National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
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Today: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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Featured Exhibits

A Life In The Wild
A Life In The Wild

Open now through January 2023

The wilderness can be a beautiful thing. From the stunning landscapes found in nature to the interactions between wildlife, oftentimes these moments go uncaptured, but Thomas D. Mangelsen has dedicated his life to photographing these amazing encounters and one-of-a-kind moments.

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River of Innovation
River of Innovation

From a working 19th-century belt-driven machine shop to engaging interactives and a MakerSpace, River of Innovation is our newest can't miss permanent exhibit!

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About Us

Part aquarium, part museum, part science center, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium inspires stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive!

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National Mississippi River Museum

Upcoming Events

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Showtimes: 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

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Son of Bigfoot

Follow Adam, a solitary teenager, as he sets out to trace back his long-lost father. Deep into the woods, Adam is faced with an unbelievable revelation: his father is no other than…Bigfoot. As they start making up for lost time, they’re faced with the menace of two greedy hunters. Join Bigfoot and son, and all their quirky woodland animals friends, for the adventure of a lifetime !

Showtimes: Noon & 2 p.m.

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Conquest of the Skies

The ability to fly is one of the greatest wonders in the natural world. Millions of creatures soar above our heads today, using a fabulous variety of techniques to defy gravity. But how did animals make the incredible transition from land to air? See the whole world of flying creatures: from ancient pterosaurs to night-flying bats, and from acrobatic dragonflies to the hummingbirds which beat their wings more than 80 times a second.

American Eel

Featured Animal

American Eel

American Eels have a very unique life cycle. They are catadromous fish, which means they spend years of their lives in freshwater before migrating to the sea to breed. 

At your next visit, take a peek at our Main Channel aquarium and look for an American Eel. While they’re typically more active at night, with any luck, the fish just might rev(eel) itself to you! 

Click the button to learn more about more of our species!

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Featured Collections

Busy Bee Sign

Signs are everywhere. They are out there in our daily lives pulling us in, telling stories, directing us places, and can sometimes transcend their function to be an icon of local culture. Recently out for a glamorous night at the Captain’s Ball, the Busy Bee Café neon sign grabbed the spotlight. One of the largest and most technical objects in the collection, the sign’s style and connection to a longtime and beloved restaurant makes it an artifact of what it means to be “Dubuque"....

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Busy Bee Sign

Conservation

The Museum & Aquarium's vision is to become the world's leader in interpreting and protecting the life, history and culture of our rivers, to create a more global, knowledgeable and engaged citizen. Among our many conservation efforts are citizen science programs, propagation of endangered species, promotion of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch, and above all else, education. 

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Laotian Newt
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