800.798.7098   •   563.556.4200
200 Main Street   •   Dubuque, IA 52001

Category Archive: Discovering Dubuque

  1. 4th of July Celebrations, 2016

    There’s nothing quite like watching Independence Day fireworks illuminate the sky over the Mississippi River.  For those of you who will be celebrating the Fourth of July in Dubuque this year, here’s a peek at what is going on in the area:


    Saturday, July 2nd:

    1:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Golden Knight Practice Jump, Kennedy Mall
    Complete with military displays, complimentary American flags from Richardson Motors, games for children, and a bounce house from 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm.


    Sunday, July 3rd:

    6:00 pm – 8:30 pm: Salute to Our Heroes Air Show, Lock and Dam No. 11
    Featuring: Air Show Announcer, Military Swearing in Ceremony, Aerostars Demonstration Team, Golden Knights Parachute Team, US Army Special Operations Semi, Mike Wiskus, Lucas Oil Pitts Plane,  US Navy F-18 Hornet, Blackhawk Helicopter, P-51 Mustang, Japanese Zero, De Havilland Vampire Jet, Tribute to our Troops, and Missing Man Formation

    Dusk: Fireworks Spectacular!


    Monday, July 4th:

    7:00 am – 12:00 pm: Dubuque Farmers’ Market
    Iowa’s longest running Farmers’ Market is held around Dubuque’s City Hall, 1300 Iowa St., featuring the area’s finest selection of local produce, meats, wines, cheese, crafts, and more.

    11:00 am – 4:00 pm: Ice Cream Social at the Historic Mathias Ham House
    The Fourth of July Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the Dubuque County Historical Society, celebrates and old-fashioned Independence Day at the historic Ham House by Eagle Point Park. The afternoon event features music, food, tours of the mansion, and historic games for kids. For more information, visit RiverMuseum.com.


     Activities:

    Enjoy family time outside with a historic sightseeing cruise aboard The Spirit of Dubuque paddleboat.

    If you’re looking for something adventurous, consider a scenic hike at Dubuque’s Mines of Spain State Park and be sure to check out Julien Dubuque’s Monument, a National Historic Landmark.

    Take in magnificent views of the city of Dubuque and the Mississippi River by visiting The Fenelon Place Elevator.  Located at 512 Fenelon Place, the Elevator has been described as the world’s shortest, steepest scenic railway at 296 feet in length, elevating passengers 189 feet from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place.

    Wishing you a wonderful and safe Fourth of July holiday from Hotel Julien Dubuque!

  2. Discovering Dubuque: Alte Glocke

    Alte GlockeAround every corner of Hotel Julien Dubuque, you will find photographs, sketches, and mementos that tell the story of Dubuque’s rich history.

    This bell, which now graces the porte-cochère outside of Caroline’s Restaurant, was once used to alert the people of Dubuque to the arrival of steamboats, warn of major fires, and bring attention to other significant events from the Firehouse at the corner of 4th and Locust.  Women of Dubuque had expressed their dissatisfaction with the sound of the bell’s predecessor and asked the city to purchase a new bell to replace it.  Their requests were denied; however, the women were determined to find a way to replace the bell.  They continually hosted fundraising parties, dances, and raffles, eventually raising $800 to purchase a new bell.

    The women’s success gave rise to the legend that any bride who rings the bell on her wedding day will never be in want.

    In 1970, when the bell was rediscovered, the hotel’s restaurant was given the name “Alte Glocke”, German for “Old Bell”.  Though much has changed in the restaurant since the 70s (including the restaurant’s name), the Bell still serves as a tribute to Dubuque’s history and its story is one that we hope will continue to live on for many years to come.

     

  3. The Four Kingsmen

    Throughout Hotel Julien Dubuque, you will find an eclectic mix of historic artifacts thanks to avid collector and grandfather of the hotel’s current owners, Louis H. Pfohl.  According to his family, he collected what he liked and found ingenious ways to give new life to historic finds.  We encourage you to explore the treasure trove of artifacts housed within Hotel Julien Dubuque and check back here to read about the hotel’s fascinating history on the corner of 2nd and Main. 

    Four Kingsmen

    These stunning stained glass windows can be found in Caroline’s Restaurant and were counted among Louis Pfohl’s most treasured finds. Originally hailing from a castle in the south of Germany, the windows depict Four Austrian Kings and have been attributed to the 16th Century.

    Prior to Louis Pfohl’s acquisition, the windows overlooked a great stone Gothic staircase in the residence of Arthur Curtis James, located on the corner of 67th and Park Avenue in New York City. Mr. James, who accumulated a fortune of several hundred million in railroads and copper, is said to have acquired the windows around 1895. Louis Pfohl purchased them in the early 1960s when the James estate was torn down to make way for a skyscraper.

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