Hidden History of Dubuque from Arcadia Publishing

Poised on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, Dubuque provided a vital entry point for westward expansion. Explorers, Native Americans, fur traders, lead miners and pilgrims all played a part in the little-known history of Iowa's Driftless Region. It was Dubuque that contributed the first military company in the country for service at the start of the Civil War. Jefferson Davis made a foray into the city in pursuit of lead miners. And gangster Al Capone reportedly used the Hotel Julien as a retreat and hideout. Uncover these lost stories and more with author and historian Susan Miller Hellert as she chronicles the fascinating and all-but-forgotten tales of Dubuque and the surrounding region.

Susan lives on the Miller Family Heritage Farm (owned by the same family for more than 150 years) in Dubuque County. She is a retired senior lecturer in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Always fascinated by local history, she wrote a local history column for the Dubuque Telegraph Herald and gives talks and school programs to enhance residents' knowledge of local history. The family farm includes a restored 1880s log cabin built by Susan's great-grandfather and a barn built of lumber from the dismantled roller coaster in Union Park of Dubuque County. She and her family raise a variety of animals for food and fiber. Spinning wool, weaving, knitting, gardening, horseback riding and reading occupy her "free" time.