Exhibits & Galleries

Experience the exhibits at the Putnam. There are several different exhibits from the museum. Two are of kids enjoying the Science Center, two are of ancient artifacts in the World Culture Gallery and one is a zebra from the Hall of Mammals.
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Explore Our Vast Collection of Stunning Artifacts

We exist to preserve our region’s treasures, educate people of all ages in unique and lasting ways, and connect people to each other as they experience science, history, cultures, and environments throughout time and across the globe. The Putnam brings to life a sense of place, time and purpose to ignite human potential and inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people. 

At the heart of everything we do is our collection. With over 250,000 artifacts our exhibits are constantly changing. Our curators and our Quad City community work together to create exhibits that celebrate our diversity and the relevancy of our collection across cultural groups. We couldn’t be more proud of our work and can’t wait for you to explore!

HISTORY GALLERIES
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NATURAL WORLD EXHIBITS
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SCIENCE CENTER EXHIBITS
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hubble new views from the universe header image with nasa logo

Hubble: New Views of the Universe

Get ready to embark on a journey through time, featuring artifacts from the Putnam Museum and local collectors. Learn about the fascinating history of rail travel in the Quad Cities and beyond.

Quad City Innovators exhibit at the Putnam Museum in Davenport IA.

Quad City Innovators

Quad City Innovators, our new exhibit, will share the incredible stories of these innovators, inventors, and trailblazers through hands-on interactives and fun learning experiences.

Greater Kudu on exhibit at the Putnam Museum, in the Hall of Mammals

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…

Muti-cultural children in brightly colored shirts digging for replica dinosaur fossils, with brushes in the outdoor Dino Dig area at the Putnam Museum.

Dino Dig

Are you ready to unleash your inner paleontologist? Look no further than our outdoor dino dig park at the Putnam Museum!

Children, three girls and one boy exploring prairie grasses outside of the cave in the Mississippi River exhibit, Black Earth, Big River.

Black Earth | Big River

It’s easy to explore the wonders of the river valley when you take the time to wander the halls of Back Earth | Big River at The Putnam Museum.

Unearthing Ancient Egypt gallery as if you were about to walk in. Pictured at the forefront is a mummy wrapped in traditional linens dating back to 332 BC. In the background is a black coffin with intricate design and art that dates back to between 1479 and 1336 BC.

Unearthing Ancient Egypt

Step back into history and discover the mysteries of ancient Egypt in the Putnam’s Unearthing Ancient Egypt exhibit, which features a broad collection of breathtaking Egyptian treasures and two mummies.

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Please Note: The Museum & Science Center will be closed for maintenance, cleaning, and updates January 8 -12.

We will resume normal hours on Saturday (1/13). Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support!

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