If you’re following the Mississippi River through the northern states of the Great River Road—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri—you’ll find lots of engaging museums that share the history of the river and its people. Here are a few to check out on your next trip.

Find more Great River Road Interpretive Centers here.

Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Itasca State Park is not only Minnesota’s oldest state park, it’s also the home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River, which flows out of Lake Itasca on the river’s 2,500-mile journey to the Gulf. Named for the “Father of Itasca State Park,” the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center educates park visitors about the history of the park, its environment (including plants, trees, and wildlife), and recreational opportunities at the park.

Potosi Brewing Company, Wisconsin

The Potosi Brewing Company was founded in 1852 in southwestern Wisconsin—just about a mile from the Mississippi River—and brewed tasty ales and lagers for more than century before closing shop in the 1970s. The brewery was re-founded on its original site in 2008, and the site is now home to the award-winning Potosi Brewery, the Transportation Museum (which shares the history of how Potosi’s tasty drinks were delivered by wagons, steamboats, railroads, and cars), and the National Brewery Museum (which showcases a large collection of beer bottles, cans, glasses, advertising materials, and other collectibles).

National Great Rivers Museum, Illinois

Located next to the Melvin Price Locks & Dam (of the largest locks and dam on the Mississippi River), the National Great Rivers Museum in Alton tells the full story of America’s most famous river with interactive exhibits, highlighting the Mississippi’s natural environment, how people have interacted with the river through the centuries, and the impact the river has had on the history of the country. Visitors can also explore the Melvin Price Locks & Dam—free tours are open to the public at 10am, 1pm, and 3pm daily.

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Iowa

This Smithsonian-affiliated museum and aquarium in Dubuque in northeastern Iowa is home to more than 200 species of animals, including ducks, turtles, river otters, an alligator, and dozens of species of fish. The 14-acre site also includes a 19th-century belt-driven machine shop, the William M. Black dredge boat, artifacts from indigenous civilizations, and a large-format 4-D theater.

Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum, Missouri

See the town that inspired America’s most famous author. The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum is in Hannibal in northeastern Missouri, about two hours north of St. Louis, and boasts an impressive collection of exhibits, including original Norman Rockwell paintings, family artifacts, and Twain memorabilia. The tour includes two museums and five historic properties, including the Mark Twain Boyhood Home, which is a National Historic Landmark.

(Photo: Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Missouri/Doug Black)