DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – The Mathias Ham Historic Site transports visitors back centuries, helping families witness 1800s life in Iowa.
The namesake Mathias Ham House, once home to one of Dubuque’s earliest businessmen, is currently undergoing renovations, but the property also features lead mining badger holes, an 1880s school house, and the Louis Arriandeux Cabin. Built in the 1830s, the site claims the cabin is the oldest in Iowa.
On July 4th, 2025, the 61st Annual Audrey Hammer Fourth of July Ice Cream Social raised money to help preserve the site.
“We are just part of a long story in humanity, and an event like this gets people to imagine, but also experience, how chores have always been done, like laundry for instance,” says Heather Green, Dubuque County Historical Society Interpretation Program Manager.
The event offered picnic food, desserts, and ice cream for purchase, as well as interactive historical demonstrations, including spinning, soap making, and more.
Coming for the ice cream, many families left with a greater appreciation for modern living.
“It’s crazy like how hard they worked to get their clothes done, and we really don’t,” shares 12-year-old Hadley.
“If you lived in sometime like this,” explains Ryan, a 9-year-old, referring to the 1830s cabin. “If it’s like 100 degrees, you’d be sweating even though you were inside.”
Attendees also cast votes via donations to decide which community leader would take a whipped cream pie to the face at the event.
After raising more than $480 to help preserve the Mathias Ham Historic Site, Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh, SuperHits 106.1’s Dick McGrane, and Green each received a pie.
The funds raised will also help pay for the 62nd Annual Audrey Hammer Fourth of July Ice Cream Social.
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