Historic Fairport Fish Hatchery

The Historic Fairport Fish Hatchery, formerly the Fairport Fisheries Biological Station, was established by an Act of Congress in 1908 as a research station to study mussel and fish propagation in an effort to restore depleted mussel populations in the Mississippi River and benefit the nationally important freshwater pearl button industry, centered in Muscatine. Given its long history and close ties to the pearl button industry, the fish hatchery has many diverse and interesting stories to share with visitors.