Dubuque County Historical Society Receives Support from City of Dubuque Arts and Cultural Affairs Grant Program

Dubuque County Historical Society Receives Support from City of Dubuque Arts and Cultural Affairs Grant Program

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Dubuque County Historical Society (DCHS) has received $26,167 in operating support from the city of Dubuque's Arts and Cultural Affairs grant program.

This funding will support DCHS's two museums-the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mathias Ham Historic Site-in their efforts to provide dynamic programs, exhibits and outreach to 228,000 individuals in fiscal year 2027.

Together, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mathias Ham Historic Site account for $16 million in annual tourism spending and economic activity for the local Dubuque economy, serve 228,000 individuals through visitation and outreach, and directly support 145 local households through employment. As Smithsonian Affiliates, both museums are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and the River Museum also holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Over the past 23 years, the DCHS museums have welcomed 3.8 million visitors from all 50 states and 70 countries.

The City of Dubuque Arts and Cultural Affairs operating support grant program is designed to fund nonprofit organizations that contribute to cultural vibrancy and community resiliency by focusing on publicly accessible arts, arts education and cultural heritage programming. Applicants must demonstrate a record of financial and management stability and show evidence of a commitment to excellence as an arts and culture leader.

The mission of DCHS is to inspire stewardship through educational experiences where history and rivers come alive. As a steward of local and regional history, the cultural institution is a key community partner for humanities-based programming and informal learning. Serving local, state and national audiences, DCHS aims to curate exhibits and programs that capture regional stories tethered to a global perspective, engage diverse audiences in immersive educational learning and provide an equitable, accessible atmosphere in which all visitors can fully engage.