Dubuque, Port city in eastern Iowa, United States.
Description
Dubuque is a city along the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa, where streets climb across terraced hillsides and descend toward the waterfront. The layout follows the natural contours of limestone bluffs, creating a mix of steep residential lanes and wider avenues near the river.
History
Julien Dubuque founded the first European settlement here in 1785 after negotiating lead mining rights with the Mesquakie people. The community expanded rapidly in the 19th century as demand for lead ore attracted more settlers and river traffic increased.
Culture
Locals often refer to the area simply as "the Key City," a nickname tied to its role as a gateway for trade and settlement during westward expansion. Many neighborhoods still show traces of the German and Irish communities who built churches, breweries, and homes on the steep hillsides.
Practical
The hillside streets are steep in places, so comfortable shoes help when walking between upper and lower neighborhoods. Parking near the river is easier to find than on the bluffs, where spaces are limited during busy weekends.
Did you know?
The Fenelon Place Elevator was built in 1882 and is considered the shortest and steepest scenic railway in the world, lifting passengers 57 meters (189 feet) vertically. A local banker originally constructed it to shorten his daily commute between his hilltop home and his office near the river.
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Fenelon Place Elevator
609 m
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
514 m
Shot Tower
888 m
Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center
4.2 km
St. Raphael's Cathedral
685 m
Lock and Dam No. 11
4.7 km
Hotel Julien Dubuque
482 m
Five Flags Center
319 m
Mathias Ham House
3.6 km
William M. Black
603 m
Dubuque County Courthouse
60 m
Eagle Point Bridge
4.4 km
Eagle Point Park
4.4 km
Saint Mary's Catholic Church
846 m
Town Clock
208 mGrand River Event Center
825 m
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
5.6 km
Dubuque Rail Bridge
1.2 km
Dubuque County Jail
47 m
Grand Opera House
132 m
Roshek's
338 m
Holy Ghost Catholic Church
2.9 kmDubuque Museum of Art
295 m
Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Church
2.5 km
Saint Patrick's Church
747 mHeritage Trail
6.9 km
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
510 m
Langworthy House
1.3 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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