Dubuque was long a manufacturing city, today with a population of 60,000. It is well known for its solid commitment to historic preservation. It is also home to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, which explores life in and around the river, and the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, which include rose, herb and Japanese gardens. It is also home to the Mathias Ham House,a 19th-century mansion with opulent furnishings (and another Jeffris challenge grant recipient).