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    Mines of Spain

    4.5 (15 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    Some of the park.
    Mandi T.

    Excellent park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. The Tower is named after Dubuque's name sake and founder, Julien Dubuque - http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=DUBUQUE%2C_Julien

    Horseshoe Canyon

    Amazing Views from the Julien Dubuque monument which is lovely at sunset. But don't miss the short and sweet Horseshoe Canyon hike, that has its own parking lot. You wouldn't guess it from that trail's entrance but these are really the best views of the river in the park, with a surprising canyon in the middle that could be in Arizona. This is the place to be reminded that this part of Iowa is far from flat, and that the bluffs are as dramatic as they come. In addition, there is a pretty trail that follows Catfish Creek, which is also a canoe and kayak launch that takes you either into the creek or out to the Mississippi.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Mines of Spain is a go to place for me and has been for years. A wonderful scenic outdoor space. Great for hiking.

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    7 years ago

    This place is adorable!! Our kids loved it! We had a great picnic outside and then walked through the museum.

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    13 years ago

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    20 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Great park for hiking and trail running. Scenic views of the Mississippi and don't forget to climb Horse Shoe bluff!

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Mines of Spain

    The best part is looking over the Mississippi, with Dubuque in the background.

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    Julien Dubuque Monument

    Julien Dubuque Monument

    3.5
    (2 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    The grave of Julien Dubuque is placed on a point that offers a beautiful view of the area, above…read morethe mouth of Catfish Creek and the Mississippi River. Julien Dubuque was born in Quebec in 1762 and died in 1810 in the city that bears his name. Dubuque was granted rights by the Mesquakie Indians to mine lead in the area, and he remained in the area for the rest of his life. When he died, he was buried on this high point overlooking the Mississippi River and city. The log crypt was replaced by this stone monument sometime in the 1880s. Not only is the city named for him, there is an upscale hotel, a bridge and a film festival that also bear his name. He befriended Chief Peosta, who is also the namesake of Peosta, Iowa. Legend has it that he married Chief Peosta's daughter, supposedly named "Potosa." There is little evidence to support the legend, which also claims that Potosa was the namesake of the Wisconsin lead-mining community of Potosi. Residents of Potosi claim the city was named for Potosi, Missouri, which, in turn, was named for the silver mining town of Potosi, Bolivia. Julien Dubuque opened Iowa for European settlement. The governor of Spain also granted Dubuque permission to mine lands under Spanish control, and the park that contains Dubuque's monument is named Mines of Spain. The area was mined until 1914. It is a beautiful site, with a view of the City of Dubuque, a few miles to the north. The monument is a short walk from a parking area.

    The Mines of Spain Park is fairly small but has some great hiking trails. Not to be missed is the…read moreDubuque Monument Tower where Julien Dubuque is buried. Yes, the town of Dubuque received it's name from the French Canadian who arrived to these shores of the Mississippi River as one of the First European men. Unlike most settlers who tortured and murdered the local tribes, Dubuque befriended the Meskwaki Native American tribe's Chief Peosta and peacefully received permission to mine lead in 1788. (He may have even named his daughter "Potosa" after the tribe...a little Pocahontas story in the making.) Subsequently, the Spanish gave Dubuque a land grant for such a feat in 1796. After his death, the Meskwaki constructed a log crypt for Dubuque's corpse, which was later replaced in the late 19th century by this stone monument tower. A little history for you! There is a plaque commemorating Dubuque next to his grave which explains the story more in depth. For those who are unable to hike, there is a parking lot at the top of the hill where the monument stands tall to allow cars up to enjoy the views of downtown Dubuque, the Mississippi River, and the rest of the Mines of Spain. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area and only a 5 minute short drive from Downtown.

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    Mines of Spain - parks - Updated June 2026

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