Education FAQs

GPS & maps navigate most visitors to take 5th Street to arrive at the River Museum; however, train traffic can cause lengthy delays of up to 1 hour. To avoid trains, please have bus drivers follow the alternate route directions (provided below) or call 563-557-9545 & a member of our staff can provide assistance.

• From the East: Coming off the Illinois bridge on HWY 20, take a right on Locust St. Stay to the left of the curve and take a right on 3rd St. Take the 3rd Street Bridge and you will see the River Museum on your right and the Diamond Jo Casino on your left. At the stop sign, turn right and make a sharp right turn into the museum’s parking lot.
• From the North: Coming off US-151 S/US-61 S, take the White Street exit. If a train is blocking the crossing at 5th Street, take a right on 4th Street to Main Street, take a left, and make another left turn into 3rd Street. Take the 3rd Street Bridge and you will see the River Museum on your right and the Diamond Jo Casino on the left. At the stop sign, turn right and make a sharp right turn into the museum’s parking lot.
• From the West: Coming off US-151 N/US-61 N, take the Locust Street exit. Continue to 3rd Street and take a right onto the bridge. The River Museum will be on your right-hand side, the Diamond Jo Casino on your left.
   

There are no designated bus parking spaces on our museum campus parking lot. Bus drivers are welcome to park buses where they can find space; however, we ask that buses refrain from parking directly in front of museum entrances if possible.

Bus drivers are welcome to tour the museum, too. Bus drivers should inform the box office with which school/organization they are driving for, and drivers will be admitted at no extra charge.

Please arrive at our Mississippi River Center located at 350 East 3rd Street, Dubuque, IA 52001 (paddlewheel building). Students should remain on the bus until check-in/payment has been completed. If you need to review anything with your group prior to entering the museum, please do so in the green space adjacent to where the bus drop-off zone is. Doing so prevents congestion in the museum entrance as there is limited space available. When check-in is complete, chaperones are welcome to lead their groups into the museum to begin their tour.

Your group will be provided with a large, rolling laundry bin. This bin is used to transport lunchboxes and/or coolers, but you are also welcome to include coats and bags. Please have students and chaperones bring any necessary lunch items into the museum upon entry; a member of our education staff will help load your bin and deliver said bin to your designated lunch space. A member of our staff will also return the bin to the Mississippi River Center entrance so you can retrieve your items before you exit.
 

• Chaperones/Teachers are responsible for the conduct of their students at all times.
• Please walk safely between the exhibits and buildings.
• While touring the museum, students should be in small groups with a minimum of one chaperone per group.
   

Below is our suggested touring path. This is only a suggested path, but highly recommended from not only an interpretation standpoint, but also a navigational standpoint! We do have exhibits and tanks in both buildings; our Mississippi River Center focuses primarily on freshwater animals. Our National River Center focuses primarily on saltwater animals.

Our Mississippi River Center is home to:

• American Alligator (28)
• North American River Otters (25)
• Rotating Exhibits (found on the 2nd floor; ask about availability)

Our Boatyard & Plaza are home to:

• Log Cabin (16)
• Aviaries: Red-Tailed Hawk & Bald Eagle (10)
• Logsdon Boat (11)

Our National River Center is home to:

• Rivers to the Sea Aquariums (2)
• Down in the Delta: Stingray Touch Tank (4)
• Riverworks Discovery Splash Zone (9)
   

Your group’s lunchtime should be noted in your confirmation email. Between the months of March – July, there are generally several groups visiting concurrently; please arrive to your designated lunch space at the time on your confirmation email to ensure all groups are receiving adequate time to eat.

• We are a Kulture City certified organization. Sensory Bags are available on site at either box office. If you would like to learn more about Kulture City, please visit our Kulture City Social Story here: https://venue.kulturecity.org/venues/national-mississippi-river-museum-aquarium. Our Comfort Room is located between our Boat Shop & MakerSpace in the Mississippi River Center. The Comfort Room can be located on the virtual map provided.
• If you choose to add a 3D/4D movie to your visit, your showtime will be noted on your confirmation email. Shows start promptly; please try to arrive to the 3D/4D Theater about 5 minutes before your show time is scheduled to begin. You will not receive paper tickets for your movie. Inform the theater staff with which group you are with, and they will distribute your 3D glasses.
• Restrooms can be located on the first floor in the Mississippi River Center. In the National River Center, restrooms are located across from the entry doors. There is an additional restroom located in the National River Center on the second floor next to the 3D/4D Theater.
• Our museum campus is 14 acres in total, with exhibits both outdoors and indoors. The walkway between buildings is also outdoors (partially covered.) Please dress appropriately.
•  Need Assistance? NMRMA staff & volunteers are happy to help! Our staff wear blue polo shirts and nametags, and our volunteers wear maroon polo shirts with lanyard-style nametags.
   

We ask that you bring your child to the TRAIN DEPOT ENTRANCE, LOCATED ON ICE HARBOR DRIVE We will be doing curbside check-in and check-out at this location. Please park your car near the entrance and have your child remain in the vehicle. Our staff will be there to greet you and your child.

Drop off begins at 8:45 A.M.

Please allow extra time for this procedure and be on time. the door will be locked after 9:15 A.M. and will only be opened again if staff is there to check-in or check-out. Make sure to let us know in advance if your camper have a camper leaving and returning for special appointments.

Camp activities may take place outdoors or involve messy craft materials.  Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather each day. 

Please have your child bring a LABELED sack lunch with drink AND water bottle each day of camp. We will be supplying a small snack for your child, but you are welcome to bring your own snack if you prefer. We recommend this especially for those that have any food allergies.

If your child is taking medication, please send it in its original prescription bottle. Send only enough medication needed for the duration of each day's camp. Medications will be held by the camp supervisors to be given to the camper at the appropriate time.

To ensure that every camper has the most educational fun in our camps, we are consistent and fair with behavior and expectations. Our behavior protocol uses positive behavior strategies, which sets clear behavioral expectations and focuses on prevention, not punishment. If you have any questions on our behavioral policy, please contact us.

IN THE EVENT THAT A SESSION SHOULD BE CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, you will be notified via email or by phone. We will then reschedule your child for an upcoming session if possible or refund accordingly. (We will make every effort to reach you as soon as we can, preferably by 7:30 am if possible. Please look for an email from one of our camp staff.)