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Rare Rides: Americans' Love Affair
with Motorcycles
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: Rare Rides explores the history and culture of motorcycles in the Quad-Cities' community over the past century. Motorcycles have played an important role in modern culture from the earliest days when they were simply bicycles with motors to the modern cycles featuring GPS and other state-of-the-art technologies. On exhibit through September 7, 2008.
Native Waters: Sharing the Source
The Native Waters: Sharing the Source Traveling Exhibit was created by Native Waters, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) to help both children and adults explore the importance of water in their lives. Using a variety of art forms, such as hands-on activities, interviews with tribal people and a film, Native Waters: Sharing the Source shares cultural and scientific ways of learning about water
The exhibit was designed by the Native Waters project in cooperation with the Science Museum of Minnesota while at Montana State University, for use in schools, museum, libraries and cultural centers.
Exhibit Hall Pricing:
Adults: $6
Seniors(age 60+): $5
Youth (ages 3-12): $4
Putnam Members and Children under 2 get in free.
Click the image below for a printable map.
ASK A CURATOR!
Researching in the Collection
The Putnam Museum makes its collections available to serious researchers and scholars by appointment. Click here to see more information on research policies.
Research requests may be directed to the following staff members.
For natural science material:
Christine Chandler, Curator of Natural Science
563-324-1054 ext. 226
For archaeology, ethnology or regional history artifacts:
Christina Kastell, Curator of History
563-324-1054 ext. 222
For photographic or archival materials:
Eunice Schlichting, Chief Curator
563-324-1054 ext. 223
Appraisals
Information about obtaining appraisals – Museum collections staff can do basic identification of some objects and natural science materials but Museum policy prohibits staff from doing appraisals or authentications. Please contact one of the following organizations if a professional appraiser in your area.
American Society of Appraisers
555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
Herndon, VA 20170
1-800-272-8258
Chicago chapter 312-322-0222
www.appraisers.org
Chicago Appraisers Association
1822 Berkely Road
Highland Park IL 60035
847-446-8827
International Society of Appraisers
Riverview Plaza Office Park
16040 Christensen Road, Suite 320
Seattle, WA 98188
206-241-0359
www.isa-appraisers.org
CELEBRATING 140 YEARS!
Voted Best Museum
in the River Cities' Reader Poll
Voted Favorite Museum
in the QC Magazine Poll
HISTORY OF THE PUTNAM
For centuries, people have been drawn to the Mississippi River and the surrounding prairies—to hunt, trade, farm, manufacture, and to live. Founded in 1867, the Putnam is one of the first museums established west of the Mississippi. Home to over 170,000 artifacts and specimens, the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science offers permanent and changing exhibits, dynamic public programs, Iowa's only 3D IMAX Theatre, plus our exclusive Heritage Theater® and live interpretations—all in a beautiful 115,000 square foot facility—the largest museum in the Quad Cities of eastern Iowa and western Illinois!
The Putnam Museum is named for Charles Edward Putnam, his wife Mary Louisa Duncan Putnam and their children. Charles
Putnam was a lawyer who came to Davenport in 1854. He was originally from Saratoga Springs, New York. He is descended from John Putnam who emigrated from England in 1634. The family lived in and around Salem, Mass., until Charles' grandfather moved to Saratoga Springs, probably about the time of the Revolution.
Mission Statement
The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science is a not-for-profit educational corporation, which is governed by its members and funded through earned revenues and private philanthropy. The Museum serves the Quad Cities and the surrounding Iowa and Illinois region.
The Putnam’s mission is to collect and preserve objects and natural science specimens and to provide educational and enriching experiences through interpretive exhibits and museum programming.
Vision Statement
The Putnam Museum will be a center for exceptional quality of life experiences in the Quad Cities area.
As the focal point for the celebration and preservation of the region's cultural and natural history, the Putnam Museum will be the primary repository for the community's unique treasures – a permanent home for the artifacts and specimens that tell the story of the region, the people who live here, and their connections to the world.
The Putnam and its surrounding attractions on Museum Hill will be a premiere destination for diverse audiences to discover the wonders of history, science and nature.
The Collections
In support of its mission, the Putnam cares for over 170,000 objects, specimens and archival materials which tell the story of the Quad Cities natural and human history. The collection is organized into the following broad categories:
Natural Science: geology, paleontology, and biology.
Regional History: social, political, cultural and economic history
Anthropology: archaeology and ethnography
Archives: regional archival and photographic materials and institutional archives. Click here to learn more!
To discover more about the Museum and its collections: Click on the topic to learn more.
Bix Beiderbecke's 1927 Vincent Bach Cornet
Miss Hokkaido, Japanese Friendship Doll
During its 125th anniversary celebration in 1992, the Putnam Museum produced an organizational history "Odyssey of a Museum" which is available through the Museum Store.
RIVER, PRAIRIE & PEOPLE
Explore the Mississippi River Valley of the past. Start with a visit to early Native American settlements. Relive the era of steamboats. Then advance to the nostalgic era of the Baby Boomer generation. View fascinating artifacts along the way from Chief Black Hawk, Antoine LeClaire and John Deere.
BLACK EARTH | BIG RIVER
Have you ever explored a huge oak tree -- from the inside out? Walked through a cave deep in the earth? Or had a face-to-face encounter with live Mississippi River fish? You'll do this and more when you see the area's natural habitats as you've never seen them before.
HALL OF MAMMALS
You'll not only see life-like African and Arctic animals in their natural settings, you'll hear them -- the roar of a lion and the haunting whistle of a beluga whale. Where else can you travel from the plains of Africa to frigid Arctic waters just by walking a few steps?
ASIAN | EGYPTIAN GALLERY
Encounter mysteries from ancient civilizations and the wonders of numerous cultures -- including artifacts of Japanese warrior society...a Fu Dog that once stood guard over a Chinese temple...and a 3,500-year-old mummy of a temple chantress, Isis Neferit.
DISCOVERY ROOM
Discover nature and history at your fingertips in a room dedicated to our young visitors. Touch huge fossil specimens that are millions of years old, including a 180-million-year-old petrified log. Explore the Nature Center filled with drawers of rocks, feathers, insects, and more. Cook on the iron range in the Old Farm Kitchen and play the games of days gone by.
IOWA'S WILD PLACES
This gallery features the beautiful wildlife photgraphy of well-known Iowa resident, Carl Kurtz, author of the book, Iowa's Wild Places, which is available in the Museum Store. Enjoy dramatic images of some of the most pristine natural locations of Iowa.
