Dubuque is Iowa's oldest city and one of the oldest settlements west of the Mississippi. The first permanent settler to the area was French-Canadian fur trader Julien Dubuque. He arrived in 1785 (one site says it was 1788) and the city became incorporated in 1833.
Julian married Potosa, daughter of Mesquakie Indian Chief Peosta.

"Julian Dubuque" Mural by Miles Turner

Julien's burial site in the Mines of Spain Recreation area. 

Couler District-

Standing on the bend in the road I stood between Fire House #1, the Rafoth building and the N. Palen Building. There's so much history is this little corner of town.

Rafoth Building
It opened in 1913 as a tin shop by AA Rafoth who was a carpenter. They specialized in intricate sheet metal on many Victorian homes. They used horse and buggy for deliveries.
After his death his son Russell took over. He started specializing in stainless steel fabrication for wartime Coast Guard boats during World War II. 
In 1971 David Rafoth took over and the business become a multi-state operation with a another office opened in Cedar Rapids. 

N Palen Buidling 1895 corner of 18th and Couler (Central) Avenue started as the German American Savings Bank.

Fire House #1 
Built by Fridolin Heer, a self-taught architect stands at the head of Central Avenue. 

April 24, 1837 the first fire department was authorized in what would become Iowa.

Dubuque Star Brewery 

Dubuque Star is right on the Mississippi River just north of The Ice Harbor. It was established by Joseph Rhomberg in 1898. Before the prohibition there were 138 breweries in the state. After the repeal of prohibition Dubuque Star was the only remaining small brewery in the state. Today there's a restaurant, bar and small museum on the bottom floor, a real estate and software business of upper floors. 

The Shot Tower 

The Shot Tower is across the train tracks just north of the Dubuque Star Brewery building.  It was built in 1856 to make lead shot. It was then used as a watchtower for the Standard lumber company, until a fire in 1911 destroyed the wooden interior.

To get to the tower you walk under the train bridge next to the Dubuque brewing company, watching out for the semis driving through for the current business. It was a bit interesting place to go through.

This sign shows how the lead shot was made in the tower. 

The Canfield Hotel

A 4 story section was built in 1891 and was originally called "The Paris" hotel. In 1925 it was sold to the Canfield's and renamed. Tragedy struck on the night of June 9, 1946 when the hotel caught fire. The 4 floor originally section and new 6 story and ballroom were engulfed. 19 people died in the fire including Mr. Canfield and his wife. It was one of Dubuque's worst fires.

The Clock Tower

This is the towns second clock. The first one was on the top of the John Bell and Company Store. In 1870 the clock and building collapsed killing a child and two women in the store. The second clock become operational on April 17, 1873. It took 90 minutes to wind the clock for it to work for 1 week. 1927 it was electrified and no longer needed to be winded. In 1971 it was moved to it's current location. It was in a pedestrian area, but it was converted to a road with the clock on an island in the middle of the road. 

Mathias Ham House

The house was built for lead miner Mathias Ham in 1857. The same man who designed the Iowa City Capital designed this house. The house is now a museum showing life during the Antebellum era.  

On the grounds is Louis Arriandeaux Log House, which is the oldest log cabin in the state. The plaque says it was built in 1827 and in 1834 Pioneer Settler William Newman owned it. 

This a replica mine shaft on the Mathias Ham House property.

Amazing buildings

Millwork District

I LOVED this part of the city. Old manufacturing buildings are being transformed and it's a gem!

Murals Downtown

Downtown there are 25 murals as part of The Voices project. They are all beautiful and bring so much energy to downtown. 

"Undercurrent" by Werc

"Persistence" by Corban

Solidarity

"AutoMate" by Gaia

"Portal" by Hoxxoh

The Mississippi River

I asked her to do a few dance poses for me. She told me it's easier without shoes on. Next time!

Mayflies

This man was blowing the mayflies out of the flowers and the air was full and the ground covered in them.You can see them in the air and on the ground. They were flying at us so quickly. 

Eagle Point Park

I've always wanted to come to this park, but I've only tried in the winter when it's closed. Parts of this park reminded me of Kellerman's in Dirty Dancing, one of my FAVORITE  movies of all time.

This park sits on a bluff over looking the Mississippi River and Lock and Dam #11. It's got some amazing views. One of my favorite park was the fish pond with the giant limestone blocks. It'd be such a beautiful backdrop for pictures.

We drove down to the Lock and Dam hoping to see a barge go through, but we didn't time it right. I saw a footing for a bridge and learned that it was from the Eagle Point Bridge built in 1902 and taken down in 1983 after the current bridge leading in Wisconsin was built. 

Limestones by the fish pond.

 We spent an entire day here and I feel like we only scratched the surface of seeing this amazing town. I have plans to return to do more exxploring and learning more about it's history and secrets.