The Mathias Ham House is a handsome 19th-century mansion tied to Dubuque's lead-mining and Mississippi River fortunes. Its rooms are furnished as a period house museum, with enough local context to make the city's river wealth feel concrete rather than abstract.
It is not Dubuque's biggest attraction, but it is a worthwhile add-on if you are already following the city's river history. The site works especially well with the nearby National Mississippi River Museum and the older neighbourhoods above the waterfront.