‘Power of the Putnam’ – museum readies for big events, changes

Rachael Mullins likes to talk about the “power of the Putnam.” That power was recently witnessed when a mother and her young daughter visited the ever-popular mummies exhibit at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport. Ms. Mullins, president and CEO of the Putnam, was working behind some black drapes near the exhibit and overheard the mother telling her daughter how the mummies represented different traditions from the past. The daughter listened and said “But we didn’t do that to grandma.” Ms. Mullins said that’s a success story. It shows how the Putnam is more than a museum; it’s a place that connects with people, the community and helps start important conversations.

“We are connecting with youth. … and parents are engaged at a greater level than ever,” she added. That connection with young people can be seen in the people who visit the Putnam. Ms. Mullins said that about 70% of the adult visitors come to the museum and science center with children. That means, many young people are putting down the screens from their many digital devices to see the many powerful stories and exhibits at the Putnam, she added. “The Putnam Museum and Science Center continues to lead conversations and inspire our regional destination in many forms,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “The Putnam is a positive catalyst for provoking thought, ideation, and for bringing us together to celebrate the uniqueness of our community’s history, our sense of place, and to help define our region’s future." That power of the Putnam will soon be going into overdrive with some major events and big plans in the works. Those plans include an ongoing $7 million upgrade to modernize the museum; a new exhibit exploring the people, places and things in the Quad Cities; and an upcoming dedication of new meteorites exhibit in a NASA-affiliated space gallery.

While those are all important events, Ms. Mullins said she is also proud of another event – the Putnam’s “great rebound.” That is, the museum’s visitor numbers have rebounded since the tough days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, attendance is even better than some pre-pandemic days with the facility currently drawing about 100,000 visitors a year. “Our admissions are back up. … We are doing well,” she added. During a recent weekday, the museum and science center was filled with several busloads of school children from a local district. Ms. Mullins said she was happy the young people seemed to be enjoying their day of discovery and adventures, even though they were a bit on the loud side. (The Putnam serves about 115 area school districts in Iowa and Illinois by hosting visits and education outreach programs for the young students.)

Some of the Putnam’s other big plans as well as the progress of those in the works include:

• Work continues on a $7 million upgrade and improvement campaign called “Putnam Reimagined.” The project will help create a museum of the modern era and include exhibits celebrating the history and innovation of the QC;  facility upgrades; updated facade; and technology and infrastructure improvements.
• In March, the Putnam was selected to receive a $900,000 Destination Iowa grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The grant will help fund the “Putnam Reimaged” efforts. “We appreciate the vision of Gov. Kim Reynolds for this investment in our state’s tourism infrastructure and the support of the leaders and staff of the IEDA,” Ms. Mullins said in a statement at the time. “The grant was also made possible by the city, tourism, and community leaders who supported us through the process. This is an exciting time of growth and progress for the Putnam Museum and Science Center and for our Quad Cities community,” she added.
• And a new exhibit – called “Common Ground: Our Voice, Our Stories” – will open Saturday, April 15. That new regional history exhibit will tell the story of the Quad Cities.

“Groups throughout the Quad Cities provided input and feedback and many had the opportunity to help stage the new exhibit. This intensive collaboration was carefully and intentionally orchestrated in order to ensure that the stories of all Quad Citians are told in the updated history exhibit,” according to the Putnam’s website. Many museum workers were busy putting together all the big and little pieces of that “Common Ground” exhibit during an early April tour the QCBJ had with Ms. Mullins and Scott Peake, director of marketing and membership. “It’s like putting together a puzzle,” Ms. Mullins said pointing out some of the features of “Common Ground.” Nora Moriarty, the Putnam’s curatorial project coordinator, was putting together a display outlining recent events in the region. One of the display items is a UAW “On Strike” sign. In another corner sits an old voting machine donated by the Scott County Board of Supervisors. The machine, dating back to the 1970s, still has labels of candidates and gives voters their choice of voting for presidential candidates Richard Nixon or George McGovern. Another display case has a green piece of metal – a structural piece of the old Interstate 74 bridge. Other displays have a Mallards ice hockey uniform, a Happy Joe’s Pizza box and a life-size photo of another Quad City icon – Bill Wundram. In a display focusing on businesses in the QC, Mr. Wundram, the former longtime newspaper columnist and reporter who died earlier this year, is shown in a large photo, in a red and white striped uniform and making an ice cream cone. "The new exhibit at the Putnam Museum is a testament to the power of regional thinking and collaboration. By centering the lived experiences of all community members and having a focus on including new voices, Quad Citizens will gain a stronger sense of pride in the QC. Additionally, enhancing our arts and culture reinforces our cool and creative culture that can attract people of all walks of life. We're thrilled to have yet another win for the for our arts and culture community to support our regional talent attraction efforts," said LaDrina Wilson, CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber. All the big and little parts of “Common Ground” are meant to spark conversations, said Ms. Mullins. Those might be fond memories, stories or even debate. (A few years ago, she added an exhibit called “Race: Are We So Different?” was great at sparking some of those needed conservations and debate.) She hopes people of the Quad Cities, especially the students, will look at the new “Common Ground” exhibit and learn an important lesson: “They stand on the shoulders of greatness.”  

AT A GLANCE: PUTNAM MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER

ADDRESS: 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. HOURS: 10 a.m. to  5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. MUSEUM STORE HOURS: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. TICKETS: $9 for adults ($1 off for seniors and over 60); $3 for youths age 3 to 18; free admission for children 2 and younger; $1 for households with EBT card and ID; and free admission for members. EXHIBITS: Some of the featured exhibits include: “Common Ground: Our Voice, Our Stories,” beginning April 15; “Narwhal: Revealing An Arctic Legend,”  “Mother Nature: Modern Muse,” “Unearthing Ancient Egypt,” “World Culture Gallery,” “Hall of Mammals” and more. WORKERS: The Putnam has about 30 employees and more than 100 volunteers. ARTIFACTS: The Putnam has an inventory of more than 250,000 artifacts. At any time, only about 3% to 5% are on public display and the rest of the artifacts are in storage. PHONE: (563) 324-1933 WEBSITE: putnam.org