The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, operated by The Dubuque County Historical Society, exists to explore, collect, preserve, and interpret, for present and future generations, the material culture and history of Dubuque County, the Mississippi River, and the rivers of America. The artifact collection is comprehensive in its scope from prehistoric geological specimens to objects of culture from the region’s First Peoples to today. From a dime-sized mussel shell button to the 270-foot long dredge boat William M. Black, the collection holds many stories of the region and rivers.
You can engage with our collections in a variety of ways.
Explore objects virtually through the online collection, come see exhibits in person, or read our collection spotlights, to see how the collection can support your curiosity.
By the Numbers
26,000 - Number of objects at The Dubuque County Historical Society which changes often through new donations and deaccessions of material.
2,898 - Number of objects in the Richard Herrmann Collection. Donated in 1964, a founding businessman of Dubuque, Herrmann operated a museum from 1871-1956. Many of the natural history objects once on display, such as fossilized fish and mammoth teeth, are now part of the DCHS collection. Along with these objects related to natural history are materials of the European-settler experience such as journals and family photo albums. He also collected objects of Indigenous culture west of the Mississippi River. DCHS acknowledges the potentially harmful impacts of housing cultural objects. Since the 1970s, the organization has worked to identify, remove, and return those objects of significance to their home communities. For more on our commitment to equitable practices please see our About page.
212 - Number of objects in the Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works Collection. The museum is located on the site of the Iowa Iron Works/Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works business which built boats from 1870-1972. Items in this collection include blueprints, contracts, correspondence, and more.
86 - Number of objects in the Betty Bryant Collection. A member of the National Rivers Hall of Fame, Betty Bryant began her showboat career as a child in the 1920s. The Bryant family performed and traveled through the Ohio River and its tributaries for over 20 years. Her collection includes memorabilia from riverboat theater productions as well as daily family objects and music sheets.
4,400 - The number of linear feet of archival material in the collection that includes lithographs, glass plate negatives, photographs, political ephemera, and more.
Donate an Object
Since the 1950s, the collection of the Dubuque County Historical Society has grown through the generous object donations of individuals, families, and businesses. We welcome object donation submissions but are unable to provide immediate response. Please anticipate a delay due to staffing availability. Acceptance of some artifacts may be limited based on current project work in storage and exceed a six month wait period.
Research Requests
The Captain William D. Bowell, Jr. River Library & Archives, located on the second floor of the National River Center at the River Museum, is open for in-person research requests by appointment. Due to staff scheduling, availability of times may not be consistent.
DCHS is dedicated to the history, heritage, and culture of Dubuque County and is committed to ensuring equitable advancement of knowledge and serving public audiences by sharing successful operational strategies.
