| Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center | |
| Iowa State Park | |
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Julien Dubuque's monument
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| Named for: Julien Dubuque's Mines | |
| Country | |
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| State | |
| County | Dubuque |
| Location | Dubuque |
| - elevation | 751 ft (229 m) [1] |
| - coordinates | 42°27′45″N 90°39′45″W / 42.4625°N 90.6625°W |
| Area | 1,380 acres (558 ha) |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Management | Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
The Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and E. B. Lyons Nature Center is a state park in Dubuque County, Iowa, USA. It is near Dubuque, the eighth-largest city in the state. The park features picnic areas, 15 miles (24 km) of walking/hiking trails, 4 miles (6.4 km) of ski trails, and the Betty Hauptli Bird and Butterfly Garden.
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Meskwaki Indians were believed to be the first people in the area, residing in the area for up to 8000 years previous to discovery by Julien Dubuque, believed to be the first European to set foot in Iowa. The Meskwaki had been trading furs with French Voyageurs, as well as mining lead in the area. The Governor of Spain gave Dubuque a grant to work Spanish-owned land, naming the 1,380-acre (560 ha) area The Mines of Spain. Mining would continue by the Meskwaki, then by European settlers until 1914.
From a horseshoe-shaped area, Horseshoe Bluff, the geology of the area is visible. Ordovician dolomite is evident, and two trails lead to a blind.
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