national mississippi river museum, dubuque, ia

The day after Christmas we went to visit my family in Dubuque. We had a 2nd Christmas when we got to open all our gifts from my family -- but I didn't get any pictures because it was a little nuts. The order we had at home opening presents was non-existent at my folks' .

While we were there Mom and Dad took us to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. We had been there before, but not for a couple years. It was so nice to have teenage uncles who were nice enough to watch the kids for me so I could actually enjoy capturing some moments with the kids.

Here is an alligator from the Mississippi Bayou. He doesn't look as big in this picture up against the glass. Uncle Brian was watching Addie for me, and he said when they got to this tank Addie was watching the water all calm and cool until the alligator came swimming up to the window. Then she turned around and took off!

This is a mammoth sized turtle! He probably doesn't look as big here as he is in real life, but he's massive! That is a life size rowboat in the tank with him, if that gives you an idea of how HUGE he is!

The museum had a tank with giant fish in it -- mostly catfish. Apparently there was a catfish in there that weighed about 400 pounds! I think you get an idea of how big the fish are compared to my little princess! This was her favorite exhibit! Every time we took her away to see something else, she'd always find her way back here again!

Barge simulator. The museum has some really neat hands-on exhibits that teach you about the river past, present, and future. It is really fascinating. One of the things they have is a barge simulator. You actually get to drive a barge up the Mississippi through different cities and complete several challenges. It's a good thing the museum was virtually empty that day because Tyler and his uncles dominated this simulation room!

Another part of the museum deals specifically with the history of the river. Here are the kids and Dallin steering a life-size model of a steamboat helm.

Riding the logs down the river.

I love this exhibit! It is a model of an old steamboat. It has sections of the boat cut away so you can get a glimpse of what it was like inside the boat. The detail on this thing is amazing!

The boat from the front.

The boat from the back.

Here is a desk on display.

The museum always has a traveling exhibit on display. This past exhibit's theme was Venom.

Addie checking out rattlesnakes.

A scorpion fish. You know, it's kind of frustrating how animals just don't understand that in order for me to get a good picture I have to turn off my flash and keep the shutter of camera open longer. Consequently, I need them to hold still longer. Grrr...

Sea anemones with a couple "Nemos."

Yes, they did have a cobra there, but he didn't cooperate. He was too busy hiding and sleeping. This was the best I could do.

After taking the pictures above, Dallin and Addie went ahead of me in the exhibit. They turned the corner, and Dallin said, "Oh, look, Honey, a Black Widow." That's when I decided to turn around and go back to hang out with the snakes. I didn't think I needed a refresher course on all the poisonous spiders in the world!

Dallin and Addie after surviving the venomous spider exhibit!