The Almost Intrepid Adventures of LibraryAnn: Not Your Dubuque Blues

Iowa Welcome Center

When I was in High School, The Association had a hit, Dubuque Blues. It was one of my favorite songs and I remember blasting it on the radio driving through Dubuque to Decorah going to meet my boyfriend's grandparents when he'd gone back to Iowa to spend the summer with them. Barb grew up in Dubuque and was eager to give us a tour. There is nothing "bluesy" about Dubuque now. Not only is it full of history, but it's full of "now"--shops, restaurants, museums, parks--a very livable modern city with the sense to build on its historic charm.

Historic Shot Tower

Julien Dubuque Memorial

Mississippi from Dubuque Memorial

Founded by a Quebec fur trader, Julien Dubuque, it was the first settlement in Iowa. The Spaniards had discovered lead in the area and Dubuque got permission to mine the lead from the local Indians. The shot tower on the left is a remnant of the lead mines--hot lead was poured through screens at the top of the tower. Air forced the droplets into balls which fell into cold water and hardened to make lead shot for ammunition. Dubuque is buried on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. A memorial to his Indian Chief father-in-law is there, too.

Bridge to Illinois

From the Memorial, Barb took us across a bridge into Illinois, then back across that bridge and across another bridge into Wisconsin. She thought it would be fun to be in 3 states in less than half an hour.

Bridge to Wisconsin

While in Wisconsin, we visited Sinsinawa Mound. The Mound is a natural feature of the land that stands above the rest of the hills resembling Pilot Mountain from a distance.

Historic home in Illinois

Sinsinawa college chapel

It is the home of a convent of Dominican Sisters. The buildings were gorgeous and the view, stunning. We saw historic buildings everywhere and a lot of loving, thoughtful restoration.

Motherhouse

View from the Mound

In addition to the Motherhouse for the Dominican Sisters, there was a college, a bakery, a farm and apartments, all run by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (it took Ruthie to remember all that).

Fenelon Elevator

Fenelon inside

Atop Dubuque

After visiting the Mound, Barb took us downtown to the Fenelon Elevator. Apparently, back in the late 1800s, a local banker wanted enough time over his lunch hour for a nap. He lived on the bluff overlooking the town, but his bank was below the bluff and it took a carriage too long to get to his home. So he built what claims to be the shortest, steepest railway in the world--called a "funicular" it operates like a cable car taking tourists up and down the bluff for a three state view. The thing rises nearly 300 feet and for someone who doesn't like heights, it took a little nerve to get on. The view from the top was splendid, though and worth the effort.

Barb has a friend who operates a B&B atop the bluff. Their view was magnificent as well.

B&B and view

We had lunch in a tavern Barb visited growing up. We visited a famous chocolatier. We visited the river front walk. We saw lovely old buildings restored for modern commercial use. But probably the coolest thing we saw was a barge pushing the HUGE wind turbine blades up river towards a draw bridge.

It's been a wonderful visit. We are headed out tomorrow to visit an old high school chum in Minneapolis. Enjoy the rest of the Dubuque pictures below. You can click on them to enlarge.