An inspiring, hands-on experience for everyone! Interacting with a bilingual robot, launching rockets and discovering the power of 230,000 volts probably isn’t your typical day.
The Putnam Science Center is part of the Museum’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and supports national and statewide efforts to increase STEM skills. Using existing museum space, the center spans more than 10,000 square feet and features more than 45 hands-on stations. The "Innovation" section showcases aerospace, robotics, architecture and structure, engineering and design, and film and music areas that encourage visitors to create, imagine and innovate. The "How Things Work" section immerses visitors in concepts such as energy and simple machines, electricity and magnets, and light and sound. And many of the stations are huge, like our 25 by 13-foot-tall tug-of-war lever!
Visitors of all ages will not only learn concepts and make connections to STEM careers but will have fun together doing it!
Come check out the NEW feature WATER: Molecules in Motion!
STEM INITIATIVE CONTRIBUTORS
The Bechtel Trusts
John Deere Foundation
Vision Iowa
3M
Alcoa Foundation and Alcoa Davenport Works
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust
City of Davenport
Hubbell-Waterman Foundation
Modern Woodmen of America
Cobham Life Support
Easter Family Fund
Mr. Reuben Margolin
Riverboat Development Authority
Scott County Regional Authority
Achieve Quad Cities
Genesis Systems Group
John H. Harris III Memorial Foundation
Mr. Frank & Mrs. Ann McCarthy
McLaughlin Body Company
Scott County
Mr. Steve & Mrs. Jane Bahls
Mr. Mark & Mrs. Rita Bawden
Duncan & Dianne Cameron Family Foundation
Doris & Victor Day Foundation
Moline Foundation
Royal Neighbors of America
Mr. Myron & Mrs. Carolyn Scheibe
Shive-Hattery, Inc.
Tennant Truck Lines, Inc.
Mr. Dana & Mrs. Faye Waterman |
Dr. Ralph H. and Mrs. Marcia A.
Congdon
Iowa Space Grant Consortium
Isle of Capri
Mid States Transmission Parts
Miracle Tools America LLC
Anne McCoy Nagan Fund
Mr. Chris & Mrs. Mary Rayburn
Dr. Paul & Mrs. Karen Rohlf
Mr. Mike & Mrs. Sara Thoms
Mr. Frank & Mrs. Teresa Clark
Mr. Ken Croken & Ms. Kathryn
McKnight
Mr. Travis & Mrs. Amanda Crowell
DMW Design
Ms. Kim Findlay & Mr. Rick Brackey
Iowa/Illinois Chapter NDIA
Mr. Stephen & Mrs. Melinda Kruse
Mr. Leo Schubert & Ms. Susan Sharar
Mrs. Katherine Sigardson-Poor & Dr. Curtis Poor
Silver Oaks Communications
Mr. David & Mrs. Barbara Sloane
Staak Family Fund
US Bank
Anonymous (2)
Mr. David & Mrs. Ewelina Bergert
Mr. Ryan & Mrs. Allison Castle
Ms. Christine Chandler
Ms. Linda Cook
Ms. Drue Curry
Mr. Mark & Mrs. Mary Davidsaver |
Ms. Christy A. Doornink
Mr. Jeff & Mrs. Lori Doroba
Doroba Dental
Mr. Ted & Mrs. Lisa Ewing
Mr. Luke Fernandez
Mr. Keith & Mrs. Marie Gellerstedt
Shaun & Victoria Graves
Mr. Matt & Mrs. Christine Hayes
Ms. Christina Kastell
Mr. Brad & Mrs. Lindsey Kennedy
Ms. Alice H. Loff
Ms. Kelly MacIntyre
Mr. Steve & Mrs. Patricia Mapley
Ms. Janet Masamoto
Mrs. Barbara Matt
Ms. Susan Matt
Mr. Tim & Mrs. Lynn Murphy
Ms. Nichole Myles
Mr. David & Mrs. Martha Neal
Claudia & Randall Neumann
Diane & Michael Puthoff
Ms. Susan S. Skora
Ms. Meia S. Teague
Ms. Betsy Matt Turner
Mr. Rian Waterman |
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
Black Earth | Big River
Cross over the bridge and let the River guide you through the natural habitats of the Quad Cities area. Explore wetlands, woodlands, prairies and even your own backyard as you wander through the Putnam’s interactive exhibit. See the creatures large and small that roam our area today. Explore a huge oak tree – from the inside out! Listen to the sounds of the marsh and the stories of the people who live on the River. Come face-to-face with LIVE Mississippi River fish and reptiles in our 718-gallon aquarium!
You'll do this and more when you see the area's natural habitats as you've never seen them before in
Black Earth | Big River.
Hall of Mammals
Explore the world of mammals at the Putnam! From the familiar cottontail rabbit in your backyard to the polar bears of the Arctic Circle, mammals – large and small – are everywhere! Travel from an artic glacier to an African waterhole, and check out who's come for a drink. Not only will you see these animals in their natural habitats, you’ll hear them too!
Where else can you travel from your backyard to the dusty plains of Africa and the ice-covered waters of the Arctic in just a few steps?
Ocean Experience
Designed especially for kids and families, the Ocean Experience features different underwater habitats – from kelp forests and coral reefs to tidal pools and deep seas!
Climb an angry squid, explore ocean treasures at the microscope station, observe a real coral reef or try your hand at operating an underwater robotic arm. Immersive and interactive,
Ocean Experience is all about hands-on learning for our youngest visitors!
Sponsors:
Touch the untouchable with Augmented Reality!
Are you brave enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a T-Rex?
You don't need a time machine to get up-close with dinosaurs! These prehistoric monsters have awakened and are at the Putnam's newest AR experience —
"Back to the Jurassic."
Come face-to-face with other larger-than-life creatures, like a giant diplodocus and a magestic sauropod, and meet a pack of raptors with the area's first AR experience!
"Back to the Jurassic" lets you interact in real-time with these amazing dinos and engage with the environment around them. Once your adventure is complete, you will be emailed a photo and social media-ready video you can then share with your friends and family.
What is augmented reality?
AR superimposes a computer-generated image on the real world — giving you the opportunity to
“touch the untouchable” through real-time interactions with photo-realistic characters and animals. The entire program lasts about 5 minutes.
The
“Back to the Jurassic” is located in the Science Center and is
FREE with general admission.
Putnam members receive FREE general admission!
Sponsors:
"Back to the Jurassic" is sponsored by
The Putnam's AR experience is sponsored by
Rube Goldberg™, The World of Hilarious Invention!
exhibit closing jan. 5
• Included with museum admission.
Discover the creative process behind Rube Goldberg’s fantastically ridiculous machines and dream up your own inventions with the Rube Goldberg™, The World of Hilarious Invention! exhibit.
This exhibit showcases Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and inventor Rube Goldberg’s iconic contraptions, imaginative illustrations and humorous storytelling, celebrating his skills as both an artist and inventor.
You’ll activate and create crazy chain-reaction contraptions that use everyday objects to complete simple tasks in the most overcomplicated, inefficient and hilarious ways possible.
Rube Goldberg machines are many things, but they aren’t perfect. Find the fun in failure as you step into the role of illustrator, storyteller and inventor!
Rube’s World
The exhibit uses authentic 3D recreations inspired by original Rube Goldberg illustrations with newly created interactive components, designed and built by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, to convey the humorous narratives and inventive thinking that embody Rube’s work. His contraptions become not only an entry point for deeper exploration of themes related to storytelling, but to the way things work.
Original illustrations by Ed Steckley from the award-winning children’s book, Rube Goldberg’s Simple Normal Humdrum School Day, a collection of new responsive chain-reaction exhibits, and videos featuring the latest chain-reaction machines from all around the world tell the bigger story of Rube Goldberg’s legacy.
A Deeper Understanding
A chain reaction can be an important part of developmental thinking, from how our electronics work, to the language of coding, to choosing the right bait, hook, and rod to reel in a fish.
Download the Education Guide!
Rube Goldberg™, The World of Hilarious Invention Exhibit! is created by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Heirs of Rube Goldberg.
The Dragon and the Rising Sun
Discover rare and dazzling artifacts and artwork from the Putnam's vault on display for a limited time with the exhibit
The Dragon and the Rising Sun: Traditions of China and Japan!
This exhibit contrasts Japanese Tokugawa Shogunate and Imperial China, featuring comparisons of traditional clothing, edged weapons, art, musical instruments, depictions of dragons and foo dogs.
Featuring artifacts collected by early Putnam contributors like the Ficke and Palmer families, most of
The Dragon and the Rising Sun artifacts haven't been on display in decades, and some have never been seen by the general public before.
As you tour this fantastic collection, you’ll familiarize yourself with armor, furniture and more from both regions. You will also contemplate how these cultures differed greatly from one another during the 1800s.
Learn more about the Putnam's Collection.
OMg! Elements of Surprise — OPEN NOW!
Discover the building blocks that shape YOUR WORLD through an all-new Putnam exhibit experience about the weird and wonderful Periodic Table! OMg! Elements of Surprise is OPEN NOW!
Elements are all around you; they make up EVERYTHING — the air we breathe, the water we drink, the earth we walk on AND YOU!
Celebrate the Year of the Periodic Table and take an eye-opening tour through the Periodic Table of Elements — 150 years after its creation!
In this fascinating, interactive exhibit, you’ll explore how these elements shape your world while you
create molecular compounds and set off virtual chemical reactions! From hidden histories to stories your teacher never told you in Chemistry class, you'll discover the periodic table in a new light!
science demos included w/ admission on saturdays!
Plus on SATURDAYS, you'll be able to see Chemistry demonstrations by Putnam Educators in the exhibit's Science Demo Theater! (Demonstrations included with museum admission,)
• DEMO SCHEDULE: Saturday, Dec. 21 @ 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Museum closed Saturday, Dec. 7 & 8.
Exhibit is open seven days a week. Check special hours and museum closures for holidays and upcoming events.
PERFECT FOR CLASS VISITS!
Did you know: OMg! Elements of Surprise is great for field trips? Chemistry demonstrations are available!
Learn More
Sponsors:
Generous support provided by Arconic Foundation
Women's Suffrage Exhibit — Coming Spring 2020!
In 2020 our nation will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. With the help of a community engagement committee, the Putnam will celebrate this milestone and its influence on our community with a suffrage exhibit tentatively scheduled to open March 7, 2020.
The Putnam curatorial staff and leadership behind the making of the suffrage exhibit are actively seeking community stories and artifacts.
Quad Citizens are invited to reach out to the Putnam to share their history or join the exhibit's community team. Those interested in connecting with this exhibit-in-the-making should contact Christina Kastell, curator of history and anthropology, at
ckastell@putnam.org or 563-324-1933.
MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!
Join our email list for future updates! Sign up here.
River, Prairie & People
River, Prairie and People takes visitors back in time as they discover what the Quad Cities was like for its earliest inhabitants, and how the Mississippi River helped form the community.
Experience how the Quad Cities took shape through milestones such as the founding of Davenport by Antoine LeClaire, and how the Civil War brought about the Rock Island Arsenal.
See many Quad-City artifacts including the famous Davenport Tablets, learn how John Deere got his start and get up close to Bix Beiderbecke’s cornet as you stroll through this exhibit of Quad-City history.
Sponsors:
Unearthing Ancient Egypt
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!
This iconic gallery is not to be missed!
Uwé Warúmi
Uwe’ Warumi (pronounced Oo-way Wah roomey – the Trading Place − while enjoyable for all visitors, was especially designed for children ages 4-10 years old. The room’s size, labels and activities were created with children and their caregivers in mind.
We believe that children are competent, imaginative and inquisitive, and that the learning that occurs in the museum has a positive, lasting and important effect on their cognitive and social development.
Within the fun of Uwe’ Warumi lies important skills and learning opportunities for young children. Explore Social Studies information through a child’s eye look at EuroAmerican and Native American cultures. Use mathematics to trade the correct furs at the post trade store. Practice large (gross) motor skills on the Native American dance mat or enhance fine motor skills with a game of pick-up sticks. Use the sight word labels to encourage independent reading and engage in pretend play to foster social development.
Reading, trading and dancing are just some of the activities adults and children can explore together. Encourage your child to explore in his or her own way and follow their lead. The Uwe’ Warumi space is an area where children are encouraged to be the leaders of their own discovery.
Sponsors: