Events & Programs

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Discover the Elements of Lifelong Learning

Our educational programs and special events are here to help you stay engaged and exploring our vast world, all from the comfort of the Quad Cities! 

We offer a variety of programs: from Putnam Camps, to drop-in workshops, even history lectures with a cash bar. Join us at special events, like feature films on Thursday nights or during an afternoon tea! Find your perfect fit within the museum and discover the elements of lifelong learning.

Programs & Events Calendar

Select a date and see what's happening on that day!

Jan 2025
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Wed
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Sat
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29
1:00 PM - Inside Out 2
31
12:00 PM - Fab Lab
1:00 PM - Inside Out 2
1
5
2:00 PM - Wonka (2023)
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
17
12:00 PM - Drop-In Fab Lab
18
19
20
21
22
12:00 PM - Drop-In Fab Lab
24
12:00 PM - Drop-In Fab Lab
26
27
28
29
12:00 PM - Drop-In Fab Lab
31
12:00 PM - Drop-In Fab Lab
1
Inside Out 2
December 29, 2024    
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Get ready to meet new emotions! Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy,…
Winter Camp: Migration, Hibernation, Adaptation!
December 30, 2024    
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Winter is an exciting time for our animal friends! Come along on a wild journey to learn about animal behavior worldwide. Join us for an…
Inside Out 2
December 30, 2024    
2:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Get ready to meet new emotions! Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy,…
Winter Camp: Santa's Workshop
December 31, 2024    
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Do you have what it takes to work at the North Pole? At Santa’s Workshop camp we will train like the elves to become talented…
Fab Lab
December 31, 2024    
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Inside Out 2
December 31, 2024    
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Get ready to meet new emotions! Teenager Riley's mind headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions. Joy,…
Winter Camp: Launch into the New Year (Sold out!)
January 2, 2025    
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Let the countdown continue! We're celebrating the new year with a bang: Design a confetti cannon, make it rain chemical reaction rockets, and catapult into…
Wonka (2023)
January 2, 2025    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Every Good Thing in this World Started With a Dream Willy Wonka is the mastermind behind some of the most delicious and innovative chocolate creations…
Winter Camp: Tech Toys (Sold Out!)
January 3, 2025    
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Coding, 3D Printing, Tech Fun - oh my! Experiment with the Putnam's Dash and Dot robots, doodle with 3D printing pens, and get energized designing…
Wonka (2023)
January 3, 2025    
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Every Good Thing in this World Started With a Dream Willy Wonka is the mastermind behind some of the most delicious and innovative chocolate creations…
Wonka (2023)
January 3, 2025    
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Every Good Thing in this World Started With a Dream Willy Wonka is the mastermind behind some of the most delicious and innovative chocolate creations…
Putnam Explorers: Below the Big Blue Ocean
January 4, 2025    
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Dive Into The Deep Discover amazing ocean currents and meet fascinating sea creatures like seahorses, eels, octopuses, and more. Get ready for a splashy adventure…
Wonka (2023)
January 4, 2025    
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Every Good Thing in this World Started With a Dream Willy Wonka is the mastermind behind some of the most delicious and innovative chocolate creations…
Jr Explorers: Below the Big Blue Ocean
January 4, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Dive Into The Deep Discover amazing ocean currents and meet fascinating sea creatures like seahorses, eels, octopuses, and more. Get ready for a splashy adventure…
Wonka (2023)
January 5, 2025    
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Every Good Thing in this World Started With a Dream Willy Wonka is the mastermind behind some of the most delicious and innovative chocolate creations…
Greece Trip 2025: Info Session
January 8, 2025    
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Get ready to embark on the trip of a lifetime to Greece with the Putnam Museum! Imagine wandering through ancient ruins, savoring delectable local cuisine,…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 15, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
January Discovery Dome
January 15, 2025    
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Learn about space like never before! Enter into an immersive, inflatable planetarium where you can kick back and enjoy 360-degree films that explore topics like…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 16, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
History On Tap: John Looney
January 16, 2025    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Every third Thursday, we’ll be serving up fascinating talks on a variety of topics, all while you enjoy a cold brew or your favorite beverage.
Hidden Figures (2016)
January 16, 2025    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Genius Has No Race. Strength Has No Gender. Courage Has No Limit. As the United States raced against Russia to put a man in space,…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 17, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 22, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 23, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Putnam Guild Tea - Education
January 23, 2025    
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
What's Happening in Putnam Education? For the January Putnam Guild Tea we are excited to present What's Happening in Putnam Education with Lakin Sheeder, our…
Interstellar (2014)
January 23, 2025    
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mankind's Next Step Will Be Our Greatest In the near future around the American Midwest, Cooper, an ex-science engineer and pilot, is tied to his…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 24, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Chemistry For Kids: January Workshop
January 25, 2025    
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Stop In and Experiment With an Expert Join us for our Chemistry For Kids program, on January 25th at 2pm. Dr. Andy Axup, from St.…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 29, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 30, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Little Women (1994) - Crafting Friendly Showing
January 30, 2025    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Story That Has Lived In Our Hearts For Generations Louisa May Alcott's autobiographical account of her life with her three sisters in Concord, Massachusetts…
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 31, 2025    
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Whether you’re a curious mind looking to learn something new or an aspiring inventor looking to bring your ideas to life, we have everything you…
Putnam Explorers: Follow Your Art
February 1, 2025    
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Unleash Your Creativity Who painted the Mona Lisa? Why did Picasso have a blue period? Discover the answers to these questions and more as we…
Jr Explorers: Follow Your Art
February 1, 2025    
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Unleash Your Creativity Who painted the Mona Lisa? Why did Picasso have a blue period? Discover the answers to these questions and more as we…
Events on December 29, 2024
Inside Out 2
December 29, 2024  
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Events on December 30, 2024
Winter Camp: Migration, Hibernation, Adaptation!
December 30, 2024  
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Inside Out 2
December 30, 2024  
2:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Events on December 31, 2024
Winter Camp: Santa's Workshop
December 31, 2024  
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fab Lab
December 31, 2024  
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Inside Out 2
December 31, 2024  
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Events on January 2, 2025
Winter Camp: Launch into the New Year (Sold out!)
January 2, 2025  
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wonka (2023)
January 2, 2025  
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Events on January 3, 2025
Winter Camp: Tech Toys (Sold Out!)
January 3, 2025  
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wonka (2023)
January 3, 2025  
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Wonka (2023)
January 3, 2025  
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Events on January 4, 2025
Putnam Explorers: Below the Big Blue Ocean
January 4, 2025  
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Wonka (2023)
January 4, 2025  
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Jr Explorers: Below the Big Blue Ocean
January 4, 2025  
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Events on January 5, 2025
Wonka (2023)
January 5, 2025  
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Events on January 8, 2025
Greece Trip 2025: Info Session
January 8, 2025  
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Events on January 15, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 15, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
January Discovery Dome
January 15, 2025  
2:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on January 16, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 16, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
History On Tap: John Looney
January 16, 2025  
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Hidden Figures (2016)
January 16, 2025  
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Events on January 17, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 17, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on January 22, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 22, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on January 23, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 23, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Putnam Guild Tea - Education
January 23, 2025  
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Interstellar (2014)
January 23, 2025  
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Events on January 24, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 24, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on January 25, 2025
Chemistry For Kids: January Workshop
January 25, 2025  
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Events on January 29, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 29, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on January 30, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 30, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Little Women (1994) - Crafting Friendly Showing
January 30, 2025  
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Events on January 31, 2025
Drop-In Fab Lab
January 31, 2025  
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Events on February 1, 2025
Putnam Explorers: Follow Your Art
February 1, 2025  
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Jr Explorers: Follow Your Art
February 1, 2025  
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Programs in the Museum

History on Tap Lecture Series, featuring two adult women interacting and laughing at an event in the Grand Lobby at the Putnam museum.

History On Tap

Are you tired of the same old lectures in stuffy lecture halls? Do you crave a more engaging and refreshing approach to learning?

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Pathways afterschool educational program. Featuring young multi-culturing children creating figurines with crafting materials in the Fab Lab.

Pathways

Pathways is designed to help ESL families enhance their school experience by providing them with the necessary resources and support.

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summer winter and spring camps for kids

Putnam Camps

We offer a diverse selection of fun and engaging full day, and half day summer camps for kids from kindergarten through sixth grade.

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Spring Camps at the Putnam Museum in Davenport, IA.

Spring Camps

Spring Camps just announced! Give your child the opportunity to learn, grow, and connect from March 17th to the 21st. Groups for Grades 1-3 and 4-6.

Read More »

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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