Telling Iowa's Stories: Our Recent Dubuque Features

From a closer look at the gorgeous Tiffany windows adorning St. Luke’s Methodist Church to a spooky stroll through the town’s oldest cemetery, we have returned to Dubuque time and again, uncovering stories that reveal the character of this storied river town. As Iowa’s storyteller, we’re excited to showcase communities throughout the state, and we want you to see how we’ve been in neighborhoods near you. Let’s take a closer look at all the interesting elements of this Mississippi River gem.  

Road Trip Iowa

Our new travel series Road Trip Iowa visited a number of Dubuque stops in its inaugural season last year, from the Mines of Spain to a trail adorned with art murals worthy of a stroll. Watch features and full episodes of this program on the PBS app or YouTube. 

Catfish Charlie’s 

Discover this restaurant’s lively river to table experience. 

Street Art Trail

The Dubuque art murals are a worthy discovery to be viewed on the Great River Road.

Fenelon Place Elevator

River Road travelers can experience Dubuque’s living history woven into its Scenic Bluffs.

National Mississippi Museum & Aquarium

Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, this institution invites visitors to explore the rich cultural and environmental legacy of America’s iconic waterway.

Horseshoe Bluff at Mines of Spain

Dig up layers of Iowa history at the Mines of Spain Recreation Area near Dubuque.

Iowa Life

Another new series for Iowa PBS, Iowa Life welcomes you to uncover the diverse tapestry of Iowa’s people, cultures and stories. Let’s take a look at a few of this show’s stories featuring Dubuque’s people and places. Watch features and full episodes of this program on the PBS app or YouTube. 

Lantern Center

This welcoming nonprofit organization offers education, advocacy and support services to newcomers in the community. 

El Khatib Family Holiday Traditions

This Dubuque family captured the hearts of millions of Americans in 2022 after their detailed Christmas break itinerary and menu went viral on social media.

Tiffany Windows

St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Dubuque is home to a breathtaking collection of stained glass windows designed by famed artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Historic Buildings of Iowa: Dubuque

In this installment of our Historic Buildings of Iowa documentary series, you can explore Iowa’s oldest city through the history of its settlement, industrial booms, faith and iconic downtown structures. Watch this documentary on the PBS app or YouTube. Locations featured:

Mathias Ham House

In 1833, when settlers were allowed to cross the Mississippi into Iowa, Mathias Ham became one of Dubuque's first residents. At his wife's request, who quickly grew tired of log cabin living, he spent the next 20 years building a beautiful estate. Today the Ham home is a monument to its time period and is open to visitors to learn about Dubuque when it was in its infancy.

Dubuque County Courthouse, City Hall and Jail

As Iowa's first city, Dubuque has hundreds of historic homes and buildings. However, few have played as integral of a part in Dubuque residents' lives as the Dubuque City Hall, the old Dubuque County Jail and the Dubuque County Courthouse. While their appearance and services have changed over their more than 100 years of service, they have together stood as municipal staples from the day they were built.

Steeple Square

To see the skyline of Dubuque is to know how important faith is to the history of the city. The stories of St. Luke's and Steeple Square tell the history of its first non-native religion, the modern retention of Dubuque's oldest Catholic churches and their transformation into an important community center.

Fenelon Place Elevator

One of the biggest tourist draws to Dubuque is the Fenelon Place Elevator, the shortest and steepest funicular in the world. While a fun oddity, the elevator is also a window into the town's unique relationship with its breathtaking landscape.

Eagle Point Park

Three miles from downtown Dubuque is the world-famous Eagle Point Park. While the Great Depression devastated the entire country financially, it presented an opportunity for Dubuque to enhance its city park and develop "a city in a garden" that would become an architectural landmark.

Millwork District

For nearly 150 years, Dubuque was the center of millworking in the United States. The Millwork District was the industrial hub of the city and today is finding a new way to enrich the community while preserving its hardworking history.

Greetings From Iowa

In another of our magazine-style programs, Greetings From Iowa, we visited history at both a cabin and a cemetery. Watch features and full episodes of this program on the PBS app or YouTube. 

Haunted History Walk

Take a stroll through Dubuque's oldest cemetery and learn about some of the fascinating history of the people buried there. 

Arriandeaux Cabin

Built before 1828 by French fur trader Louis Arriandeaux, this historical cabin features a dog trot, or breezeway, separating two sides. Historians think one side would have been for business and the other a residence.

Share Your Stories

We hope you’ve enjoyed seeing our recent Dubuque stories - what other tales would you like to see us uncover in this part of the state? Reach out to us via our contact form or chat with us on social media with all your story ideas!