The best museums make history, science, or art come alive with lots of engaging displays and interactive features. They're the kind of places that you can spend an entire day soaking in the sights and sounds, and want to come back another day to see more. The Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is exactly that kind of museum, and you're going to want to make a trip there soon. Check it out:
Built in 2003, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is a wonderful blend of museum exhibits, river history, and live fish and animals. More than 250,000 people walk through this museum every year, and you'll see why when you visit.
You'll want to allow a full day to see everything that this museum has to offer. From the interactive displays, to the aquarium, to the boats outside the museum, there's something for everyone here.
In the RiverWorks area, you'll learn how humans have figured out how to harness the energy created by rivers.
Spend some time splashing and playing in the Splash Zone. You can manipulate boats through the locks and down the river, and it's fun for kids of all ages.
At the erosion table, you'll see first-hand how water has an effect on land, wearing it away a little at a time. You'll learn about actions that humans can take to slow or stop the erosion process along the Mississippi.
At the Down in the Delta exhibit, you'll get have some hands-on when you pet a stingray, see an upside-down jellyfish, and explore a mangrove habitat.
Visit the turtles, fish, and waterfowl in the Backwater Marsh exhibit, where you'll get a close-up look at life in the wetland habitat near the river.
Watch in wonder as fish, sea turtles, and other marine life swims past you in the Gulf of Mexico Aquarium, which is 30 feet long and 15 feet deep.
You could spend hours watching the otters frolic and play in the indoor/outdoor otter habitat.
There's plenty to see and do outside the museum, too. You can check out several boats, walk through wetlands, and more.
Behind the museum, you'll find the Wetlands. Take a stroll along the boardwalk and keep an eye out for beavers, muskrats, Canada geese, frogs, tadpoles and more.
Take a tour of the William M. Black dredge boat, which was built in 1934. You can see the boiler room, engine room, crew quarters and more.
Many people work on the Mississippi River, and you can get a glimpse of what the river life is like when you check out the Logdon Sand & Gravel Barge.
When you need to take a little break and get off your feet, you'll want to catch a show in the Journey Theater, which features shows that start every hour and half hour.
Visit the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium during the summer from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., every day of the week. It's located at 350 E. 3rd St., Dubuque, IA 52001.
Learn more about the National Mississippi Museum & Aquarium on its website, and follow the museum on its Facebook page to keep up with all the latest happenings.
Looking for some more entertainment this weekend? Here are seven quick road trips you can take.
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