Monster Fish Invading Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque

Monster Fish invading Dubuque Museum & Aquarium this summer. 

Legends of gigantic river fish have been the subject of fish stories for centuries. This summer, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium’s latest blockbuster summer exhibit will show visitors that these monster fish are anything but myth. Monster Fish: In Search of the Last River Giants will take visitors on a deeper dive into the hidden world of some of the world’s largest freshwater fish. This National Geographic exhibition, which runs from May 13 – Oct. 9, features stunning life-sized sculptures, hands-on interactive exhibits, and videos from the field that bring visitors face-to-face with more than 20 species – each at least six feet long and weighing more than 200 lbs. Some of these replica creatures, like the super-sized sawfish, are climbable. This exhibit will be complimented by the real-life monster fish species that call the River Museum home. Enormous in size and rapidly dwindling in number, these ancient fish play critical roles in their freshwater habitats. Dr. Zeb Hogan, aquatic ecologist, National Geographic Fellow and host of the Nat Geo WILD series “Monster Fish,” has spent nearly two decades searching for and studying the rare, large freshwater fish species profiled in the exhibition. Hogan will visit the Museum & Aquarium in person on May 19 and 20, headlining a special speaking event “Our Great River.” The event will also host several local experts on May 19, who will discuss local, regional, and global efforts being made to responsibly manage our waterways, and how these improvements are positively affecting the wildlife of our rivers. Hogan will serve as the keynote speaker for this invite-only event. More details will be released at a later date. At 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20, Hogan will host a public presentation in the Museum & Aquarium’s 3D/4D theater. He will also take part in a Q&A session. Tickets to attend Hogan’s presentation are $6, or $4 for museum members. Museum admission is not required to attend this event. Following the presentation, Hogan will meet and greet visitors in the Monster Fish exhibit from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.