National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium: Mihir’s Memoir

If you have been reading my articles, than Mississippi river’s enchantment on me is no secret. I had mentioned before about the Great River Road, a scenic byway that passes through ten states on both sides of the Mississippi River (https://experiencemississippiriver.com/). When I traveled through the Great River Road, I experienced Mississippi culture: ancient, old and new, river wildlife, natural beauty, fish, art, influence, history and unique geographical landscaped. All these come together at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. I have not been to any other museum dedicated to a river and its system. The museum was comprehensive. However, it primarily described the upper Mississippi River valley.

“Let us permit the nature to have her way: she understands her way better than we do.” A quote by Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was one of many in the museum. The museum had 37 permanent exhibits.  The first set of exhibits had many such quotes sprinkled all over. One thing that touched me emotionally was all those quotes and what different explorers, authors, leaders, and visitors felt about the Mississippi river. I urge you read Mark Twain after visiting this museum and you will realize why he fell in love with the mighty Mississippi. Read my favorite quotes from the museum on my blog: http://mihirjaiswal.blogspot.com/2020/03/river-quotes-from-national-mississippi.html.

Dubuque was a unique location for the museum. Most of the residential area in Dubuque was on cliffs with picturesque views of the river. Airbnb I stayed in had a spectacular view of the river from the windows of my room. The museum was on the banks of the river spanned over two large buildings and an outdoor area. Unlike other obscure museums I have been to, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium was bustling with people.

The highlight for me was exhibits describing different features of a river and specifying how those features look on the mighty Mississippi. Flood table and erosion table let me run simulations of different flood and erosion events and their effects on riverbeds. In addition, planks surrounding the board explained Mississippi’s flood and erosion plains, and how human activities and environmental factors affected them over the years. Bayou and backwater marsh were even more interesting. They had alligators and turtles, which frequent bayous and marshlands. Backwater marshlands, a type of wetlands, have been seriously decreasing in area due to urban development posing a serious risk of flood, erosion, and pollution. Main channel, down in delta and Gulf of Mexico aquarium exhibits highlighted different aquatic wildlife habitats of the Mississippi. Flooded forest and the otter habitat dived deeper into diverse wildlife.

As I entered the museum, a large river map of the United States greeted me on the left wall, while a floor map of the Mississippi river guided through the landmarks of the river. A cool screen with a dial enabled me to travel from headwaters to the mouth. I could rotate the dial to adjust the speed of my travel, point of view being a low flying aircraft. I was hooked to the museum after that very first exhibit. River alterations exhibit explained different types of alterations, most common being dams as well as their positive and detrimental effects on the river. The museum also had first people exhibition outlining ancient civilizations of Mississippian culture. On the other side, several stories of explorers shed light on old and modern history.

In addition, it had a blacksmith shop, an exhibit on boat engine making, a harbor, a theater describing journey on the river, a boat shop, a boat launch, a sand and gravel barge, a conservation lab, national rivers hall of fame, a space wall and many more exhibits. Rivers and Roads exhibit described importance of river as transportation especially before big highways and air travel. The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium was comprehensive covering every bit of river soul in it.

Visit Dubuque for this amazing experience. Mississippi river banks have history, nature, serene landscape and culture in areas surrounding Dubuque. Iowa does not come up in conversation often, but you will bring it to the conversation more after your visit Dubuque and surrounding areas. Here is the website to explore some parts of the museum virtually during the social distancing: https://www.rivermuseum.com/all-exhibits. Next week I will describe my visit to the Boeing factory in Seattle.