River Lights Bookstore

River Lights Bookstore occupies a beautifully restored building on Dubuque's historic Main Street, with views that remind visitors of the mighty Mississippi River that has shaped this city's identity for nearly two centuries. The store opened in 2006 and has become a cultural anchor for the tri-state region where Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin meet. The Mississippi River history section is exceptional, telling the story of river commerce, ecology, and culture through both scholarly and popular titles. The literary fiction section is curated with a keen eye for quality, and the regional authors collection highlights voices from across the Upper Mississippi valley. The in-store cafe offers a comfortable space for reading and conversation, and the art books section reflects Dubuque's thriving visual arts community. River Lights has proven that a mid-sized river city can support a bookstore of genuine literary ambition.