The Putnam Museum and Science Center will open its new exhibit, “Animal Armor: The Evolution of Armor in Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals,” on Saturday, Sept. 20.
The exhibit will be on display through Feb. 15, 2026, at the museum, located at 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. It explores how animals have adapted armor for survival over 500 million years and also highlights how these adaptations continue to inspire human innovation.
“Animal Armor” examines the evolutionary balance between protection and predation, showing museum-goers the trade-offs between mobility and defense. It demonstrates how armor served as both a shield and a limitation. The exhibit features a range of creatures, from ancient sea scorpions and armored fish to dinosaurs such as Ankylosaurs, illustrating diverse survival strategies in a constantly changing world.
Gaston Design Inc., the creators of the exhibit, expressed enthusiasm for the unique display. The company’s President Robert Gaston, the discoverer of the armored dinosaur Gastonia, noted, “It is incredibly fascinating to see the common connections between creatures as diverse as insects and dinosaurs, and how humans have adopted those same defensive strategies.”
The Putnam Museum is open seven days a week. For more information about events and exhibits, visit www.putnam.org.
