Visitors Center

E.B. LYONS INTERPRETIVE CENTER

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The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center serves as a visitor information center and park office. Displays and exhibits provide information about the history and features of the park. The Betty Hauptli Bird and Butterfly Garden, native prairies, woodland flower gardens, hiking trails and historic Junkermann farm site are just some of the many attractions at the Center. The E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center is open year-round. During the summer season, special programs can be scheduled with the park manager.

There are five individual nature walks within the park, including those at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center and another at the Horseshoe Bluff Site. Other trails provide a wide range of opportunities for visitors to view Mines of Spain on old winding logging roads, to view limestone bluffs, scenic overlooks, and to enjoy a hike through forests and prairie. Some of the trails are steep and challenging.

Visitors can enjoy the outdoors, experience the E.B. Lyons Center, hike the many trails and enjoy the natural vistas at the park. Picnicking facilities are available at the Center, the Julien Dubuque Monument, and the Horseshoe Bluff Area.

Vegetation at the Mines of Spain - PDF listing of vegatation here

Wildlife of the Mines of Spain - PDF listing of what can be found here

Bird Checklist - PDF of the birds you may see on your visit

BIRD AND BUTTERFLY GARDEN
The bird and butterfly garden is located at the E.B. Lyons Center. The garden demonstrates how small areas can be used to attract birds and butterflies by providing proper food plants, appropriate nesting, shelter zones and a source of water. The flower garden integrates a number of native and cultivated plants that are rich in nectars and lure many types of butterflies and hummingbirds.

The garden trail displays dogwoods, arrowood and other shrubs. You can see the wild flowers blazing star, wild bergamot, and purple coneflower. Cultivated plants include shasta daisies, lupines, salvia, and columbines.

The butterflies you may see include: monarch, fritillary, spring azure, red-spotted purple, blues, swallowtale, and painted lady. Birds may include ruby-throated hummingbird, tanagers, finches, thrushes, sparrows and many more.

LOCATION AND HOURS

The 1380-acre recreation area is located along the southern edge of Dubuque. The eastern boundary is formed by the Mississippi River. Access to the Mines of Spain and E.B. Lyons is off Hwy. 52 South, which intersects with Hwy. 61/151 on the south side of Dubuque.

The park is open year-round, with park hours of 4 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The interpretive center is open year-round with limited hours. It is open Monday through Friday from October through April. During the summer season, April through October, the center is open seven days a week. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Please call for off-season hours and special programs.

Friends of The Mines of Spain, Dubuque, IA 52003-9214, 563-556-0620

All information contained within, Copyright MMXI Friends of the Mines of Spain, with special permission from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources