Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
COAL TAR PITS
COAL TAR PITS. Remnants of coal gasification. In 1987 two coal tar pits, remains of the coal gasification process used until the development of natural gas after World War II, were discovered near the path of the U.S. 61 relocation project.
The pits in Dubuque were both Key City Gas coal gasification sites. One pit, located at 11th Street and Kerper Boulevard, was found on city garage property. The second pit was near an Amoco service station west of the JULIEN DUBUQUE BRIDGE at Dodge and Bluff.