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Dubuque

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Dubuque

4 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Dubuque, Iowa

Updated December 20, 2022

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Unusual Attractions in Dubuque

Fenelon Place Elevator

Dubuque, Iowa

Fenelon Place Elevator

For just a few bucks, this Iowa funicular will let you feel like an 1800s fat cat.

Stairs to the theater

Dubuque, Iowa

Union Park

The remains of a bustling turn-of-the-century park built to showcase the wonders of electricity.

Dubuque, Iowa

Crystal Lake Cave

An underground wonderland in Iowa.

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Shot Tower

Dubuque, Iowa

Dubuque Shot Tower

This long unused shot tower on the Mississippi remains a point of pride for a small city in Iowa.

Are we missing something unusual?

Entrance

Dickeyville, Wisconsin

The Dickeyville Grotto

A tribute to the twin ideals of religion and patriotism, built by a Catholic priest from rocks, glass, and innumerable found items.

9 miles from Dubuque

Baby Blue

Galena, Illinois

West Street Sculpture Park

Dozens of large steel sculptures fill this two-acre park outside a former blacksmith's studio.

13 miles from Dubuque

The DeSoto House Hotel, opened in 1855, is the oldest operating hotel in Illinois.

Galena, Illinois

DeSoto House Hotel

The oldest operating hotel in Illinois enjoys a historic (and some say haunted) past.

13 miles from Dubuque

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Dubuque, Iowa

History 2

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Subterranean Sites 1

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War History 1

Elevators 1

Machines 1

Funicular 1

Underground 1

Technology 1

Shot Towers 1

Military 1

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