National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Great way to spend an afternoon with the family. Family of five including one small child admission plus 2x stingray feedings set us back a little under $120. We spent 3 and 1/2 hours there and honestly could have probably spent another hour if we had the time. There's a lot of activities for younger kids but also some very interesting exhibits to read and learn. Our kids' favorite activity was petting, then later feeding the stingrays. I personally really enjoyed the otter exhibit. There's a lot of variety, both indoor and outdoor, of things to see and do. We also caught a 40 minute long 4D movie which was interesting and they have very fairly priced concessions. $5 per ticket. They do push a membership which offers discounts on tickets, concessions, and even gift shop items throughout the museum. I would totally consider that if I lived closer to the area and made a return visit. Be sure to buy the stingray feeding tickets in advance as they do have limited quantities and will sell out.

Incredible experience! We spent there 4 hours and enjoyed every minute. We were touching and feeding stingrays! They are really friendly. Staff in there so nice and helpful. Amazing gift shop! The map is little bit complicated to read but staff members happy to help us. Place good for whole family experience.

Third time visiting and it definitely won’t be the last! This place has become a must stop every time I’m passing through Dubuque. They’re even working on a new otter enclosure, which looks like it’s going to be a great addition. The history of the steamboats and the river is genuinely fascinating, and getting to explore the actual steamboats and the various rooms inside them is such a cool experience. The indoor exhibits are perfect for kids too tons of hands on activities like microscopes and interactive displays to keep them engaged. Highly recommend for families or anyone curious about river!

We visited this place several times before and this time we went to the dinosaur exhibition on the second floor! Huge blast for our son who is adoring dinosaurs. Quality of all models is excellent and displays look fabulous. If you still thinking about going or not you are absolutely necessary need to go! For general admission you will have to experiences at once. ! Dinosaurs exhibition is open til September 14 !

This was a fantastic museum! The set up is very interesting and there are outdoor exhibits as well. Gift shops are fun. All the aquariums were impressive. We went on a Sunday and it was busy but not so much it inhibited us in any way. Cost is a bit steep but it's worth seeing. Plus, your ticket is good for two days in a row so you don't have to get everything in on one day. Parking is free and plentiful.

My grand daughters age 14, 10, & 9 all loved it. Viewing the exhibits and exploring the boats were so much fun. Loved the animal interaction areas and the water control play area.

Our niece had her wedding here. A great event. They set up a nice dinning area for us. The fish tanks are really cool. And the ducks and otter seem to love their life. They were fun to watch.

A wide variety to see here. The aquariums are lively and well maintained. The self guided boat tour was a lot of fun. The kids loved getting to pet and interact with stingrays, anenome, and starfish.