The abundance of mussels in the Mississippi and its tributaries allowed for the manufacturing of pearl buttons before the beds were depleted. By 1900 Muscatine had earned the nickname “pearl button capital of the world.” The town has long been famous for the melons grown in the bottom lands known as Muscatine Island.
Samuel Clemens, a former resident, found inspiration here for some of his writing penned under the pseudonym Mark Twain. The author thought Muscatine's summer sunsets peerless.
Visitor Centers
Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau 215 Sycamore St. Muscatine, IA 52761. Phone:(563)272-2534