What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 8pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 9am - 5pm

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Name: National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Address: 350 E 3rd Street, Dubuque, IA, 52001, US
Telephone: +15635579545
Rating: 4.7

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National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

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A property of the Dubuque County Historical Society, a place where history and rivers come alive! For tickets and other information, visit www.rivermuseum.org.
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Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at "rivermuseum."

We are a private, non-profit organization. Two centers, One campus, Endless Opportunities for Adventure... Dive into the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium today! MISSISSIPPI RIVER DISCOVERY CENTER offers historical exhibits plus six large aquariums that let you get “up close and personal” with river otters, an alligator, giant catfish, and ancient sturgeon of the Mississippi River. RIVER OF INNOVATION is our 9,000 square foot exhibit featuring a 19th century belt-driven machine shop, engaging hands-on exhibits and a MakerSpace. NATIONAL RIVER CENTER includes three main galleries (River Ways, Rivers to the Sea and RiverWORKS), ocean aquariums, a 4D theater, the Bowell River Library, River's Edge Cafe, and more!

10/17/2026

Captain's Ball is just a few weeks away!

We are proud to recognize Riverview Companies as an Animal Ambassador Sponsor of the 2026 Captain's Ball: A Night in the Wild.

Community partners like Riverview Companies help make this signature event possible while advancing the River Museum's mission year-round. Their generous support helps connect guests of all ages with the stories, wildlife, and waterways that make our region unique.

We appreciation Riverview Companies' commitment to our community and the River Museum. Please join us in thanking them for their generosity and partnership!

10/16/2026

Happy National Boss’s Day! Our staff showed their appreciation by dressing up as our President and CEO, Kurt Strand. The Living Collections and Education teams also joined the fun, channeling the unique styles of their bosses, Andy Allison and Erin Martin. Let us know in the comments who wore it best!

10/15/2026

The Dubuque County Historical Society is pleased to announce Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Bullock as its next president and chief executive officer!

A fourth-generation Iowan with deep roots in the Dubuque community, Dr. Bullock served as president of the University of Dubuque for 26 years, leading significant growth and transformation before concluding his tenure in 2024. He currently serves as interim president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute and as a higher education consultant.

The Dubuque County Historical Society operates both the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mathias Ham Historic Site, preserving and sharing the stories of our region’s rich history and connection to the Mississippi River.

Reflecting on his new role, Bullock shared his perspective on the significance of the Mississippi River and the stories it holds:

“This backyard feature of Dubuque is more than an internationally recognized natural resource. It is a place where nature, history, community and human imagination come together.”

Dr. Bullock will officially join us Jan. 4, 2027 and looks forward to building on our work to inspire stewardship through educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Bullock to the River Museum and the Dubuque County Historical Society!

Read the full announcement: https://www.rivermuseum.org/news/bullock

10/12/2026

Stop by the River Museum’s table at the upcoming Dubuque Area History Expo!

Following two successful years in the city of Dubuque, the third annual Dubuque Area History Expo is expanding its reach into the county. This free public event will take place on Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Peosta campus, Room 104A, located at 8342 NICC Dr., Peosta, IA 52068. Held during National Archives Month, this event invites residents from across the region to explore Dubuque County’s rich heritage.

The expo will feature interactive exhibition tables from 20 regional archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies and presentations by Joe Klinebriel on Reminiscence Theatre and Sue Hellert on the Langworthy family. For the first time, the expo will also have an oral history booth where attendees can participate in preserving local heritage by sharing their memories.

Learn more here: https://www.dbqreads.org/dubuqueareahistory

10/11/2026

Bring the whole family for a day of spooky science at Mad Scientist Fun Day on Sunday, October 25, from 10 AM to 2 PM!

Explore exciting science experiments, games, crafts, and live demonstrations. Plus, meet some fascinating and not-so-creepy animals. Costumes are encouraged for everyone - not just kids!

Included with admission or membership. All of the museum's regular daily programming will continue throughout the day.

10/10/2026

Reveal!

This is a hand corn husker circa 1890-1910s by Boss Manufacturing of Kewanee, Illinois. The protective outer leaves have trichomes, which are serrated microscopic structures at the edges, hardened by silica absorbed from the soil. These structures can easily cause uncomfortable “corn rash” from many, many tiny scrapes on the skin, like paper cuts, and potential infection. The husker is strapped onto the wrist, with the metal plate on the palm. The perforations allow ventilation while the claw hook can split the husk open. The creation of husker-shredders, mechanical corn pickers and eventually the combine harvester supplanted the personal corn huskers for large-scale corn production.

10/09/2026

Guess this artifact!

The answer will be revealed tomorrow!

10/07/2026

Join us tomorrow for homeschool day! Homeschoolers can pick up a scavenger hunt at either box office to guide them through the River Museum. Themed scavenger hunts are fun for homeschoolers of all ages, helping them discover cool things about science, history, animals, artifacts, and more!

Can't make it tomorrow? Homeschool days take place on the second Thursday of the month October through February.

Price: $11.95 per youth | $16.95 per adult
Members: Free

Drop in; no advance registration required!

Address

350 E 3rd Street
Dubuque, IA
52001

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 8pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15635579545

Website

http://www.rivermuseum.org/

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