The Vision Iowa Board has announced a big grant to Dubuque County Historical Society. Most of the money will be used to expand the scope of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.

The 38 million dollar expansion will add a "RiverMax" Digital Theater, a Great Rivers Center, and a Rivers Research Center. It’s all part of the next phase of a redevelopment plan for the Port of Dubuque.

Other parts of the plan include restoring landmarks like the Dubuque Star Brewery, and the Diamond Jo Casino there, which is preparing to build a land-based entertainment center, is donating its old riverboat casino to the museum project.

Audio: Radio Iowa’s Stella Shaffer report. :32 MP3