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Friday 11am - 4pm Saturday 11am - 4pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

Mathias Ham Historic Site

Name: Mathias Ham Historic Site
Address: 2241 Lincoln Avenue, Dubuque, IA, 52001, US
Telephone: +15635579545
Price range: $
Rating: 5

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Mathias Ham Historic Site

Open for public tours, the Mathias Ham Historic Site tells the story of Dubuque's history. John F. People came from all over the country to mine lead.

This stately country villa stands today as a living reflection of its wealthy builder, Mathias Ham. One of Dubuque’s earliest entrepreneurs, Ham build his estate in 1856 with money from his successful lead mining endeavors. Inside the home, elegant American and European furnishings exemplify the opulent Victorian lifestyle of a booming river town during the Antebellum period. Rague designed this d

istinctive example of the Italian Villa style of architecture. As architect for the Old State Capitols of Illinois and Iowa, Rague’s buildings were known for their monumental scale and elegance. Walk the grounds and discover Iowa’s oldest building, an 1833 settler’s log cabin, and visit an authentic one-room schoolhouse. Get a glimpse into life “At the Lead Mines”, stepping back to a time when Dubuque was at the center of a nationally significant lead mining phenomenon. Living history demonstrators tell that dramatic story at the lead mine and “badger hole” (a lead miner’s dwelling) on the grounds of the Ham House.

06/09/2025

Today kicks off !

In celebration, we're highlighting the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS)! Founded in 1950, the DCHS has dedicated 75 years to preserving and sharing the rich history of our community.

Did you know the Mathias Ham House opened as the society's headquarters in 1964? The largest object in our collection, the William M. Black dredge boat, arrived in 1979. In 1982, the Fred W. Woodward Riverboat Museum opened in the old Burlington Northern railroad freight house. In 2003, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium opened and has since welcomed more than 3.5 million guests.

Museums rely on the support of the community, and you can help support our mission by visiting, purchasing a membership, sharing our stories on social media, or making a gift online. You can learn how to support DCHS and its properties at https://give.rivermuseum.org/campaign/695933/donate

06/06/2025

Celebrate Independence Day at Mathias Ham Historic Site from 11 AM to 4 PM for the Audrey Hammer 4th of July Ice Cream Social!

Enjoy:
-Live music by The Americana Band
-Ice cream, cake, picnic food & refreshments available for purchase
-Victorian games & crafts all day
-Live demos: spinning, soap-making, cannon fire & more

While traditional tours will not be available due to the restoration happening, learn all about how historic homes are preserved and the exciting development to come at the Ham House!

NEW THIS YEAR--your chance to pie a Pie-Oneer! Donations of any amount will count as your vote to determine who takes a whipped cream pie to the face at the event! Donations will be accepted before the event and on-site. More information about the Pie-Oneers will be available soon.

Bring the whole family for a fun, festive day!

Big thanks to our event sponsors: Americana Band, Prairie Farms, TH Media, and SuperHits 106.1

Learn more at https://www.rivermuseum.org/events/audrey-hammer-fourth-july-ice-cream-social-0

05/22/2025

Peosta 3rd-grade students had the opportunity to step into the shoes of pioneers at the Mathias Ham Historic Site!

They traveled back in time to explore our authentic one-room schoolhouse, an 1833 settler’s log cabin, a lead miner’s Badger Hut, and so much more! They engaged in traditional activities that showcased what a day in the life of a hard-working pioneer would have been like.

Pioneer Days are available from April to October. Our costumed interpreters will guide you through a customized 2-3 hour program filled with engaging sessions at various stations throughout the site, with approximately 20 minutes dedicated to each activity.

Please note that while the Mathias Ham House is currently undergoing restoration, we still have scheduled events and guided tours happening; just make sure to give us advance notice for scheduling.

For more information or to book your tour, reach out to our education team at 563-557-9545 x222 or [email protected].

05/20/2025

Your gift to the River Museum on Great Give Day supports the Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign to enhance exhibits, preserve our collections, provide endowment support, and make a lasting impact which also supports the Mathias Ham Historic Site! Please consider making a gift on May 21 online at https://www.greatgiveday.org/organization/Museumandaquarium or in person at Washington Park or the River Museum from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM!

05/16/2025

Your gift can do something GREAT on Great Give Day! Please consider a donation to support the Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign on or before May 21!

https://www.greatgiveday.org/organization/Museumandaquarium

05/14/2025

Make a lasting impact at the Mathias Ham Historic Site and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium! Your donation to the Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign helps us enhance exhibits, upgrade habitats, preserve artifacts, and create immersive experiences that inspire curiosity and conservation.

Join us at the River Museum and in Washington Park on May 21 from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM to see how your support is making a difference in Dubuque and beyond!

Donate today or on May 21 at https://www.greatgiveday.org/organization/Museumandaquarium

05/13/2025

Did you know May is National Preservation Month, also known as Historic Preservation Month?! Earlier this month, the Dubuque County Historical Society, which operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site and National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, recognized four properties with Historic Preservation Awards in conjunction with Dubuque Main Street's Architecture Days. 2025 marks the 50th year of awards from the committee to properties within the county. Pictured here is one of the award winners, the Neises Barn, located near Mud Lake Road. You can read more about each of the properties at https://www.rivermuseum.org/news/dchs-announces-2024-historic-preservation-award-winners

The Ham House is currently undergoing restoration work and is closed for traditional tours this season. But do not fret: the Audrey Hammer Fourth of July Ice Cream Social is still on, and we look forward to a lovely afternoon with you, your families, and your friends (and ice cream, of course!) Check out our event page at rivermuseum.org for more information!

04/05/2025

The Mathias Ham Historic Site is representing DCHS at Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area's festival: Iowa Eats! If you are in Waterloo today, come by and visit us.
Eats Food & Drink Festival

03/19/2025

Over the last 26 years, the Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS), which operates the Mathias Ham Historic Site, has received $2.2 million in funding support from the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS). This crucial funding has helped support the River of Innovation Belt Driven Machine Shop, several collections inventory and intellectual control projects, and most recently, our Master Interpretive Plan.

A recent White House Executive Order is directing further cuts to the IMLS. The IMLS efficiently provides critical resources to libraries and museums in all 50 states and territories. After midnight on March 20, this Executive Order will go to the legislature and if accepted, would essentially wipe IMLS within seven days.

DCHS welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually, accounts for $16 million in activity for our local economy, and directly supports 176 households through employment. Without IMLS funding, our growth as a museum, our role as a public steward of historic and living collections, and our leadership in contributing to Iowa's economy face significant risk. While we are uncertain what the impact of these cuts will be, we can be certain this will have a significant impact on not only DCHS but all museums, arboretums, cultural centers, and those organizations preserving history and amplifying community voices.

Click here to learn more, including how to contact your state representatives, https://www.rivermuseum.org/news/call-advocacy-imls-and-museums

03/18/2025

We’re thrilled to share the ongoing bathroom remodel at the Mathias Ham House, led by Gronen! This renovation is one of the first steps of interior preservation that will have a tremendous impact on guests' experience.

The new bathroom will be ADA-compliant, including clearance space for wheelchair turning, a handrail, proper sink height, and insulated pipes. You can check out the improvements in the drawings by Stickley Morton Architects.

When it comes to the Ham House, preserving the historic integrity of the house is a top priority. This project is guided by the Historic Structure Report from Heritage Works and Dubuque County Historical Society staff, which ensures every update to the house itself honors its 1839-1905 significance. However, the bathroom is part of an addition added to the house when it became a museum in the 1960s, giving us the flexibility to make these necessary changes. This explains why other ADA initiatives, like an elevator, cannot be added to the house, as it would not honor the Victorian time period.

Thanks to the generous support from the Jeffris Family Foundation and the Dubuque County Historical Society’s Preserve the Wonder capital campaign, these accessible changes and other exciting restoration work is becoming a reality!

While the house is closed for the season, stay tuned for updates on the project and find out about upcoming tours and programs on our website. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

03/03/2025

The hustle and bustle is underway at the Mathias Ham House as restoration work continued last week!

To preserve something is to help protect it for future generations, but we must also protect it while we preserve, which is the first step seen here. The Ham House is filled with hundreds of objects and artifacts that help set the Victorian-era setting. All of these pieces needed to move (and move safely), and we used extra hands from Key City Moving & Storage to get the furniture and artwork to a safe space.

Other preparations included sheeting and covers to seal off rooms and continued planning with architects, preservation specialists and project managers.

Stay tuned to see more behind the scenes photos of the work happening at the house!

The restoration is funded through support from the Jeffris Family Foundation and Dubuque County Historical Society’s Preserve the Wonder capital campaign. The house is closed for the season, but you can find updates about the restoration, available tours and programs here and on our website.

Address

2241 Lincoln Avenue
Dubuque, IA
52001

Opening Hours

Friday	11am - 4pm
Saturday	11am - 4pm
Sunday	11am - 4pm

Telephone

+15635579545

Website

https://www.rivermuseum.org/ham/hamsite

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