National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Project: RiverWorks

Location: Dubuque, IA

Installed: June 2010

The RiverWorks gallery includes three mini-exhibits that encourage visitors to take a hands-on approach to learning about the role of water power and the motion of a river. The large water wheel at the entrance of the exhibit is powered by water falling from a spout above the wheel. The water table represents a river, which visitors can interact with via an Archimedes' Screw, water wheel, and water locks. The water table also includes an indoor thunderstorm that showers water down from rain clouds, which give off the sound and lighting effects of a real thunderstorm. Lastly, the water cycle area is powered by exercise bikes to convert energy into rain power. A bucket fills up with water as a visitor cycles and tips onto a rain cloud to cause a rain shower.