Now Open!

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:

Open now!

Did you know? The number of birds in the U.S. and Canada has fallen by a staggering 29% since 1970! Each of us can play a role in bird restoration efforts. 

Birds and You examines the role we all can play in protecting and preserving the birds we see every day in our backyards and fields. Visitors can expect to see a variety of taxidermy mounts, eggs, and nests from the Putnam’s collection while learning about the issues facing birds today and the simple things they can do to help.

The exhibit includes a variety of birdhouses loaned by community members and will feature activities including identifying birds by their silhouettes and creating your own origami passenger pigeon.



Birds and You will also be the starting place for a self-guided bird watch at the Putnam. Visitors will learn about various local species in the exhibit and receive a checklist for a "bird count" in Black Earth Big River which features hundreds of taxidermy animals, including birds, in a natural setting complete with a cave system, woodlands, and river tributary. Putnam partner and President of Quad Cities Audubon Society, Jody Millar, hopes the experience will introduce visitors to birding as a hobby and encourage them to participate in regional Audubon Society bird counts. "A walk through the Black Earth Big River area should be fun," she said. "Many birds have been placed here in a life-like setting. While folks walk through and search for birds, they will have an opportunity to learn more about birds and to sharpen their birding skills."

Hope you can join us at the Putnam-original, Birds and You! Plan your visit here. 
 

Click Here To View Spanish Translations to exhibit labels

Sponsors:

The fossil and mineral annexes, located off our main entrance, feature 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.   

You'll also see our sluice interactive in this area. Mine rough is available for purchase in the Museum Store. 

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!

Sponsors:

Note: The following Science Center Galleries are open:
Weather
Science of Art
Space
Dino Dig
History of Technology
Stay tuned for information regarding the reopening of other science galleries.

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



When you visit, you may notice that the Science Galleries look a bit messy. These spaces are in "trial stage", which means signage and label content is still being developed by our educators and shaped by our visitors. After we test various ideas and gather feedback, content will be finalized and printed professionally. Share your thoughts with a staff member in the gallery or at Ticketing during your next visit.

 

SPACE GALLERY SPONSORS:
The Space Gallery is supported in part by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium under NASA Award No. 80NSSC20M0107. 


 

STEM INITIATIVE CONTRIBUTORS:

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

Sponsors: