Liberty. Although this is a working courthouse and not a tourist attraction, it is still well worth seeing simply for its architectural interest.

The Dubuque County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Address: 720 Dubuque, Iowa
Directions: Located at Seventh and Central Avenue in Dubuque.
Website: http://www.dubuquecounty.org/offices/courthouse/index.html

The Old Dubuque County Jail, built in 1857, is considered the rarest building in Iowa. Fewer than 50 Egyptian Revival structures were ever built in the United States, and the Dubuque County Jail is one of only three remaining.

The old jail, which sits beside the Dubuque County Courthouse, has been replaced by a more modern correctional facility. The Old Jail is now a museum, operated by the Dubuque Historical Society.

In the museum you will find interesting historical artifacts and interpretative displays. The museum also contains Jan's Grate Shop, which offers refreshments and souvenirs.

The Old Jail Museum is open Monday - Saturday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Admission::
Adults $5.00
Children $3.50
6 and under Free

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Phone: 1-563-557-9545
Address: 520 Eighth Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Directions: Corner of E. 8th Street and Central Avenue
Website: http://www.dubuquehistory.com/oldjail.html

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium is the top attraction in the entire state of Iowa and is the one place you MUST see if you visit Dubuque. Karen and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon here, and wished we had had even more time to explore all there is to see.

The Museum is excellent with all the features and displays you might expect and a few that may surprise you. We particularly enjoyed viewing many of the short films shown in various parts of the museum which graphically illustrate the natural and human history of America's greatest river. The aquarium makes no effort to bring you sharks, jellyfish and other creatures of the ocean, but you will find lots of fish and other creatures that inhabit the Mississppi river and its tributaries.

There is also a large outside viewing area where you can see old boats, machines etc, including a boardwalk around a wetlands area were we spied several birds, turtles, and a muskrat.

Summer Hours
10:00 am - 6:00 pm Daily
Memorial Weekend through Labor Day

Winter Hours
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Daily
Labor Day through Memorial Weekend

Christmas Eve 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Admission
Adults $9.95
Seniors (65+) $8.95
Youth (7-17) $7.50
Children (3-6) $4.00

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Phone: (800) 226-3369
Address: 350 East 3rd St., Dubuque, IA 52001
Directions: At the Port of Dubuque, between the Mississippi River and Downtown Dubuque
Website: http://www.mississippirivermuseum.com/main.cfm

The Shot Tower in Dubuque is one of the last standing shot towers in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The tower was built in 1856 to provide lead shot for the military. Molten lead was poured from the top of the tower, where it passed through a grate. The droplets that fell from the grate had relatively uniform size, and the fall provided enough time for the liquid-metal droplet to form into a sphere before landing in the water below. The water cooled the lead to its solid state, retaining the spherical shape.

The development of newer technology for manufacturing amunition made the tower obsolete. It found a new purpose for a while as a fire lookout post to help protect a nearby lumberyard. Fires had severely damaged the city's lumber industry.

The Shot Tower was abandoned as the lumber industry declined, but in 1976 was designated a historic landmark. Today the Shot Tower is part of the ongoing renovations to the riverfront and it still stands as one of the most recognized symbols of the city.

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Directions: The Shot Tower can be seem from the Riverwalk. It is near East 4th and East 6th Streets.

We are not the kind of people who get excited about casinos, but we did find our way over to the Diamond Jo for about an hour one evening. As is our custom at such places, Karen and I each invested $10 (a total of $20) in the slot machines. We walked out with $28 - a 40% profit for our investment. Gambling on that level is fun. I feel sorry for the poor fools who gamble and loose thousands of dollars. Virtually everyone ultimately loses at a casino. The way we play, the maximum we could ever lose would be $20, which isn't a bad price for an evening's entertainment.

The Diamond Jo is open for suckers and other tourists 7 days a week, and 24 hours on the weekends.

The casino also has two restaurants, a deli, and a souvenir shop.

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Phone: 1-800-LUCKY JO
Address: 400 East 3rd Street, Dubuque IA 52001
Directions: At the Port of Dubuque, on the Mississippi River
Website: www.diamondjo.com

An excellent place to begin your visit to Dubuque is at the downtown Iowa Welcome Center. Fortunately for us, it was just one block north of where we were staying at the Julien Dubuque Inn. The Center has a friendly staff which is eager to share information about their town and state. They will help you find a plethora of brochures, maps, souvenirs and other items which will make it easy to discover all the attractions and activities available in Dubuque and the surrounding area.

The Iowa Welcome Center shares a beautiful historic building with the Dubuque Chamber of Commerce.

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Phone: 1-800-798-8844
Address: 300 Main Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Directions: At the corner of Third and Main Streets, downtown Dubuque.
Website: http://www.dubuquechamber.com/visit/welcomecenter.html
Other Contact: WelcomeCtr@dubuquechamber.com

If you think of all cathedrals as grand ornate buildings which are always open to the public, you may be dissapointed with the Dubuque's Cathedral of St. Raphael. It was an impressive structure, and just a couple of blocks up the street from our hotel, but when we walked up to see it the Cathedral was locked up tight. A sign beside the door said that prospective visitors could make an appointment, but it wasn't high enough on our priority list for that.

This is an active parish, mother church of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Masses are held once daily and three times on Sunday. It is the oldest Christian church of any denomination in Iowa.

Although we couldn't go inside we did enjoy looking at the cathedral grounds. There is an interesting piece of sculputre in a small garden across the street from and in front of the cathedral.

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Phone: (563) 582-7646
Address: 231 Bluff Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Website: http://www.raphaelcathedral.org/

This very interesting old building was for many years the home of Dubuque Star beers, established by Joseph Rhomberg in 1898. The brewery was forced to close twice - first by prohibition and later by floods. About four other beers were later produced here including Pickett's Premium Beer and Rhomberg Beer, but each of them eventually failed.

The city of Dubuque has now accquired the building through eminent domain proceedings as part of the riverfront renovation efforts. A winery is now said to be in the process of taking over the property, but as of our visit in August, 2006, it was empty. Still the historic old buliding is interesting to see. The hospitality room of the brewery was featured in the movie F.I.S.T., as well as the 1981 comedy "Take This Job and Shove It."

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Directions: Just north of the Ice Harbor on the Mississippi riverfront.
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubuque_Star_Brewery

If you visit Dubuque you must take a stroll along the beautiful new Mississippi Riverwalk which opened in the summer of 2003. Along the walk you will see both old and new points of interest.

Old sights include the Dubuque Shot Tower and Dubuque Star Brewery. Newer attractions are the Alliant Energy Citizen’s Amphitheater, a 25,000 square-foot waterpark, and the River’s Edge Plaza. Of course, Old Man River himself, the Mighty Mississippi, is the main attraction.

The Riverwalk is part of a 44-mile trail connecting America’s River to the nationally renowned Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.

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Directions: At the Port of Dubuque, along the Mississippi River
Website: http://partners.dubuque365.com/peninsula/other.html