Onboard Queen of the Mississippi Day 5 – Dubuque, IA

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A youngster meets up with a crayfish in the Wet Lab at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, IA.
A youngster meets up with a crayfish in the Wet Lab at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, IA.

ABOARD QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI-Great weather continues to follow us up the Mississippi – although it turned a bit chilly for our morning arrival in Dubuque. We warmed quickly to the city, however, with its revitalized riverfront that features a spectacular glass and stone events center, a four-star resort hotel and waterpark – and the huge and handsome National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium – which was our objective for an ACL-included self-guided tour.

Dubuque's National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is a Smithsonian affliliate and one of the MIdwest's leading visitor attractions.
Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is a Smithsonian affliliate and one of the MIdwest’s leading visitor attractions.

A Smithsonian affiliate, this sprawling complex has earned praised as one of the Midwest’s finest museums and as one of the region’s leading visitor attractions. After spending the morning there, we whole-heartedly endorse such recognition. Built on the site of the Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works, that operated from 1851 until 1972 as the nation’s largest shipbuilder on inland waters, the museum couldn’t be better positioned to trace the colorful history of the Golden Age of Steamboating on the Mississippi.

The museum couples seamlessly with the aquarium where visitors can get up close and personal with some of the creatures that call rivers home – from massive gar and catfish to playful otters. It was all so absorbing that we didn’t have time to tour the 1930s steamboat William M. Black or to stroll the Wetland Nature Trail. We left wishing we could come back tomorrow – but, alas, we’re off to Wisconsin and the historic river town of La Crosse.

A Point of Interest:

Queen of the Mississippi enters Lock 13 in Fulton, IL -- one of 26 locks on the Upper Mississippi River.
Queen of the Mississippi enters Lock 13 in Fulton, IL — one of 26 locks on the Upper Mississippi River.

We had no idea that there are locks on the Mississippi River (did you?). In fact, there are 26 of them – all on the upper section of the river between St. Louis and St. Paul. They were built by the Corps of Engineers to accommodate a 236-foot drop in river elevation between the two cities. See my photo of the Queen entering Lock 13 in Fulton, IL.

Lined up and ready for Happy Hour is Queen of the Mississippi's capable bar tending team, (L to R) Kevin Snyders, Robert Alexander and Tony Eberhardt.
Lined up and ready for Happy Hour is Queen of the Mississippi’s capable bar tending team, (L to R) Kevin Snyders, Robert Alexander and Tony Eberhardt.

Happy Hour!

Nearly everyone onboard Queen of the Mississippi looks forward to Happy Hour – each evening from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. – when the free booze flows and Chef Dustin Reed and his galley mates cart out the hors d’oeuvers. The complimentary cocktail hour is an ACL custom, carried out on all of its ships, and of course it’s quite popular with guests.

I’m on my way now.

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