Cross over the bridge and let the River guide you through the natural habitats of the Quad Cities area. Explore wetlands, woodlands, prairies and even your own backyard as you wander through the Putnam’s interactive exhibit. See the creatures large and small that roam our area today. Explore a huge oak tree – from the inside out! Listen to the sounds of the marsh and the stories of the people who live on the River. Come face-to-face with LIVE Mississippi River fish and reptiles in our 718-gallon aquarium!

You'll do this and more when you see the area's natural habitats as you've never seen them before in Black Earth | Big River.

Explore the world of mammals at the Putnam! From the familiar cottontail rabbit in your backyard to the polar bears of the Arctic Circle, mammals – large and small – are everywhere! Travel from an artic glacier to an African waterhole, and check out who's come for a drink. Not only will you see these animals in their natural habitats, you’ll hear them too!

Where else can you travel from your backyard to the dusty plains of Africa and the ice-covered waters of the Arctic in just a few steps?

Take a Virtual Tour of our Hall of Mammals exhibit! You van view more on this exhibit by following our YouTube Channel here!

Ocean Experience focuses on underwater habitats and is located at the end of Black Earth Big River. View a giant clam shell, observe a real coral reef or try your hand at operating an underwater robotic arm. 

Sponsors:

Opening November 21, 2020!

From ancient times to today, children have played with toys! Explore the role of toys and play in society through the Putnam-original exhibit, Play: The Story of Toys!

In this exhibit for all ages, you'll be able to take a look at a variety of toys including those that are educational, creative, and meant for the outdoors. Visitors can explore how gender roles in society were reinforced by children's toys. Visitors will be able to reminisce about favorite toy fads and dangerous toys they may have had growing up as well as view new inclusive and technological toys. 

The exhibit also features a case all about toys manufactured right here in the Quad Cities! 

Sponsors:

This exhibit is supported by a grant from Scott County Regional Authority.

Discover the building blocks that shape YOUR WORLD through this Putnam exhibit experience about the weird and wonderful Periodic Table! Celebrate the Year of the Periodic Table and take an eye-opening tour through the Periodic Table of Elements — more than 150 years after its creation!

Sponsors:

Generous support provided by Arconic Foundation

The fossil and mineral annexes, located off our "new" main entrance, features rotating displays from our rock, mineral and gem collections as well as our paleontology collections. 

Currently featured in the fossil annex is a collection of Mazon Creek fossils from Illinois, including a Tully Monster (the Illinois State fossil), and a number of other strange animals from that site. The Mazon Creek area is world-renowned for its preservation of soft-bodied animals. Iowa's unofficial State fossil, the crinoid, is also currently featured. In aditional to a crinoid slab from Le Grand, Iowa, the display also includes part of one of the earliest donations made to the museum from outside the immediate Quad Cities area, a collection of crinoid stem pieces collected from Burlington, Iowa, that were acquired in January 1868.

The mineral annex currently features minerals from Iowa--Yes, there's more to Iowa's rocks and minerals than coal and gravel. There is also a selection of some of the birthstone material found in our mineral collection, including a wonderful amethyst specimen from Thunder Bay, Ontario. If you're interested in mineral identification, some of the tools of the trade can be found here as well.   

River, Prairie and People takes visitors back in time as they discover what the Quad Cities was like for its earliest inhabitants, and how the Mississippi River helped form the community.

Experience how the Quad Cities took shape through milestones such as the founding of Davenport by Antoine LeClaire, and how the Civil War brought about the Rock Island Arsenal.

See many Quad-City artifacts including the famous Davenport Tablets, learn how John Deere got his start and get up close to Bix Beiderbecke’s cornet as you stroll through this exhibit of Quad-City history.

Sponsors:

Step into an ancient Egyptian tomb, discover how ancient Egyptians lived and what they required for a pleasant afterlife. Through a collection of breathtaking authentic Egyptian treasures and the magic of CT (Computed Tomography) imagery, explore two mummies − inside and out! Find out how forensic anthropologists reconstruct facial features and take in our amazing collection of authentic Egyptian treasures!

This iconic gallery is not to be missed!

Note: Many high touch interactives have been temporarily removed from this exhibit.

Uwe’ Warumi (pronounced Oo-way Wah roomey – the Trading Place − while enjoyable for all visitors, was especially designed for children ages 4-10 years old. The room’s size, labels and activities were created with children and their caregivers in mind.

We believe that children are competent, imaginative and inquisitive, and that the learning that occurs in the museum has a positive, lasting and important effect on their cognitive and social development.

Within the fun of Uwe’ Warumi lies important skills and learning opportunities for young children. Explore Social Studies information through a child’s eye look at EuroAmerican and Native American cultures. Use mathematics to trade the correct furs at the post trade store. Practice large (gross) motor skills on the Native American dance mat or enhance fine motor skills with a game of pick-up sticks. Use the sight word labels to encourage independent reading and engage in pretend play to foster social development.

Reading, trading and dancing are just some of the activities adults and children can explore together. Encourage your child to explore in his or her own way and follow their lead. The Uwe’ Warumi space is an area where children are encouraged to be the leaders of their own discovery.

Sponsors:

Note: The re-imagined Weather and Science of Art Galleries in the Science Center are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stay tuned for information regarding the reopening of other science galleries.

An inspiring, hands-on experience for everyone! Playing a laser harp, creating a cloud, and discovering the power of 230,000 volts probably isn’t your typical day.

The Putnam Science Center is part of the Museum’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and supports national and statewide efforts to increase STEM skills. Using existing museum space, the center spans more than 10,000 square feet and features more than 45 hands-on stations.

Visitors of all ages will not only learn concepts and make connections to STEM careers but will have fun together doing it!

 

STEM INITIATIVE CONTRIBUTORS

The Bechtel Trusts John Deere Foundation Vision Iowa 3M Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Davenport Works Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust City of Davenport Hubbell-Waterman Foundation Modern Woodmen of America Cobham Life Support Easter Family Fund Mr. Reuben Margolin Riverboat Development Authority Scott County Regional Authority Achieve Quad Cities Genesis Systems Group John H. Harris III Memorial Foundation Mr. Frank & Mrs. Ann McCarthy McLaughlin Body Company Scott County Mr. Steve & Mrs. Jane Bahls Mr. Mark & Mrs. Rita Bawden Duncan & Dianne Cameron Family Foundation Doris & Victor Day Foundation Moline Foundation Royal Neighbors of America Mr. Myron & Mrs. Carolyn Scheibe Shive-Hattery, Inc. Tennant Truck Lines, Inc. Mr. Dana & Mrs. Faye Waterman

Dr. Ralph H. and Mrs. Marcia A. Congdon Iowa Space Grant Consortium Isle of Capri Mid States Transmission Parts Miracle Tools America LLC Anne McCoy Nagan Fund Mr. Chris & Mrs. Mary Rayburn Dr. Paul & Mrs. Karen Rohlf Mr. Mike & Mrs. Sara Thoms Mr. Frank & Mrs. Teresa Clark Mr. Ken Croken & Ms. Kathryn McKnight Mr. Travis & Mrs. Amanda Crowell DMW Design Ms. Kim Findlay & Mr. Rick Brackey Iowa/Illinois Chapter NDIA Mr. Stephen & Mrs. Melinda Kruse Mr. Leo Schubert & Ms. Susan Sharar Mrs. Katherine Sigardson-Poor & Dr. Curtis Poor Silver Oaks Communications Mr. David & Mrs. Barbara Sloane Staak Family Fund US Bank Anonymous (2) Mr.  David & Mrs. Ewelina Bergert Mr. Ryan & Mrs. Allison Castle Ms. Christine Chandler Ms. Linda Cook Ms. Drue Curry Mr. Mark & Mrs. Mary Davidsaver

Ms. Christy A. Doornink Mr. Jeff & Mrs. Lori Doroba Doroba Dental Mr. Ted & Mrs. Lisa Ewing Mr. Luke Fernandez Mr. Keith & Mrs. Marie Gellerstedt Shaun & Victoria Graves Mr. Matt & Mrs. Christine Hayes Ms. Christina Kastell Mr. Brad & Mrs. Lindsey Kennedy Ms. Alice H. Loff Ms. Kelly MacIntyre Mr. Steve & Mrs. Patricia Mapley Ms. Janet Masamoto Mrs. Barbara Matt Ms. Susan Matt Mr. Tim & Mrs. Lynn Murphy Ms. Nichole Myles Mr. David & Mrs. Martha Neal Claudia & Randall Neumann Diane & Michael Puthoff Ms. Susan S. Skora Ms. Meia S. Teague Ms. Betsy Matt Turner Mr. Rian Waterman

 

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INDIVIDUAL STEM LEARNING CENTER CAMPAIGN (RAZOO):
Barbara H Lowe, Wendy Schuldt, Douglas L Rick, Allison Castle, David Bergert, Lindsey M Kennedy, Nixalite of America, Luke Fernandez, Susan Matt, Mark A Davidsaver, Drue K. Curry, Nichole Myles, Barbara Matt, Christy A Doornink, Alice Loff, Patricia Mapley, Stephen Mapley, Matt Hayes, Timothy J Murphy, Susan S. Skora, Christine L Chandler, Theodore B. Ewing, Christina Kastell, Meia S. Teague, Linda Cook, Kelly MacIntyre, Elizabeth Matt Turner, Rian D. Waterman, Jonah Cohen, and anonymous