Mathias Ham House Historic Site

Built in 1857 for lead magnate and river trader Mathias Ham, this magnificent Italianate villa is one of the finest examples of Victorian-era architecture in the Upper Midwest — and costumed guides bring it vividly to life with stories of Ham's business empire and the rough-and-tumble world of 19th-century Dubuque. The site also includes Iowa's oldest log cabin, a restored one-room schoolhouse, a replica lead mine, and a miner's dwelling, making it a remarkably complete picture of frontier Iowa life. The bluff-top setting near Eagle Point Park is stunning in any season. Operated by the Dubuque County Historical Society in partnership with the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.