History & Philosophy

The YMCA of Dubuque was founded on September 11, 1866, and was begun to provide lodging rooms for young men. The first YMCA "rooms" in Dubuque were located above EH Moore Drug Store at 130 Main Street and later moved to 679 N. Main Street .

In 1894 Mr. H.L. Stout donated his home at 9th and Iowa Street to the YMCA. A fundraising building campaign was begun and in 1895 the YMCA auditorium opened to the public adjacent to the Stout Home. The new auditorium included a pool, gymnasium, weight room, racquetball court, wood working shop and game room as well as lodging accommodations.

The YWCA of Dubuque was founded under the inspiration and initiatives of Elizabeth Horr in 1902 with a 1st year membership of 300. By 1909 two buildings were acquired, renovated and connected at 6th and Locust Streets, which had 22 dormitory rooms and a cafeteria. In 1931 the government purchased the 6th & Locust Street site for a new post office and after a temporary relocation, the YWCA moved to their 11th and Iowa Street site.

More than 1,600 YMCA day camps serve more than 500,000 children every summer. The Dubuque YMCA became active in day camping when, in 1951, they purchased the Union Park Camp on JFK Road from the Boy Scouts.

By 1965, the YM had outgrown its facilities on Iowa Street and at the recommendation of the United Way 's Community Services Planning Committee, began discussions with the YWCA Board of Directors regarding the sharing of joint facilities. In November 1970, after a successful million dollar capital campaign, the YMCA and the YWCA moved into new joint facilities at its current location, 35 North Booth Street .

In 1987 the YMCA-YWCA Wendt Adult Center and circuit room were opened thanks to the generosity of Lester G. Wendt. A $1,000,000 capital building campaign was launched in 1998. The new building expansion and renovation was completed in 2001 and included renovations to childcare spaces, youth game room, additional parking, new office space and entrance, special needs locker rooms and a 7,000 square foot wellness center.

In 2000, the YMCA and YWCA merged governing Boards and staff under one corporate entity called the Dubuque Community Y. The YMCA and YWCA have retained their respective affiliations to their national organizations.

One out of three Americans reports being a YMCA member at some point in life, but the YMCA has touched virtually all Americans in some way. YMCAs invented basketball and volleyball. They pioneered camping, public libraries, night schools and teaching English as a second language. YMCAs introduced the world's first indoor pool and group swim lessons, and have provided war relief to millions of American soldiers at home and abroad since the Civil War.

Today, through the Dubuque Community Y, the YMCA continues to meet the needs of a growing and diverse community by offering a variety of programs including health & wellness, youth sports, swimming lessons, day camping and youth outreach programs.