Great Dubuque Flood: Iowa Time Machine April 26, 1965

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On April 26, 1965, Dubuque faced one of the most devastating floods in its history. The Mississippi River crested at a record-breaking 26.81 feet, over nine feet above flood stage. Fueled by a perfect storm of heavy rains, rapid snowmelt, and frozen ground, the river unleashed its fury, sending three million gallons of water per second into the city. 

Streets were submerged under seven feet of water, businesses were destroyed, and schools closed as the community rallied to fight back. Over 3,500 volunteers filled an estimated 400,000 sandbags desperately trying to protect critical areas like the Julien Dubuque Bridge and Locust Street. 

An estimated $10 million in damages (equivalent to nearly $97 million today) left dozens of businesses shuttered or relocated and shut down rail transportation for weeks. Even Dubuque’s professional baseball team, the Packers, lost their home field for 41 days, playing games in nearby Cascade and Dyersville instead. The National Guard deployed trucks and boats to ferry workers through flooded streets, while civic leaders began pushing for federal funding for flood control even before the waters receded. 

The aftermath of this disaster led to transformative changes for Dubuque. In 1968, local leaders broke ground on a massive floodwall project—a 6.5-mile-long structure standing 33 feet high—that would protect the city from future flooding catastrophes. This floodwall has since become a symbol of resilience and innovation, safeguarding Dubuque while allowing it to thrive along the Mississippi River. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar