♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ The Great River Road offers no shortage of American history for travelers to explore, and there is plenty to be dug up at the Mines of Spain Recreation Area, just south of Dubuque.

♪♪ ♪♪ Nearly 1,500 acres of woodlands, wetlands, prairies, and limestone bluffs invite travelers to take in the area's history with breathtaking views of the Mississippi River.

♪♪ The earliest-known settlements in the area date back to prehistoric times.

More recently, Native American tribes like the Meskwaki settled the area, mined for lead, and developed trade routes along the Mississippi River.

Mining was expanded after the arrival of Iowa's first European settler, Julien Dubuque, in 1788.

A land-grant deal with the regional governor allowed Dubuque to mine nearly 1,400 Spanish-owned acres and stipulated that the area be called "Mines of Spain."

The mines proved crucial during wartime, providing lead for munitions from the American Revolution to the Civil War.

Today, Great River Road travelers can dig deeper into the history, thanks to six miles of hiking trails.

The Horseshoe Bluff Nature Trail provides sightseers with a diverse list of views... from wetlands and prairies to towering limestone bluffs and scenic overlooks.

Interpretive signs along the trail guide hikers through the Mines of Spain's unique geological history.

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