Curated by staff at the Putnam Museum
Our blog features stories about our history, collections, exhibits, recent discoveries, and more! Keep up to date on breaking stories by following us on social media or signing up for our e-newsletter.
Egypt Travel Log (Part I)
I remember over a year ago when Onnica Marquez, Archivist and Assistant Professor at St. Ambrose University (and former archivist at the Putnam Museum) sat down to lunch at a local restaurant with me and the two Putnam curators following her first visit to Egypt. She…
Magic Mirror
For over 100 years the Putnam has had a magic mirror sitting in collections and did not know. This is a two sided bronze mirror from Japan that was purchased by Charles A. Ficke in 1904-5 and subsequently donated to the museum.
When light is shone onto this seemingly…
The Greater Kudu
The Greater Kudu, also known as the Grey Ghost due to its elusive nature, is a large antelope found in Eastern and Southern Africa. It is one of the tallest antelopes, standing up to 1.2 meters at the shoulder, and can weigh up to 315kg. The males have impressive…
Mary Louisa Putnam
Born in 1832, Mary Louisa Putnam moved to Davenport with her family in 1855. In 1863 they built their home in west Davenport and named it Woodlawn. Mary was a devoted mother who encouraged her children to get an education. Her son Duncan spent most of his time at home due to…
