Things To Do

Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Brimming with beautiful flowers and trees, it's an ideal spot for photography, particularly in May when everything is in bloom. This place holds a special significance for my family with the addition of a memorial for my nephew—a bench in the park dedicated to his memory. There are rose gardens, and ponds, and beautiful flowers covering much of the area. Perfect place to walk in the mornings with a cup of coffee in hand.

Mississippi Riverwalk

Together with my parents, we took Mindy to Dubuque for our first outing. We had a great time. The city offers "Art on the River," a display of various sculptures. Situated downtown, it's an easy walk to numerous shops and eateries.

Field of Dreams Movie Site

If you're a film enthusiast, the Field of Dreams is just a short drive away in Dyersville, IA. Don't miss the chance to visit and capture some memorable photos of your time in Iowa. Honestly, when are you going to be this close to this iconic place again. "If you build it, they will come".

Diamond Jo Casino Dubuque

Dubuque Museum of Art

Fenelon Place Elevator

Also known as the fourth street elevator, it has been called "the world's steepest, shortest scenic railway".

Dubuque Shot Tower

Constructed in 1856, the tower served to produce lead shot. The shot tower's invention allowed for the cost-effective creation of numerous, nearly perfect lead spheres sized appropriately for shotguns. To manufacture the shot, workers poured molten lead through a grate atop the tower. The droplets, fairly uniform in size, had ample time during their descent to form spheres before solidifying in the water below, thus preserving their shape. However, the shot tower faced immediate challenges due to the economic decline following the Panic of 1857. Chadbourne & Co., a St. Louis firm, acquired the Dubuque tower but never utilized it. Post-war, it found use as a fire watchtower by the Standard Lumber Company. Following a spate of fires in 1911 that devastated the local lumber trade and inflicted damage on the tower's wooden structure, the tower was deserted. The fires were ruled as arson, yet no arrests were made. In 1976, the tower was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Galena

Galena, Illinois is only 20 miles from Dubuque. Was once home to Ulysses S. Grant. A town similar to Eureka Springs as it has so many quaint shops and eateries. If shopping is on your list of things to do then plan on visiting Galena.

Calico Bean Market

Check out the Peanut Butter - they make it right in front of you.

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Stone Cliff Winery

Cable Car Square

Shopping and Dining in Historic Dubuque.