Historic District Public Improvement Program_Julien Dubuque MonumentPlanning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4210 phone
(563) 589 -4221 fax
(563) 589 -6678 TDD
planning@cityofdubuque.org
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
City of Dubuque
City Hall - 50 W. 13 Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
April 26, 2010
RE: Historic District Public Improvement Program (HDPIP) Request for Friends of the
Mines of Spain
Introduction
The Historic Preservation Commission has discussed recommending $20,270 in HDPIP
funds for the Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit. The application, staff
report and supporting documentation are enclosed.
Background
The Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit will be located in the expanded and
renovated Interpretive Center. The interpretive exhibit will provide a year- round, ADA-
accessible exhibit to tell the story of Dubuque's arrival, interaction with the Meskwaki,
and lead mining in the Center's main exhibit area. The actual monument is not open
year- round, and is less accessible to visitors during inclement weather. The Julien
Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit will be available to visitors and school classes
throughout the year in a controlled environment.
The Julien Dubuque Monument, built in 1897 on the site where Dubuque was buried,
sits high above the Mississippi River and provides the "landmark" for the Mines of
Spain. The Julien Dubuque Monument, owned by the State of Iowa, was listed in the
National Register in 1988. In 1993, the Mines of Spain, which includes the Julien
Dubuque Monument, was designated as a National Historic Landmark. That same year,
the monument was designated a City Landmark.
Discussion
The Historic Preservation Commission is advisory to the City Council when reviewing
HDPIP projects.
HDPIP Request for Friends of the Mines of Spain
Page 2
Recommendation
By a vote of 6 to 0, the Historic Preservation Commission recommends City Council
approve $20,270 in Historic District Public Improvement Program funds for the Julien
Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Knight, Chairperson
Historic Preservation Commission
Enclosures
TO: City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission
RE: Request for HDPIP Funds for Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit
Dear Commissioners,
The Friends of the Mines of Spain (FOMOS) is requesting $20,270 in HDPIP funds for the Julien Dubuque
Monument Interpretive Exhibit. This exhibit is one of 6 thematic concepts being created as part of the
Mines of Spain Exhibit and Education Program. The FOMOS has a $150,000 federal grant for the project.
The FOMOS is providing the $150,000 grant match. The estimated total project budget is $300,000.
The FOMOS completed fundraising for the $1.4 million expansion of the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at
the Mines of Spain. The City of Dubuque owns the Center. The Center's expansion will double its size and
create more space for interpretation and education. Unfortunately, unexpected construction expenses
have eroded the funding that the FOMOS has set aside for exhibits, and we have not been successful in
obtaining other grants due to the economic downturn. Consequently, the FOMOS is seeking additional
funds from the City for exhibits.
HDPIP funds would be used for exhibits about Julien Dubuque and the lead rush, including a monument
replicated to reflect the actual monument (which is a City landmark) in the Mines of Spain, to provide a
year - round, ADA- accessible exhibit to tell the story of Dubuque's arrival, interaction with the Meskwaki,
lead mining, etc. in the Center's main exhibit area. An application and sketch plan are enclosed.
Please contact me if you have any questions about the project. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Enclosures
Douglas G. Olk, President
Friends of the Mines of Spain
FRIENDS of the MINES of SPAIN
8991 Bellevue Hts.
Dubuque, IA 52003 -9214
(563) 556 -0620
www.minesofspain.org
April 1, 2010
Planning Services Department
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
(563) 589 -4210 phone
(563) 589 -4221 fax
(563) 690 -6678 TDD
planning@cityofdubuque.org
HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
APPLICATION FORM
PROJECT COMPONENTS (Check all that apply)
❑ Historic Street Lights ❑ Street Trees /Grates ❑ Brick Sidewalks ❑ Colored Concrete Sidewalks /Curbs
❑ Benches ❑ Landscaping /Plantings ❑ Brick Crosswalks ❑ Colored Concrete Crosswalks
❑ Trash Receptacles ❑ Decorative Fence /Rail ❑ Brick Streets ❑ Colored Concrete Street Paving
❑ Planters ❑ Decorative Bollards ❑ Limestone Curbs [X] Other: _Exhibits
❑ Waysides /Plazas ❑ Identification Signs ❑ Retaining Walls ❑ Other:
Please type or print legibly in ink
Type of Applicant: ❑ Neighborhood Group ❑ Neighborhood Association (Name: )
Representative: Douglas Olk, President, Friends of the Mines of Spain Phone: 556 -0620
Address: 8991 Bellevue Heights City: Dubuque State: IA Zip: 52003
Fax Number: N/A Mobile /Cellular Number: N/A
Project Description: Exhibits about Julien Dubuque and the lead rush, including a monument replicated to
reflect the actual monument (which is a City landmark) in the Mines of Spain, to provide a year - round,
ADA- accessible exhibit to tell the story of Dubuque's arrival, interaction with Meskwaki, lead mining, etc.
Project location /area:In main exhibit area of expanded E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at the Mines of Spain.
Total project cost: $300,000 Amount of Grant Request: $20,270
CERTIFICATION: I /we, the undersigned, do hereby certify that:
1. The information submitted herein is true and correct to the best of my /our knowledge and upon
submittal becomes public record;
2. The undersigned representatives are authorized to sign this application on behalf of the
neighborhood association or group; and
3. All additional required written and graphic materials are attached.
Received by:
❑ Project description ❑ Budget Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY — APPLICATION SUBMITTAL CHECKLIST
Submittal Date: HPC Meeting Date:
Dubuque
11
2007
Representative: _ 0 Date: _April 1, 2010
Representative: Date:
❑Site /sketch plan(s) ❑ Petition /Signatures in Support ❑ Photos ❑ Catalog examples
❑ Map(s) ❑Other:
PLAN
re ti fence design
MINES OF SPAIN
9.0 Julien Dubuque
9.1 ADVANCE ORGANIZERS
EXPERIENCE
Graphic Panel provides introduction and information about
the thematic area.
KEY MESSAGES
Julien Dubuque, Iowa's first permanent European settler, was
granted rights by the Meskwaki and the Spanish Crown to
mine lead at the Mines of Spain
9.2 Monument Object Theater
EXPERIENCE
Step inside a monument replicated to reflect the look and
feel of the actual monument found in the park. Inside,
seating encourages visitors to sit and watch an object -
theater presentation. There. images and artifacts work
together to tell the story of Dubuque's arrival to the region,
marriage and friendship with the Native Americans, and
exploitation of the lead resource.
KEY MESSAGES
Julien Dubuque's life and legacy melds four national stories
(French, Spanish, Meskwaki, the United States) into one very
American history.
NOTES
• Client to provide artifacts for display inside theatre
03.23.2010 15
ADVISORY DESIGN REVIEW STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: April 15, 2010
Property Address: E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center, 8991 Bellevue Heights, Dubuque
Property Owner: City of Dubuque
Applicant: Douglas Olk, President, Friends of the Mines of Spain
Project: Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit
Historic Preservation District: No Landmark: No Style: N/A
Funding: Historic District Public Improvement Program
Existing Zoning: County R -1 Single - Family Residential
Present Land Use: Recreational & Cultural
Level of Significance:
® National Historic Landmark
❑ City Landmark
Date Built: 1976
Level of Rehabilitation:
❑ Design for Historic Features
]X Alteration /Addition
Property History: The Mines of Spain State Recreation Area consists of 1,387 acres
of forest and prairie along the Mississippi River in Dubuque County adjacent to the City
of Dubuque. This state park is a National Historic Landmark and a state preserve. The
E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center serves as a visitor information center and park office for
the Mines of Spain. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) owns and
manages the Mines of Spain, which was protected as a State Recreation Area in 1981.
The Friends of the Mines of Spain (FOMOS) is a non - profit corporation whose mission
is to inform and educate the public on nature, ecology, conservation, greenbelt concept,
natural history, archeology, and current events pertaining to the Mines of Spain. The
E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center and 30 acres of surrounding land is owned by the City of
Dubuque. The Center is managed by the IDNR. The FOMOS assists the Park Staff with
administration of the Mines of Spain and the Interpretive Center.
Historic, Cultural, and Archeological Resources
At the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center displays and exhibits will provide information
about the history and features of the park. The expansion of the Center represents a
major effort to preserve and maintain one of the most valuable resources in the area.
Some of these resources include: 3 miles of Mississippi River shoreline, 20 miles of
hiking trails, 5 miles of cross country ski trails, 4 interpretive trails, 252 archaeological
sites, historical monuments and a variety of wildlife.
The Mines of Spain also boasts some of the most diverse ecological habitats ranging
from blufflands that overlook the river to 320+ acres of tall grass prairies, 959+ acres of
forested woodlands and 18 acres of wetland. It is home to 468 plant species, 37 animal
Design Review Staff Report — Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit
Page t
species, and 213 bird species. The site features Julien Dubuque Monument, Horseshoe
Bluff, Catfish Creek, and countless lead mines.
The earliest known inhabitants of the Mines of Spain were the Meskwaki. Their village
was located at the mouth of Catfish Creek, just south of where the Julien Dubuque
Monument now stands. From this site, the Meskwaki carried on a fur trade with French
voyageurs. They worked the lead mines from prior to the Revolutionary War. There is
evidence of prehistoric Native American cultures, some dating back as much as 8,000
years. Mounds, village sites, rock shelters, trading post sites, and campsites dot the
landscape.
Julien Dubuque was the first European to settle in what is now Iowa in 1788. In 1796,
he received a land grant from the Governor of Spain, which gave him permission to
work the 189 - square mile area owned by Spain and known as "Mines of Spain." Lead
mining was a major part of this area's history, first by the Native Americans, and in later
years (late 1830s through 1850s) by European miners and farmers. The Civil War
renewed lead mining activity which waned after the war, but continued until 1914.
The Mines of Spain includes a variety of interesting land forms, plant species and
communities, animals and water types. A large portion of the area is rugged, wooded
Mississippi River bluffland. While much of the original timber along the River was logged
off during the steamboat era (1865- 1880), portions of the Mines of Spain were left
untouched, leaving us with burr oak trees today that are over 250 years old. Portions of
the park have seen diverse use over the years: cattle grazing, row cropping, logging,
and mining and quarrying. Other portions remain much as they were when Julien
Dubuque arrived.
National Historic Designations
The Mines of Spain Area Rural Community Archeological District, Lead Mining
Community Archeological District, and Prehistoric District, and the Dubuque Trading
Post -- Village of Kettle Chief Archeological District were listed in the National Register of
Historic Places in 1988. In 1993, the Mines of Spain, which includes the Julien Dubuque
Monument, was designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Mines of Spain
Recreation Area was designated in 2005 as a Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage
Area site.
Local Designations
The Julien Dubuque Monument, built in 1897 on the site where Dubuque was buried,
'sits high above the Mississippi River and provides the "landmark" for the Mines of
Spain. The Julien Dubuque Monument, owned by the State of Iowa, was listed in the
National Register in 1988. It was protected as a City Landmark in 1993.
Staff Analysis: The FOMOS is applying for funding from the Historic District Public
Improvement Program (HDPIP) for the following work: exhibits about Julien Dubuque
and the lead rush, including a replica of the actual monument (which is a City landmark)
in the Mines of Spain. This exhibit is one of 6 thematic concepts being created as part of
the Mines of Spain Exhibit and Education Program.
Design Review Staff Report - Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit
- Page 2
The FOMOS raised the funding for the expansion of the Interpretive Center, doubling its
size and creating more space for interpretation and education. The Mines of Spain
Exhibit and Education Program is being closely coordinated with the expansion of the
Center. The Commission has been consulted on initial thematic concepts for exhibits on
the upper and lower levels of the Interpretive Center. The concept plans for these
exhibits are attached.
The estimated total project budget for the Mines of Spain Exhibit and Education
Program is $300,000. Consultant fees are estimated at $45,000 for exhibit designers,
with an additional $5,000 for travel and per diem. Exhibits and educational materials are
estimated to cost $250,000. The FOMOS has a $150,000 federal grant for the project.
The FOMOS is responsible for the $150,000 grant match. The FOMOS is seeking
$20,270.00 in HDPIP funds for the Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit as
part of that local match.
HDPIP provides grants of up to 75% of project costs. The 25% match can include
volunteers and donations. Currently there is $20,270.00 of HDPIP funds available
through FY2011. $10,270.00 is available in the current FY2010 budget. $10,000.00 will
be available as of July 1, 2010 in the FY2011budget. The current HDPIP Project Status
Report is enclosed.
The Julien Dubuque Monument Interpretive Exhibit will be located in the expanded and
renovated Interpretive Center. Through association with the actual Julien Dubuque
Monument in the park, the interpretive exhibit will provide a year- round, ADA- accessible
exhibit to tell the story of Dubuque's arrival, interaction with the Meskwaki, lead mining,
etc. in the Center's main exhibit area. The actual monument is not open year- round, and
is less accessible to visitors during inclement weather. The Julien Dubuque Monument
Interpretive Exhibit will be available to visitors and school classes throughout the year in
a controlled environment.
In the past, the Commission and City Council have awarded HDPIP funds for
interpretive signs and facilities and other historic preservation projects that are tied to a
City landmark. The City has previously provided HDPIP funds for tuckpointing, benches,
fencing and interpretive signs at the actual Julien Dubuque Monument. Similar
interpretive projects have been funded at the Four Mounds Estate landmark site.
The role of the Historic Preservation Commission is to provide advisory design review
and a funding recommendation to the City Council for HDPIP grant requests. The
Commission's recommendation will go on to the City Council with the application
materials for their review and approval of the project.
Prepared by:
Reviewed: "J' t Date: 0/ -06 -to
Group
Approved Project
Anticipated Date
of Completion
Date of Council
Approval
Incumbered Funds
Expended Funds
Remaining Funds
Project Status
City of Dubuque
Shot Tower
Unknown
01/07/2008
$ 100,000.00
$ -
$ 100,000.00
In Progress
Four Mounds
Public Improvement
June 30, 2009
03/03/2008
$ 100,000.00
$ -
$ 100,000.00
Initial Stages
Four Mounds
Phase III Signs &
December 1, 2009
08/04/2008
$ 3,691.00
$ -
$ 3,691.00
Initial Stages
Four Mounds
Visitor Station
Summer 2009
04/20/2009
$ 4,800.00
$ -
$ 4,800.00
10,000.00
DNC
Planters & Benches
Unknown
01/07/2008
$ 8,520.00
$ 6,000.00
$ 2,520.00
In Progress
Friends of the Mines of
Spain /NPS
Julien Dubuque
Monument
Spring 2010
01/20/2009
$ 15,390.00
$ -
$ 15,390.00
In Progress
Totals
$ 232,401.00
$ 6,000.00
$ 220,401.00
General Fund Allocations
Total Available Funds
FY 2010 HDPIP Funds
07/01/09 - 06/30/10
$
10,000.00
$ 10,270.00
FY 2011 HDPIP Funds
07/01/10 - 06/30/11
$
10,000.00
$ 20,270.00
FY 2012 HDPIP Funds
07/01/11 - 06/30/12
$
10,000.00
FY 2013 HDPIP Funds
07/01/12 - 06/30/13
$
10,000.00
FY 2014 HDPIP Funds
07/01/13 - 06/30/14
$
10,000.00
FY 2015 HDPIP Funds
07/01/14 - 06/30/15
$
10,000.00
Historic District Public Improvement Program (HDPIP) -- Active Project Status Report
Total Funds Encumbered
HDPIP Balance as of 4/1/10
Remaining Funds
Prepared by Dave Johnson 04/06/2010
$ 232,401.00
$ 232,131.00
$ 270.00
Page 1