The Mathias Ham Houseis a large antebellum estate built in 1839 and greatly expanded in 1856. Mathias Ham, a wealthy farmer, lumberman, and brick maker who was involved in local politics and the Underground Railway, had this home built in eclectic architectural styles. Docents in period costume give excellent and detailed tours of the house and the outbuildings, which include a fur trader log cabin, a miner's lean-to, a one-room school house, and a replica mine shaft.

The tour includes a ten-minute film about Mathias Ham and lasts about an hour. Due to the number of steps between the floors of the house, the tour is not wheelchair accessible or suitable for those with mobility issues. A Fourth of July ice cream social on the house grounds is a popular event with Dubuque locals and tri-state tourists.

Address: 2241 Lincoln Avenue, Dubuque, Iowa 52001, Phone: 563-557-9545

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