Ride The One Of A Kind Elevator Found At Fenelon Place In Iowa

If you spend any time along the Mississippi in Iowa, you’ll soon find that the bluffs offer stunning natural vistas. But some of these river bluffs also offer some incredible cityscapes, and no spot is better for viewing than the Fenelon Place Elevator in Dubuque.

This unique attraction is a fun one-of-a-kind experience that’s worth a trip to Dubuque in and of itself.

But the view from the top deck? Now that’s the icing on the cake.

The elevator runs from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily from April 1 through the end of November, so you can soak up the views both during the day and when the city is lit up at night!

As Iowa’s oldest town, Dubuque boasts some beautiful architecture, and looking down on it from above provides a unique perspective.

There’s St. Raphael’s Cathedral... the gold-plated dome on the courthouse... the Mississippi river bridge.

There’s redstone galore, and some beautiful murals.

The city is bordered on the east by the mighty Mississippi. You’ll likely get to watch a barge pass, and if you time it right, you may even see an old paddlewheel ship cruising past on its way to St. Louis.

The ride itself takes only a couple of minutes, but it’s a fun way to experience a piece of Dubuque’s history.

The first two elevators built on the spot were destroyed by fire; the cables were made of flammable hemp. But in 1893, locals banded together to construct a new elevator, this time using steel cables with a bypass section on the rails to allow two counterbalanced cars to operate at the same time, one going up, and the other going down.

So hop on the world’s shortest and steepest railway and plan to linger on the top deck for a view that’ll take your breath away! Tickets range from $1.50 to $3.00 depending on age. Learn more at the Fenelon Place Elevator website. Looking for another unique option in Dubuque? Don’t miss this massive collection of Tiffany stained glass.

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Fenelon Place Elevator, 491 W 4th St, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA

You'll Want To Ride The One Of A Kind Elevator Found At Fenelon Place In Iowa

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