Year: 2023

Group Visits

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Bring a Group to the Putnam!

Group visits are a great way to provide a unique group outing. Whether you want to help your Scouts explore STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), need an exciting place for a birthday party, or want to host a private lunch on our beautiful river valley balcony, we have a package for you! And don’t forget to enhance your group visit with a private program or gallery tour!

 
The Putnam offers opportunities for groups of all ages, sizes, and purposes. Groups of 25 or more receive discounted general admission and movie tickets. You can enhance your group visit with a private program or gallery tour. 

Group Pricing

Group Type Youth
Admission		 Adult Admission Film
Add On		 Chaperone and Caretakers
Youth Organization $6 per youth $10 per adult outside
1:10 chaperone ratio		 $5 per person One complimentary chaperone
per 10 students
Organizations Serving
Individuals with Disabilities		 $6 per youth client $10 per adult client
($7 for senior clients)		 $5 per person Complimentary
Adults (or mixed groups
e.g. family reunion)		 $7 per youth $10 per adult
($7 for seniors)		 $5 per person N/A

 

Find Out More

To make a reservation or request more information, complete the form below:

Start Your Reservation

Want to reserve a space for a more private outing? Check out our rental spaces!

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Museum Store

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Something For Everyone in the Museum Store!

Looking for a wonderful gift that also does good? Look no further than our museum store! Our selection is phenomenal and every purchase you make helps the Putnam provide fantastic programming and unique experiences for our community! 

There’s gifts for all ages and interests at the Putnam Museum. We have a variety of items for kids and adults alike. Stop by to check out our large selection of jewelry, puzzles, hands-on science kits, fairtrade items, and more! 

Museum Store Hours

  • Monday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

 

Member Benefits

Did you know that members receive an extra 10% off all purchases in the store and at concessions as well as 10% off facility rentals? Become a member today for extra perks!

Become A Member Today!

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Indigenous Roots of Mexican Americans

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Explore Mexican American Origins

Raíces indígenas de los Mexicoamericanos

Americans are frequently asked to define their cultural ancestry. The choices offered to Mexican Americans are Latino or Hispanic. Neither of these terms address the fact that many Mexican Americans also have indigenous North American roots. The tapestry of cultures in Mexico offers a proud and rich heritage. Mexican cultures date back at least 20,000 years to early hunter-gatherers. By 8000 BCE Indigenous people began selective alteration of the maize (corn) plant with wholesale corn agriculture beginning about 1800 BCE.

Con frecuencia se les pide a los estadounidenses que definan su ascendencia cultural. Las opciones ofrecidas a los mexicoamericanos son latino o hispano. Ninguno de estos términos aborda el hecho de que muchos mexicoamericanos también tienen raíces indígenas norteamericanas. El tapiz de culturas en México ofrece una herencia rica y orgullosa. Las culturas mexicanas se remontan al menos a 20,000 años, a los primeros cazadores-recolectores. Para el año 8000 a.C., los pueblos indígenas comenzaron la alteración selectiva de la planta de maíz (elote), con la agricultura de maíz a gran escala comenzando alrededor del 1800 a.C.

The Indigenous Roots of Mexican Americans exhibit in the World Culture Gallery explores the ancestry that exists within many Quad Citizens and traces this shared heritage, from early hunter gatherers to massive civilizations and cultural developments. 

image from indigenous roots of mexican americans cultural exhibit

This exhibit is in our World Culture Gallery.

Love exhibits and galleries at the Putnam Museum and Science Center? Follow us on social media to keep up with the latest news!

Common Ground

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We're All Different and That's Our Common Ground

Find our common ground where the past and present come alive as you surround yourself with our rich history of what it means to be a Quad Citizen. Explore our collective past through stories and artifacts as told through diverse voices.

There is plenty of room for reflection, enjoyment, and interaction. You will even be invited to share your own story!

Colorful multi-cultural individuals and textures representing the Common Ground exhibit at the Putnam

The History of this Community History Project 

This exhibit is the culmination of a three-year regional history update. The team at the Putnam Museum and Science Center has completely renovated the gallery and is displaying artifacts from the 250,000-piece collection that have never been featured before.

The creation of this exhibit has been broadly collaborative. The Putnam partnered with Friends of Martin Luther King Interpretive Center, LULAC Council 10, and Azubuike African American Council for the Arts to co-curate the exhibit.

Beyond these close partnerships, groups throughout the Quad Cities provided input and feedback and many had the opportunity to help shape the new exhibit.

This intensive collaboration was carefully and intentionally orchestrated in order to ensure that the stories of all Quad Citians are told in the updated history exhibit. 

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Grant Award: MA-249912-OMS-21).

* The views, findings, conclusions or recommendation expressed on this website do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Institute of Museum and Library Services Logo

Science of Art

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Create Music and Art with Science

This engaging, interactive exhibit is designed to showcase the intersection of science and art. Visitors can explore how these concepts work together to create beautiful visual and auditory arrays.

The interactive exhibit features a wide range of hands-on fun and activities. Visitors can create music using a variety of scientific instruments, explore how light and color interact to create stunning visual displays, and even create their artwork using cutting-edge technology.

Woman in a blue blouse and a teenager in a Putnam hooded sweatshirt interact with the harp in the Science Center at the Putnam.

Love learning at the Putnam Museum and Science Center? Check out our Putnam Education Programs for all ages by clicking [here].

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Science of Space

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Explore Space from the Science Center

In this Science Center exhibit, visitors explore the wonders of the universe through a scientific lens. From the birth of stars to the search for extraterrestrial life, this exhibit showcases the latest discoveries and technologies in the field of space science.

Visit Earth’s Nearest Neighbors Without Leaving the Museum

One of the highlights of this exhibit is the section on the solar system. Here you can explore the planets, moons, and other objects in our celestial neighborhood in stunning detail. Learn about the geological processes that shape these bodies and the atmospheric conditions that make them unique.

Displays also present examples of the latest spacecraft and rovers that are helping scientists explore these worlds in greater detail than ever before.

The Mysteries of the Universe

Another fascinating section of this exhibit explores the mysteries of the universe beyond our solar system. Learn about the latest telescopes and observatories helping astronomers study distant galaxies, black holes, and other phenomena.

Visitors also discover how scientists use advanced computer models to simulate the behavior of these objects and gain a deeper understanding of the laws that govern our universe.

The exhibit also features a section on space exploration and the human quest to explore the cosmos. Learn more about the history of human spaceflight and the latest efforts to send humans back to the Moon and on to Mars.

Evolution of Science

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Discover the Evolution of Science

In the Evolution of Science Gallery at the Putnam Museum & Science Center, we showcase a wide variety of science interactives that will captivate and inspire visitors of all ages.

From the basic elements of the periodic table, through scientific principles of discovery to the latest breakthroughs, the hands-on interactives take you on an enlightening journey through the evolution of science. You’ll learn all about Archimedes to levers, pulleys, gears, and so much more! Explore and immerse yourself in the wonders of scientific method and discovery.

Whether you’re accompanied by young ones or are just young at heart, this is a hands-on experience you do not want to miss out on.

Young boy interacting with the Tug of War in the Science Center at the Putnam

As part of our Science Center, people of all ages are invited to explore science and technology. 

If you love the Science Center, you’ll love our Putnam Education Programs! You can learn more about them [here].

Keep up to date on our latest programs by following us on social media!