National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque is a giant museum and aquarium all about the mighty Mississippi River. It has tanks full of fish, otters, turtles, and even alligators, plus boats and hands-on exhibits.
It is famous and loved because you can meet the animals that live in and around America's greatest river all in one place. Kids get to touch stingrays, watch playful otters swim, and learn how the river shaped the whole country.
River Wildlife
You can see otters, turtles, catfish, alligators, and colorful fish that live in and around the river. There is even a touch pool where you can gently pet a stingray.
Boats and Water
The museum has real riverboats and models that show how people have traveled the Mississippi for hundreds of years. You can climb aboard and imagine floating down the water.
Hands-On Learning
Fun exhibits let kids splash, build, and explore how rivers work and where water goes. It is a place where learning feels like playing.