Who Are We
A Sample of What We Are
The Falls….
The most significant landmark in the Tri County area is the waterfall on the North Fork of the Maquoketa River. Indeed, the falls gave the town of Cascade its name and the original impetus for settlement of American and Europeans here involved the potential waterpower the falls provided for mills and industry. In the centuries prior to the occupation of the area by the pioneers, no doubt the falls were well known to the Indigenous peoples who lived in the area as the falls required a canoe portage and likely had cultural importance as well as providing an opportunity for fishing. Today the falls, located in the town center in a city park, provide a recreational opportunity as well as a scenic vista
Historic Communities …
The Tri County region encompasses much of the Dubuque, Jackson, and Jones counties. The towns of Bernard and Fillmore are of interest to our members and supporters. The pride that the locals have in their communities and its history outweighs what they have in size and populations.
Like many rural communities in this region were clustered around the churches that were built by early settlers. With much of the area being Catholic, St. Peter’s Temple Hill, Sacred Heart Fillmore, New Melleray, and St. Patrick’s Garryowen are just a few examples.
The natural history of this region is unique as well since we are in extreme southern end of “The Driftless Area; that include eye-catching features in Iowa’s scenery.
Rooted in Agriculture….
As farming occupies most of the land mass of the Tri County, the history of Iowa agriculture goes back to our earliest roots. Proud of being in the Heartland of the Midwest we have witnessed progression of agriculture’s development. We take the contributions that farming has made seriously , and one of our missions is to preserve the influence of agriculture at our museum.
