Institutional Formation + Early Arts Culture
1873-1882 - Movement toward construction of Grand Opera House.
1874 - Dubuque Art Association founded.
1886 - First documented organized art exhibition in Dubuque.
1889 - Expansion of Julien’s Hotel; Major stained glass installed at St. Raphael’s Cathedral.
1890 - Marble altar installed at St. Raphael’s Cathedral.
1893 - Dubuque County Courthouse completed.
1897 - Julien Dubuque Monument constructed.
19th Century Foundations
1839 - Early hotel established at Main & 2nd Street (future site of Hotel Julien Dubuque).
1843 - Clarke University founded (BVM arrival).
1845 - Planning begins for St. Raphael’s Cathedral.
1854 - Waples House renamed Julien Hotel.
1857-1861 - Construction and completion of St. Raphael’s Cathedral.
1864 - Construction begins on St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
DubuqueArtCity Timeline
Early 20th Century + Collection Building
1902 - Carnegie-Stout Library building opens.
1904 - Major stained glass installations at St. Columbkille Church.
1910 - Dubuque Art Association reorganized.
1913 - Fire destroys Julien Hotel.
1915 - New Julien Hotel opens.
1923 - Lull Art Fund established.
1927 - Grant Wood’s Appraisal acquired.
1930 - Local artist exhibitions at Carnegie-Stout Library.
WPA Era + Public Art Foundations
1933 - Julien Dubuque Centennial pageant.
1934 - Federal Building completed.
1936 - WPA murals installed at Eagle Point Park.
1936 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt visits Dubuque WPA sites.
Public Art + Festival Era
1970 - Town Clock Plaza constructed.
1973 - Five Flags Sculpture Contest launched.
1973 - Continuum installed.
1975 - Dubuque Art Association moved to Old Jail.
1976 - 4th Street Artist Gallery founded.
1976 - Dubuque County Fine Arts Society formed.
1978 - Dubuque Area Writers Guild anthology cycle begins (inferred).
1979 - Dubuquefest established with early leadership including Ruth Nash, establishing a recurring summer arts festival combining visual art, music and performance.
Mid-Century Cultural Infrastructure
1956 - Dubuque Art Association leaves Carnegie-Stout Library.
1959 - Academy of Ballet founded by Tatiana Bechenova and Marina O’Rourke.
1961-1966 - Ana Mendieta lives in Iowa (including Dubuque).
1962 - Julien Hotel converted to Julien’s Motor Inn.
1965 - Russell and Ruth Nash arrive in Dubuque.
1969 - Dubuque City Youth Ballet first performance.
Institutional Expansion
1983 - Heartland Ballet established.
1987 - Dubuque Museum of Art formally established.
1988 - Julien Monument added to National Register.
1990 - Dubuque Arts Alliance founded.
1991 - Ken Bichel begins operating a wood-fire kiln in Menomenee.
1998 - Museum purchases Statesman Bank building.
1999 - Grant Wood works transferred to museum.
2000 - Art Gumbo micro-funding events begin and operate in recurring format.
Artists in the Warehouse
2001 - Artstart program begins.
2002- Bell Tower Theater redevelopment completed.
2004 - Arts & Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission established.
2005 - First Voices from the Warehouse District exhibition.
2006 - First Art on the River season.
2006 - The Dubuque Writers Guild begins active programming and publishing including Readings Under the Influence.
2010 - Carnegie-Stout Library renovation completed.
2010 - Annual Twenty Dirty Hands art tour begins.
2010 - Renovation and activation as an arts/event space of Steeple Square. Local artists, Tim Olson and Becca Kaccanda learn stained glass restoration.
Expansion & Shift to Public Engagement
2011 - Ruix Zine first published.
2012- Dubuque Tattoo Club founded.
2013 - First Dubuque Ink and Art Expo.
2013 - Heritage Center opens at the University of Dubuque.
2014 - StudioWorks and Gallery C open in the Millwork District.
2016 - Voices Mural Project begins.
2016 - Arts & Culture Master Plan adopted.
Artist-Led Systems & Hybrid Culture
2018 - Voices Productions purchases a building on Central Ave.
2019- Storm Drain Mural Project launched.
2020 - Millwork Night Market begins, developed as a seasonal, monthly evening market combining art vendors, music, food and social gathering. Organized by Andie Donnan and Danielle Stowell.
2022 - DAAC begins First Friday programming inside of Esther’s Lounge.
2023 - DAAC moves their programming to The Smokestack.
2024 - Bluff Strokes Art Center purchases St. Mark’s Church and begins operations at 1201 Locust.
2024 - Andonia Giannakouros studio opens in downtown Dubuque.
2024 - Aaron & Abigail Butcher begin AB Studios on Main Street.
2025 - Dubuque Museum of Art breaks ground on their new building. Temporarily relocates to the Millwork District.