Venue Information

The Grand Opera House is an opera house located at the corner of 8th and Iowa Streets in Dubuque, Iowa. Today it is recognized for the live performances shown throughout the year. Also other events, such as special lectures by national figures invited to the area by local educational institutions are held at the Grand.

The Grand Opera House was built in 1889 and 1890. The Grand Opera House, Inc. was established by William Lester Bradley, Sr. and five other people in 1890 to operate this and other theaters in Dubuque. The opera house would cost $65,000 to build. At the time of its construction, the Grand Opera House was the largest theater to be built in Dubuque. It had a seating capacity of 1,100 and a huge stage that measured 42 feet (13 m) from front to back. Initially the opera house was connected by a tunnel to a house next door in which people changed costumes.