History of Dubuque

The city of Dubuque is named after Julien Dubuque, A French Canadian fur trader who settled in the area in the 1780’s. Julien originally came to the region to engage in trade with the Mesquakie Indians who occupied the land at the time. As Julien befriended the Mesquakie, his attention, turned from fur trading, to the plentiful lead mines that were located on their property.

In 1788 after friendly negotiations, the Mesquakie granted Julien control fo the lead mines surrounding the Dubuque area. Julien named this area just south of the present city of Dubuque, the Mines of Spain. For the next 20 years Julien worked as both a miner and trader on the land the Mesquakie presented him. In 1810 Julien died after a brief illness. The Mesquakie buried their friend on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, with honors befitting a chief. In 1897 a large limestone monument was erected on the grave site to commemorate Julien Dubuque.

Following Julien’s death, the Mesquakie reclaimed the Mines for their own use. For over 10 years the Mesquakie minded and smelted the relatively undistributed lead. In 1822 the federal government licesnsed the first settler to mine lead in the Dubuque area. The lead rush was on! By 1829 over 4,000 mining permits had been issued to settlers seeking their fortunes in the lead hills of the Mississippi River. In 1832 the Mesquakie rivalries with the Fozx and Sauk tribes lead to the Blackhawk War. As part of the peace treaty, the Mesquakie granted the land that is currently Dubuque to the federal government. In 1833, the area was officially opened for settlement as the city of Dubuque.

This thriving river town has grown from one square mile in 1833 to 29.2 square miles today. Throughout this time, Dubuque had had five separate flags; England, Spain, United States and two of France. This history is recognized in the Five Flags Theater and Civic Center located in downtown Dubuque. The theater, which is a replica of the Majestic Theater in Paris, has been fully restored to its original elegance. Other historically significant structures are the 4th Street Cable Railway (Fenelon Place Elevator), Dubuque County Courthouse and Jail, Dubuque City Hall, and the Shot Tower that was erected in 1855 for molding lead shot.

Downtown Dubuque went through significant urban renewal in the 1970’s and received a Presidential Award in 1973 for the development of the Town Clock, Whis is currently located on Main Street. With historic architecture and proximity to the Mississippi River, Dubuque is a major tourist attraction. IN the 1980’s a greyhound racing track and casino were added to the area, along with the first river boat casino in the United States in 1991.

In 2004 more great attraction were added to the river city. A riverwalk along the Mississippi, Grand Harbor hotel containing Iowa’s first indoor water park, the Alliant Energy amphitheater, the Grand River meeting and conference center, and the Smithsonian affiliated National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.