

Muscatine Merrill Hotel
This live webcam is mounted on the Muscatine Merrill Hotel in Muscatine, Iowa, United States, overlooking the busy rail corridor that runs south‑west from the Mississippi River. The view focuses on the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline, with steel rails extending into the distance and frequent freight trains rolling through this riverfront city.
Muscatine, Iowa, United States
US- Muscatine, Iowa
- Muscatine, IA
Muscatine is a city in and the county seat of Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. It sits along the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa, positioned on one of the great bends of the waterway. The local business association states that the name Muscatine is not used by any other community, distinguishing it from other places with similar names.
The settlement began as a trading post founded by representatives of Colonel George Davenport in 1833. It was incorporated as Bloomington in 1839 before changing its name to reduce mail delivery confusion. Prior to that, the area was known as Newburg and Casey's Landing. The origin of the current name is debated, potentially deriving from the Mascouten Native American tribe or Meskwaki indigenous people.
The city is the principal city of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area. Historically, it was known as the Pearl Button Capital of the World due to manufacturing by Weber & Sons Button Co., which became the world's largest producer of fancy freshwater pearl buttons in 1915. It also held the title of Watermelon Capital of the World, reflecting its agricultural rural nature.
Muscatine features the Muscatine Art Center and the Sino-US Friendship House, where Xi Jinping stayed during a 1985 visit. Mark Twain lived in the city briefly in 1855, noting its summer sunsets in his book Life on the Mississippi. The city also has a rich history of civil rights activism, particularly through Alexander G. Clark Sr., who helped desegregate Iowa's public schools and served as ambassador to Liberia.
The population was 23,797 at the time of the 2020 census. Access is available via Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 6, and Quad City International Airport. The city offers the Muscatine Aquatic Center and golf course, with the MuscaBus providing local transit. The economy has shifted from pearl button manufacturing to diverse industries, including a Sino-U.S. Cultural Center established in 2017.










The EARF Engine
























