National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium sets $12.75 million fundraising goal

DUBUQUE — The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium launched a new campaign to preserve the area’s rich history and continue its leadership in conserving wildlife and marine life.

The campaign — Preserve the Wonder — was unveiled last month as a part of a 20th anniversary celebration. The campaign has raised about $9.2 million — with a goal of raising $12.75 million — toward preservation efforts.

“We have a commitment to the community to inspire and educate,” Kurt Strand, President & CEO of National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, said in a news release last month. “We’re bringing history to life and showing conservation in action. This enables our guests to become more knowledgeable and engaged. It’s an exciting time, and this campaign helps us look toward the future.”

To celebrate the campaign, a special reveal took place in the River Museum where the total was shown underwater. The one-of-a-kind reveal was managed by aquarist team divers in the Main Channel Aquarium.

The Preserve the Wonder campaign will provide funding for the museum to continue connecting children and adults to the wonders of history, conservation and the natural world, according to a news release. Major campaign initiatives yet to complete include:

Already, the museum has restored the Arriandeaux Log Cabin — Iowa’s oldest building — while also expanding its educational offerings by innovating science, technology, engineering and math concepts across the museum’s campus.

“We’re gaining national visibility and recognition,” Wendy Scardino, museum vice president of development and marketing, said in a news release. “As a nonprofit and tourist attraction, we play a dual role within the community. Today, we generate approximately $20 million in economic impact, making the River Museum an excellent return on investment for the community and region.

“We’ve seen over 3.5 million visitors over the last 20 years, and community support will enable us to reach millions more, inspiring stewardship of our rivers and history for the next 20 years,” Scardino said.

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium inspires stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive, according to the museum’s website. There are more than 41,000 historical items in the museum’s collection and over 2,000 animals and more than 250 species that are a part of the aquarium.

With the completion of River of Innovation and Rivers of the Sea, the museum and aquarium has focused on instituting community programs to ensure all can visit regardless of income level. These community programs help ensure all can be inspired to learn.

“It is our wish to continue enhancing educational offerings for area youth, inspiring action and change around conservation, preserving and sharing the area’s rich history, and providing equitable access for all to enjoy our facilities and programs. That’s important work to continue,” Scardino said.

Last year, the museum and aquarium won Outstanding Tourist Attraction in a Metro Area from Travel Iowa.

To learn more about the Preserve the Wonder Capital Campaign and to donate to the effort, visit rivermuseum.com/preservethewonder.

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