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Fenelon Place Elevator, Dubuque, IA

Photo: Dirk, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingQuirky FunHistory BuffLocal Gem

Fenelon Place Elevator

512 Fenelon Place · Dubuque, IA

Why you should go…

The Fenelon Place Elevator, also called the Fourth Street Elevator, is a funicular railway that climbs 296 feet of track from Fourth Street to Fenelon Place, lifting riders 189 feet. From the observation decks at the top you can see downtown Dubuque, the Mississippi River and three states: Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. A banker built the first version in 1882 for his own use, and the public line opened in 1884. Bring cash, since cards are not accepted.

  • #funicular
  • #scenic railway
  • #river views
  • #historic landmark

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fenelon Place Elevator, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Watch sturgeon, river otters and rays in more than a dozen aquariums, then see a historic Mississippi River steamboat dredge.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Field of Dreams Movie Site

    Free

    Walk the baseball diamond cut into an Iowa cornfield for the 1989 film and tour the original farmhouse.

    20 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Maquoketa Caves State Park

    Free

    Hike six miles of trails linking about 13 caves, a 50-foot natural bridge and a 17-ton balanced rock.

    27 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    History Buff

    Effigy Mounds National Monument

    Free

    Hike trails past more than 200 prehistoric mounds, including earthworks built in the shapes of bears and birds.

    49 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor