What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 8pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Putnam Museum

Name: Putnam Museum
Address: 1717 W 12th Street, Davenport, IA, 52804, US
Telephone: (563) 324-1933
Rating: 4.4

Museum of history, science, and culture open seven days a week!
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The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a private, non-profit organization here to preserve, educate, and connect people through history, culture, and science.

06/19/2026

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward equality.

You can continue that story right here in our community by exploring the Davenport Civil Rights Traveling Exhibit, now on display at the TMBC Lincoln Resource Center. Discover the local voices, actions, and moments that helped shape the broader Civil Rights Movement and see how Davenport played a role in the fight for justice.

If you would like to know more, explore our Civil Rights Oral History Collection and hear firsthand from those who lived it. Their struggles, triumphs, and reflections bring history to life.

Learn More: https://www.putnam.org/civil-rights-exhibit/

06/17/2026

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Help us celebrate America’s 250th and join us for a high-energy Trivia Night at the Putnam Museum on Friday, June 26. Test your knowledge with questions inspired by our exhibits, American history, pop culture, science, and unexpected fun facts that will keep your team guessing all night long.

Doors open at 5 PM | Trivia starts at 6 PM

🎟️ Student discounts available
🏆 Prizes, FREE pizza, and bragging rights

06/16/2026

For Artifact Tuesday this week we are featuring our Magic Mirror. At first glance, it just look like a bronze mirror, but this piece from our collection holds a mystery that has fascinated historians for generations.

Its story spans continents, craftsmanship, and a little bit of science that feels almost like magic.

We won’t give it all away… but under just the right conditions, this mirror reveals something you wouldn’t expect.

Want to see what makes it so special? Join us at History on Tap this Thursday, June 18, and see it for yourself!

06/12/2026

Experience our exhibits in a brand-new way!

Starting this Saturday, the Putnam is offering docent-led tours every weekend. Our docents will guide guests through select permanent exhibits, providing added context, stories, and insight to enhance your visit.

Featured exhibits include:
• Common Ground: Our Voice, Our Stories
• Black Earth/Big River
• Unearthing Ancient Egypt

🗓 Saturdays at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM
📍 Tomorrow’s tours will explore Unearthing Ancient Egypt

Tours are included with general admission and are designed to be engaging, small-group experiences (approximately 15–30 minutes).

Space is limited and first-come, first-served. Please stop by the ticketing counter upon arrival to secure your spot and preferred time.

Miss a tour or have questions? Docents will also be available in the galleries between scheduled times to provide guidance and answer questions.

06/11/2026

Something is happening here.🤫

Not in one venue.
Not for one audience.
Across an entire region.

This August, the Quad Cities will experience something new.

A celebration of creativity.
A movement built on collaboration.
A community coming together through arts and culture.

Tomorrow, we reveal what's next.

06/10/2026

Remember when our curators uncovered a hidden mirror inside the wall—and it went viral?

This month during our History on Tap is your chance to learn more! Step through the looking glass on June 18 and explore the fascinating, and sometimes “magical”, history of mirrors through time.

Illuminated by artifacts from the Putnam Museum collection, this presentation will take you on a journey to discover what people used to see their reflections before silvered glass, and how mirrors have reflected the cultures and resources of their eras.

We’ll also uncover more modern stories, including a mirror that was hidden inside a Putnam Museum ‘wall’ for over 40 years…

Saw it on social media and want the full story? Join us next Thursday, June 18, at the Putnam!

06/09/2026

This week’s Artifact Tuesday highlights a powerful piece of protective equipment. This protective hood with face shield was part of a full infectious disease safety suit worn by medical personnel during the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic. At the time, there was widespread concern that the outbreak in West Africa could spread globally, prompting hospitals and health systems to prepare with specialized protective gear.

Today, as a new Ebola outbreak unfolds in parts of Central Africa, this equipment serves as a powerful reminder of how healthcare workers continue to rely on PPE to stay safe while caring for patients. While protective gear has improved over time, its purpose remains the same: to reduce risk, prevent the spread of disease, and protect both frontline workers and their communities.

Manufactured in 2014, this artifact was generously donated by Genesis Health System and is now on display in our Common Ground exhibit.

06/06/2026

We recruited the help of some of our summer campers to show you that Mystery glitter dumplings are BACK!

Planning your weekend? Add a museum visit (and a stop in the store 👀) to snag one before they disappear!

06/05/2026

Looking for GIANT adventure this weekend? 🎬👀 Check out a movie (we show them everyday) at the Putnam GIANT Screen Theater!

06/02/2026

With the new Masters of the Universe movie hitting theaters this Friday, we’re turning back the clock for Artifact Tuesday to the toy that helped launch it all: Castle Grayskull (manufactured by Mattel, circa 1983). At the height of the 1980s toy boom, Mattel introduced Masters of the Universe as a bold blend of fantasy, science fiction, and superhero storytelling, quickly becoming one of the most influential toy lines of its era.

The success of the figures and playsets sparked the groundbreaking animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe in 1983, among the first cartoons created specifically to promote merchandise, setting a template for decades of children’s media. Castle Grayskull stood at the center of both the story and the play experience, its skull-faced fortress symbolizing the battle between He-Man and Skeletor and serving as a gateway to imagination for a generation of fans. The franchise rapidly expanded, with the She-Ra: Princess of Power spinoff, comics, and eventually the 1987 live-action film, which has since gained cult status.

Donated in 2020 by Mr. and Mrs. Hustedde for our Toys exhibit, this Castle Grayskull playset, alongside its action figures and the rival Snake Mountain, captures a moment when toys, television, and storytelling came together to create one of the most enduring pop culture phenomena of the late 20th century.

Address

1717 W 12th Street
Davenport, IA
52804

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 8pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(563) 324-1933

Website

http://www.putnam.org/

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