Like a barge moving down river, Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA) members docked at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (NMRMA) for the July member meeting.

With one common goal of improving and taking the waterways to the future, the member meeting brought industry stakeholders to Dubuque, Iowa, for a gathering of board leaders and stakeholders.  

 Walking past the waterwheel and into the museum, UMWA members, partners and guests engaged in discussions throughout the day and continued to work on the vision of the future of the rivers.   

 NMRMA is owned and operated by the Dubuque County Historical Society, sitting on 14 acres. The museum shows a look back at the history of the area and the life on the Mississippi River and rivers of America across the decades.    

 “The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is a natural fit for UMWA,” UMWA Chairman Jeremy Putman said. “It tells the story of the river’s past, present and future, and reflects our mission of promoting the importance of inland waterways. Hosting the event there helped reinforce the connection between our advocacy work and the cultural and economic value of the river itself.”  

 Strolling around NMRMA soaking in the history and impact of it all, President and CEO Kurt Strand shared more details and an introduction of the museum. He has the mission to inspire stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive.  

 “We make our mission true through a purposeful array of exhibits, educational programs, outreach and advocacy,” Strand said.  

‘Beauty and power’ 

The museum is a Smithsonian affiliate, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums also accredits NMRMA. It has indoor and outdoor exhibits with over 2,200 animals, 11 historical structures and stewards 41,00 items in the historic collections. NMRMA features exhibits, aquariums, aviaries, theaters, programs, archives, maker space, and a robust outreach program.  

“The museum is a reminder of the beauty and power of the mighty Mississippi, and how it plays an important role in our economy and eco-system,” Red Wing Port Authority Manager Shari Chorney said.  

She shared in the joy of the experience she had driving from Red Wing, Minn., following the river south to Iowa. The well-attended event brought members from the Wisconsin border, Minnesota and Iowa.  

“I heard a lot of positive feedback, especially about how the museum setting sparked meaningful conversations about the history and future of river transportation,” Putman said. “People really enjoyed the tour – it added a sense of place and purpose to our meeting.” 

One highlight Putman shared was seeing the turnout and engagement members showed. He said the momentum of UMWA was felt that day with the mix of seasoned professionals and new faces coming together.  

The member lunch at the event was sponsored by Riverview Boat Store & Tug Service and hosted in part by NMRMA.  

“We wanted to create a welcoming space where members could network, have informal conversations and enjoy their time together,” Putman said. “Sponsoring lunch was a small gesture of appreciation for the work our members do – and a way to encourage that kind of connection and collaboration.” 

Another museum owned and operated by the Dubuque County Historical Society is the Mathias Ham Historic Site. This two-acre campus depicts 19th-century life and presents tours, events, programs and living history interpretation. The site has several historic buildings, including the National Register Mathias Ham House.  

The UMWA board will meet Oct. 24 for its annual meeting.