The Most Famous Hotel in Iowa Has Had an Amazing Guest List
There is no doubt that the city of Dubuque, Iowa is full of history. The picturesque city along the bluffs of the Mississippi River is one of my favorite places to visit no matter the season. It features many great shops and restaurants plus entertainment venues and museums. But perhaps the most famous building in Dubuque is a hotel.
Standing tall in the Dubuque skyline is the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque. Only In You State has called it Iowa's most famous hotel. It is hard to argue with that once we go over some of the famous figures in history who have stayed there. But the hotel began its life called something else. The first hotel was built in the city in 1839 and was called the Waples House. It proved to be a popular stop for many travelers who had just crossed the mighty Mississippi. The Waples House expanded in 1854 and took on a new name, Hotel Julien, in honor of the city's namesake, Julien Dubuque.
Sadly, the original Hotel Julien burned to the ground following a fire in 1913. But the city knew that the hotel was the centerpiece to the town, so in 1915, Hotel Julien Dubuque was constructed and stands to this very day.
The Hotel Julien Dubuque has undergone many renovations since that rebuild in the early 1900s, according to Only In Your State. It currently features 133 rooms that have the latest in amenities while keeping the old-world charm that the hotel has been known for decades!
The Hotel Julien Dubuque remains a popular stop for anyone who travels through the city of Dubuque. But the guest list of historical figures is as impressive as it gets! Among the famous figures who've slept at the hotel include Mark Twain, Buffalo Bill, Will Rogers, and even gangster Al Capone, according to Only In Your State. But perhaps the most famous couple to ever stay were Abe Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln.
According to the Hotel Julien Dubuque Facebook page, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visited the city of Dubuque back in 1859, just two years before Lincoln would be elected President of the United States. During that time, Lincoln was a legal counsel for the Illinois Central Railroad Company and was part of an inspection tour of over 700 miles of the companies railroad properties. While in Dubuque his party stayed at the Hotel Julien.
There have been many renovations to the hotel over the years. Currently, Hotel Julien Dubuque also boasts a spa, restaurant, and a riverboat lounge. If you'd like to book your trip to the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque, visit their booking page HERE.