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Hard Won, Not Done™ is a local look at the efforts of some remarkable women who fought for ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. On the 100th anniversary of this historic milestone, Hard Won, Not Done™ honors how far we've come, draws parallels to our own experiences 100 years later, and is an opportunity to consider how far we have yet to go toward the goal of equity for all.

NOW OPEN - September 27, 2020

The Robot Zoo explores the biomechanics of complex, larger-than-life animal robots in the 5,000-square-foot exhibit. Eight roboto animals and a dozen hands-on activities will illustrate fascinating real-life animal characteristics. The eight animals featured in the exhibit include a giant squid with 18-foot tentacles, a bat, a rhinoceros, a house fly with a 10-foot wingspread, a platypus, a grasshopper, a chameleon, and a giraffe whose head and neck alone stretch 9 feet into the air.

Phase one of the new permanent exhibit River of Innovation, this 3,000-square-foot exhibit space features a working 19th century belt-driven machine shop that once created motors for racing boats on the Mississippi River. 

(This exhibit is located at the Mathias Ham Historic Site.)

Linwood Legacies provides a glimpse into Linwood’s early history, as well as death and mourning practices of the Victorian Era. Featuring descriptive educational panels and several Dubuque County Historical Society artifacts, this exhibit will be on display in two of the Ham House’s upper rooms.

Dubuque's baseball roots date back to 1855, when according to lore, the 4th ward "on the hill" challenged the 3rd ward "on the flats" to a baseball game in the earliest local game on record. After two hours being pummeled by the players from the flats, the 4th ward players gave up.

Take a local look at America's favorite passtime and enjoy items from the Dubuque County Historical Society's collection in this mini-exhibit located in the Mississippi River Discovery Center concourse.

As the Dubuque County Historical Society (whose collection is housed at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium) celebrates 70 years, we wanted the public to take a closer look at how the act of collecting has changed over the years. Stop in to view our "cabinet of curiosities" and learn just what a "cabinet of curiosities" was.