Grutz says, "Ya call that a museum? Now this, this is a museum." (In an Australian accent) Pt II.

Now fully rested and back in Chicago, I'll continue my Dubuque adventure.  When we left off I was still enjoying the The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium..... PHOTOS! NOW! No wait, I got something to say.  If you haven't read the previous post about my trip to Dubuque, get there now. Now you can rock the pics.

I enter newest site on the campus, can you hear my pulse quicken?  Yeah, that's a fur trader.  I know, it's boss.

Artifacts.  Take a deep breathe, Don't stand up, you may pass out.

Watching a film about canals....sitting in a replica of a canal.  Get it?

No, you wouldn't see a ray in an American river, but in the Gulf you would,  baaa-zing!

This photo doesn't provide the full scope of this aquarium, it's huge.  And it doesn't include the audio of the kids screaming at the fish.  Or me mentioning to the mom that the fish can't hear the kids screaming, but I could.  Would you mind doing some parenting?  Yeah, thanks.  Guh, you have to take a test to drive a car, but to have kids.....

The William M. Black dredger.  I used to work on this vessel.  I'm waiting for warmer weather and my wife to visit the Black.

Models.  Who doesn't love models?  Psychopaths.  Psychopaths don't love models.  Are you a psychopath?  Didn't think so.  I'm looking at you Moammar, psycho. 

Panoramic model! Trippy.

Hands-on fun.  Fishes, mussels, horns, antlers, skins, slides....does the fun ever stop?  No, apparently not.

A painting depicting Julian Dubuque and the Meskwaki tribe.  Thank God his name wasn't Julian Snottypoopypants.

.............and Nuns!  NUNS?!?! The traveling component of the museum is "Women and Spirit: Catholic Sisiters in America", which, one might ask, is why is it in the Mississippi River Museum?  One, the upper Mississippi is home to many Catholic religious order (didn't know that) and it's sponsored by Clarke College University, of Dubuque.  I was a little skeptical on hearing about this exhibit, but I'm an open-minded fellow and I needed a break from all the adrenaline coursing through my veins from all the animals and exhibits I'd encountered so far.

One of the views of the Sisters exhibit.  Very insightful and interesting information and unique artifacts. 

Here's the write up from the Museum's website:

The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and Clarke University are pleased to announce that “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America,” a traveling exhibition featuring the untold stories of the innovative, action-oriented women who played such a significant role in shaping the nation’s social and cultural landscape, will make its way to the museum from Feb. 18 - May 22, 2011

 Wow.  No cynicism here.  I was blown away by this exhibit.  I had a few nuns in elementary school at Holy Ghost (and it will always be Holy Ghost, hear me DBQ Diocese?!?) and for the most part they we nice old ladies.  But I did have Sister Mary Jean in 6th grade for social studies and she marched with MLK Jr!  Sister was an activist!  And later in life, while protesting the Iraq war, I met a couple of Sisters who protested the School of the Americas.  What am I getting at?  Sisters get sh!t done.  Taking care of the sick, educating those ignored by society, demanding rights for all.  I struck up a conversation with a group of nuns from the Twin Cities visiting the Museum.  The joy and reverence they spoke of, of all that had come before them and their own histories, that was just icing on the cake for me.  Here's a link to the traveling exhibit: womenandspirit.org.  I'd suggest all to check it out, especially if you were raised Catholic, old school style. 

Nun 101.  A freshman intro class.  3 credit hours. MWF 10:00-10:50 Jesup Hall.

See the caption for this bell below! 

See the Dubuque-Cincinnati connection? Oh yeah.

Whew, I didn't go to all the out door exhibits, and the otters were visiting the vet, and the Ice Harbor was frozen (ha ha, yeah I get it) so no boat launches.  So yes, Carleen and I will be visiting during warmer days.  And a parting note from one of the patron saints of the Mississippi River.....

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen." Mark Twain.

Thank You!! Everyone posting interesting names of places around the country.  Keep it up! If you haven't seen the comments, check them out on previous posts.  And keep up the fun names.  Kalamazoo, anyone?


Apologizes for not including any cultural knowledge in my last post, here's something to nibble on for your historical birthday for March 4.....


Antonio Vivaldi (March 4, 1678 – July 28, 1741), was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, born in Venice.  Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe.  One his best known works is The Four Seasons.


Now, young grasshopper, take this knowledge into the world.  Happy Friday, Everyone!