The Putnam Museum & Science Center Reviews

We take our school age grandchildren there about once a year. There are numerous hands on exhibits for them and traveling exhibits like King Tut (extra cost) that are better for the Middle School age. We usually pair the exhibits with an on-site large screen movie for a 4-5 hour visit - long enough to tire all of us. The museum, extra exhibit, movie and snack bar for lunch can make for an expensive outing, but is well worth it for a once a year outing with the grand kids. Check their web site before going to see what movies are being shown.

We visited the museum on June 10th. There is free parking in front of the building. From June 3rd to August 12th the admission is 1 dollar on Mondays. Because there are a lot of labs where the kids can experiment, is it not a quiet museum. It gives an overview of the river and his people. We did not watch a IMAX movie.

Both my husband and I really enjoyed ths museum. Lots of good exhibits (the venomous creatures display offered a fine education in poisonous creatures; the ultralight aircraft stuff was cool). One complaint -- I wanted to watch some videos and many were not working. This is a major part of a museum's lure, and it's a shame that so many were inaccessible.

A good bonus, however, is that if you're going to an IMAX movie, you get a break on the museum entrance price.

Such a fun experience for our kids with interesting new history for the adults. This museum was a great blend of science and history that had something of interest for everyone in our family. Our kids (ages 8 & 13) loved all the interactive exhibits and activities. We will definitely plan to visit again to check out their new additions and future exhibits.

We took in an afternoon showing at the IMAX (Tornado Alley) then toured the museum. The combo ticket price was pretty reasonable and the movie experience was very nice - comfy seats, super-clean and good picture and sound. The museum was awfully disjointed, however. We hoped for a little nicer displays to hold our interest.

Our kids, ages 14, 12, 8, and 5 all said this was the highlight of our long weekend trip to Iowa. Parts of the building were a little rundown, but that didn't take away from our experience.

I have been to several of the Putnam Museum special exhibits such as the King Tut and each one has been presented with expertise your would expect in a much larger city than Davenport. The King Tut Exhibit is wonderful. Even though you feel you have seen an exhibit at another time this is different and very special. The Museum itself is well worth your time. It is handicapped accessible , has a snack bar, 3D movie theater and many things that will want you to spend the whole day.

A bit off the beaten path but a fascinating museum with great exhibits Worth the adventure to find it.

My teenager loves museums so for our Midwest Road-trip 2024 we had to find a few places to visit for their enjoyment. Putnam did not let us down!

First, it’s affiliated with Smithsonian. If you are a museum buff, you know this means there’s an extra layer of awesomeness you can expect through that relationship (in our opinion). I want to say we paid under $40 for 2 adults and a teen but we did not opt in to the movie as the only one playing that afternoon was not something we were interested in.

My child wanted to start on the lower level and work our way up to the top, but we could not figure out from the map how to get downstairs without going through the exhibits. The map is… challenging to understand but if you don’t mind going through it at their defined flow, then it’s fine.

The exhibits are nice and clean. There’s hands-on stuff and info plaques with good-sized print. I only had to put my readers on to see some of the gemstones’ labels (attributing ownership to jewelry kind of thing). You can tell from the exhibits that Davenport has community members very invested in STEAM who donate items, stories, and funds to keep this museum going strong.

We got there about 1:30 and stayed until 5pm. I think our favorite part was actually the physics demonstrations on the balcony of the upper level, just past the meteorology and science of sound area. There is an exhibit that is being reset up there (aka closed for a new exhibit to be brought in) but we went past that to the balcony and had so much fun looking at the periodical chart display, playing tug of war, pulley-pulling ourselves up (or not) with a rope - even 200# mom was able to pull herself up with the right pulley! ;)

Our final stop was the gift shop. Our family buys a magnet for every place we visit and Putnam was unfortunately lacking that option but my teen did purchase some gemstones for their collection, a book about the history of comics (their books are unbelievably well priced. Seriously. Most were under $7!). All in all, we get it was a great use of an afternoon. Even though we’ve seen Egyptian and natural earth displays before - these were different and entertaining in a completely different way than other museums. They have 2 REAL mummies on display and one is so close to the glass for you to observe - it’s amazing. (And it’s my kid who loves museums, not me).

Great way to spend the afternoon learning about the world around us.

*It seems to be popular with families of toddlers, considering we were there on a Tuesday afternoon. Some moms were letting their children run WILD through the exhibits and at one point we stepped out of an exhibit to sit in the snack shop until those families were done. I know toddlers have energy, but the screaming and yelling was extremely distracting when it would happen in your face as you bent over to read plaques. We encountered no fewer than 3 families like this so I feel like it’s worth mentioning. One child would be just one child but three separate families? Rough.

I didn’t take many photos, but I work in Repro health hence the rather random theme of photos here lol.

Average trip. We arrived at approximately 2 pm and made our way towards the entrance of the museum. We bought the admission ticket that included entry to their theatre to watch a movie. There were several sections of the museum that we viewed, that included informational plaques and various artifacts detailing what we were seeing in front of us. The museum at times felt very empty, and there was a lot of unused space that could have been occupied with cool exhibits. We watched a movie titled Arctic our Frozen Planet, that was excellent. The aerial shots captured in the movie, showcased the ongoing problems happening in the Arctic with global warming. There were a lot of hands on exhibits that catered towards children and adults, alike. I left the museum feeling unfulfilled and wanting to see and learn more.

Tip: I recommend spending 2 hours here if you truly want to see everything.

This is a great museum/experience centre well worth a visit. I came on my own and spent about two hours here enjoying the various exhibitions and also interactive exhibits. Would thoroughly recommend. The only criticsim would be that the Shipwreck exhibition is poorly signed so make sure you don't miss it - ask staff if you have been round and not seen a deep water submersible and operating the robot arm!

This museum is a wonderful place to go to learn about the Indian culture of Iowa. Also geology information. The kids love it.
They also have a mummy of a 16 yr old prince.

This was a pretty cool museum and a nice thing to visit. They have some pretty cool interactive exhibits, and there was quite a lot to see. The facility also seemed to be maintained very well.

Been a visitor of the Putnam for about 35 years. The museum has nice displays of a variety of things from geological stones, local environment, local history, Japanese and Egyptian artifacts, science and technology, and more. There are also a couple of areas that have ever-changing displays. There is a large screen movie theater that plays regular and 3-D special features and regular movies as well as a Travelogue series. It is a fun place to take the kids or go to see a movie.

The Putnam Museum is wonderful to visit if your family loves to play and learn. They have really awesome traveling exhibits the downside is that you pay extra for them. The regular exhibits in the museum are awesome...some are more historical, some really put a spot light on the area, and others are interactive learning exhibits. They have added a bunch of new interactive exhibits that are so fun for kids...and they learn a little too...major bonus! They also have a concession stand, movie theater, and gift shop. The movie theater usually shows nature/educational type films...but you always have to check the website as they do try and shake things up a bit. If you travel a lot with your family...being a member might be of interest. We had no idea how it would come in so handy to us. When you become a member you are given a list of all the places you can go to that will allow you reduced price entrance or free entrance into other science and family museums all over of the United States. We recently made a road trip and got into a science museum for free...it was great! If you go to at least 2 different places for free you have gotten your money's worth. It is worth looking into as they do have a pretty lengthy list...it was a good buy for us. You need to look into it before you buy and make sure it would be a good fit for you. Lots of places do this kind of thing...Science Museums, family museums, zoos...take advantage if you travel a lot.

The oportunity to visit the museum,movie theatre & shops enclosed in one place.All can enjoy something.Attractive screnery along the way to the Museume through the town.Charming OLD BRIDGEdecorated.Cliff drive upto the top of hill for the IMAX.Great view at day & night.Allow time for confusion on turning onto correct street.Check for dark dates for theatre.Reasonable prices.Keep tickets for return visit discount.

Since we went during the week there was hardly anyone there so we had the opportunity to play with all the exhibits! Everything is in working order, clean and informative. Had a ton of fun. Well worth a visit.

Visited the Putnam on a weekday afternoon to see the Diana, A Celebration exhibit a few weeks before it closed. There was an insane line which was not directed where to flow, meaning that people were totally confused as to where to go. After waiting on line for 1 hour with no direction from staff, I received my ticket and went upstairs to get on another line to actually get into the exhibit. It turns out all of the line stoppages were caused because the first turn into the exhibit is unnaturally narrow, which bottle-necked people there. Once you got past that (1 1/2 hours after arrival), there was actually enough space to spread out and enjoy oneself! I can't believe they are not better prepared for large crowds. Definitely some employees were needed to keep the peace on the lines, not to mention the ropes to keep people moving in the right direction!

Tired old dioramas that haven't been updated in 30 years. Many of the interactive elements were broken. The "maker" room is just a room full of old computer junk. No one is going to make anything out of that. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone over 4 years old.

Many of the hands on exhibits were broken. Restrooms in poor condition. But there was lots of info on how Europe and the US engaged in slavery and discrimination and brand new displays for LGBTQ+++ and BLM. Great info for an 8 year old.

We visit the Putnam ever couple of years. While our last visit was still an enjoyable experience, there were a number of interactive exibits that were broken, dirty and just missing parts so that was a little disappinting to see it looking like that. Overall it was still a worthwhile trip.

If you are looking for an museum that is not too big, but holds the attention of a elementary school aged child, this is the place for you. We took our 6 year old grandson and it was a nice couple of hours and offered different exhibits for his interest and attention span. We had gone to the iMax movie first, which we really enjoyed, and then went around the museum exhibits. There are some parts of exhibits that allow child interaction and that was a plus. Everyone was friendly and accommodating and this museum is a gem to try with kids on a hot summer day.

Totally enjoy every visit we make. Have never been sorry we went. Plan to go for the virtual animal petting. Great place to take children.

The grandkids are always requesting a trip to the Putnam so we got all of us a membership for Christmas. We go at least twice a month The STEM Science Technology Engineering exhibits are their favorites and now the dinosaur dig is open.

Enjoyed the museum with all of its hands on activities. Would have been more enjoyable had the AC been working. Imax movie "Dream Big" was very good; tended to target STEM for young women.

We were told by several people to check out the Putnam Museum on our trip to Davenport so we did so. The entrance to the Museum was difficult to find, as I was looking for the dinosaur that is pictured (we still never saw that). We paid for our tickets and went upstairs where you turn in your tickets, there was no one sitting at the desk to take them so we felt somewhat like there was no point in paying for them. There was also an Imax movie theatre. The museum was very hard to follow, and confusing but did have some nice things. We especially loved the mummy exhibit. Maybe it would be funner for families with smaller children.

We LOVE this museum. They always have A+ traveling exhibits and the regular displays are so fun for kids most of them are hands on. You can easily spend most of your day here and the kids won't be bored.

To be truthful we didn't actually go round the museum and were only there for a jazz event - but the grounds surrounding it were stunning. We were looking for a quiet area to have our lunch and it was absolutely perfect for what we wanted.

$17 for senior citizen admission was steep. Had there been fewer noisy students would have been able to better hear the audio guide and get closer to exhibits.

This is a small Museum that is well suited to taking your family (with small children) to learn about the Mississippi river valley history as well as some natural history and usually a mix of egyptian, asian and messopotamian thrown in as well. The old style IMAX screen (in truth used to be a certified IMAX) is now called something like Colossal Screen Theater now, but is just as good. They show a mix of educational shows and current hollywood releases.

Spend a wonderful day at the Putnam Museum visiting the many interesting exhibits ranging from local history to ancient Egypt.

Fun, hands on learning! The children are 7 and 5 years old and they had a blast but there is fun to be had for all ages.

Our group of five adults and one 4 year old had a very nice time at this museum. The hands-on science exhibits were especially fun. Unfortunately some of the exhibits weren’t working as they should and it seems like they’ve been neglected for a while. If not for this, I would have rated the Putnam as outstanding. We’ve visited the Putnam several times in the past and it would definitely benefit from some TLC.

We all had such a wonderful time. This children's museum was everything we would look for in a children's museum. Tons of fun and a great hands-on learning experience.

We took our 17 yr old granddaughter here to see the King Tut exhibit. We spent a total of 4 hours here. It was amazing. We each had a hand held audio device that thoroughly explained everything in the display. The artifacts are reproductions but you would never know it. We also enjoyed the big screen 3D movie about the discovery of the tomb.

This exhibit was awesome! So interesting reading about her life and seeing her clothes. She was an icon and is greatly missed. We enjoyed other stationary exhibits in the Museum as well.

The King Tut display is absolutely amazing!
There is a lot to it, lots to see, and it is beautiful. Also very very informative, make sure to take time to read all the information on display and listen to the audio tour. It is one of those names you have always heard but when you go to this exhibit you will realize how little you knew. If you like this sort of thing do not miss it!

More than once during the holiday season, another big kid (like me) and I will visit the Putnam Museum to watch Polar Express in 3-D. If you've never seen PE, let alone in 3-D, this is a must for those who truly "believe". (But absolutely crucial for those Santa doubters!)

I would rate this as excellent, but I've only ever taken in movies on the IMAX. The Putnam Museum, overall, does seem to cater to school groups quite well. The customer service is very good and the facility kept clean.

The snacks and beverages are priced a bit high as they are in all movie theaters. But the admission price is reasonable.

I am a "believer".

How about you?

2 Adults visited this museum recently. I was disappointed from the beginning, only one cashier taking tickets, had to wait 10 min, because she was busy chatting with someone else. The map given to us of exhibits, was not labeled clearly, and hard to find our way. Exhibit of local donators and their personal collections, would have been interesting, but nothing in display cases was labeled, so no idea on age or what we were looking at. Most of museum is geared for children with interactive displays. Wasted space in basement, a large tear apart electronic tables for kids, and a very small Egyptian area, of which it was labeled and was interesting for adults. Wont go back again unless I am with kids.

The Putnam museum is a great mid size museum with a diverse selection of things to see and do. The best part is the huge I Max cinema. The museum also has 2 Egyptian mummies on permanent display. While we we there the rotating exhibit was dinosaurs unearthed. It featured anamatronic dinosaurs and casts of discovered fossils. Putnam cannot compare to the size and scope of large institutions like the Smithsonian or Chicago's large museums, but it is more than most small cities can boast. I wouldn't say it's cheap, but you can choose what you want to see. ie: the regular exhibits, special exhibits, movies. I found it clean and comfortable. There is no fee to park.

Lots of interactive exhibits for kids and cool inside on a hot day :) Not cheap, but could spend the afternoon there. Also has an IMAX theatre that we didn't try.

We visited on a Teacher Professional Day so the place was literally overun with children racing through the exhibits, we inserted our earplugs and forged on. The museum layout was confusing, so prepare to backtrack and go up and down stairs, and possibly still miss galleries. We particularily enjoyed the Native American Exhibit and the crocheted "coral reef" exhibit. Plan on spending several hours touring the galleries, more if attending an IMAX screening.

This is not a large museum when it comes to exhibits, but it has a little something for everyone. Actually spent the night there for a scouting event, Kids & I all had a good time. Well organized and went rather smoothly.

great museum lots of hands on for kids . Has a IMAX theater great popcorn nice gift shop. great place to spend a day with your family something for everyone!

Although it is geared principally for children, the Putnam Museum & Science Center in Davenport is a worthwhile experience for the entire family! Our grandsons (ages 10 and 13) did not want to leave. There are experiment-type displays, historical and geological exhibits, and a wonderful theater (IMax) where we saw "Wild Africa," a marvelous National Geographic offering lasting 45 minutes. The four of us sat nearly motionless while watching everything from waterfalls, rivers, and scenes of the dry season, to animals, birds, and fish of many varieties. Comfortable seating with excellent sound and visual projection made the day! A family of 4 might expect to pay about $50 for the museum including film showing, a bit less for members of the museum, but well worth the time and expense. Highly recommended!!

I grew up in Davenport and enjoyed visiting the Putnam Museum in the 1960s and 1970s. At the time my favorite exhibit was a grouping of steamboat artifacts housed at the back of the museum, with a ship's wheel at the highest balcony of the "back windows", affording a spectacular view of the Mississippi Valley and firing the imagination about what it may have been like to pilot a riverboat in days gone by.

At the front of the museum one encountered a [genuine] Egyptian mummy and a large Aztec or Mayan calander wheel (perhaps a replica or casting?). These artifacts also instilled a sense of wonder about a wider world and the about the millenia man has inhabited this planet.

Alas, how things have changed. The balcony at the back of the museum has been closed off to patrons, and the only exhibit at the back of the museum with that wonderful view is a boring tableaux of American Indian life that certainly does nothing to tie in with the view of the valley beyond. Whether this was done for "safety" or "access" reasons I don't know, but the net effect was to cut off one of the best features of the museum.

The calendar wheel has vanished and the mummy has been demoted to the farthest room of the lowest level, which at least still offers a viewing of some of the artifacts associated with the Palmer era in Davenport.

The museum has expanded over the years, with one good walk through "natural" exhibit. They've added a National Geographic Giant Screen movie theater, and what must be increasingly common these days, two rooms for "hands-on" play by the kids, which seem more kinetic that educational to me, though my 9 year old son enjoyed one of them. The second such room was a surprisingly large space devoted to "taking things apart" to see what was inside. Unfortunately most of the "things" were already pretty much fully disassembled and my son turned up his nose at the otherwise empty room shortly after entering it (we needed to traverse that room to reach the oriental and Egyptian items that had stuck in my memory for so many years).

The main floor of the museum is now organized as a walk through maze, where same sized, window-fronted cabinets offer little inspiration or variety.

I understand that the mummy was only an interloper in the priestess' sarcophagus. But for gosh sakes, restore that magnificent view of the Mississippi, and do more to inspire the imagination.

Terrific place to visit because their exihibits cover so much local history. We orginally attended to view a special event, Princess Diana, and stayed to walk through the whole museum. The IMAX Theater is well worth the visit alone, but there is so much more to see. A lot of students are brought there for field trips and we saw a lot of parents with their children there too.

The museum is a worthwile experience, not on Par with the Field Museum, or any of the larger museums, but an educational experience in its midsize class. The I-max theater is there for an additional cost too.

Lots of hands on activities for the children. The Egyptian mummies are an unexpected item for a museum in a smaller city like Davenport. The place is clean and is worth a half day to see.

The traveling Diana: A Celebration exhibit was excellent! The displays included heirlooms and letters from her childhood, her wedding dress, a style gallery featuring some of her numerous dresses, and hundreds of books of condolences from around the world.

I am happy the Putnam was able to display this exhibit and I'm very happy I spent the time to go through it. Thanks Putnam for making it happen.

I can't complain about the museum but had to address an uncultured woman who not only was on her cellphone in the museum but was talking in the gallery which contained the books of condolences! I overheard her talking to her brother about his motorcyle that wouldn't start and that she couldn't hear him, so I emphatically told her if she couldn't hear him then maybe go outside and talk because it's rude and very disrespectful to be on your cellphone in a museum. Let alone in an exhibit gallery meant for remembrance and reflection of such a worldly respected person like Lady Diana.

We were a group of adults and teens (family visiting from Chicago) and they were really impressed by the Putnam. We had a great time exploring the exhibits, both visual and interactive. They had a laser harp you could play by putting your fingers in the path of the lights, a pulley system to try to lift oneself into the air, a dinosaur dance floor where one could stand and be filmed while animated dinosaurs approached on the screen. (So you could make it look as if you were running from a raptor or something silly!) And then you could share the video with friends via email! Also cool were the Egyptian rooms, wildlife, and they also have rotating exhibitions. The IMAX movie oceans was a hit too! It's a large place so plan lots of time to get your money's worth!

This was a great place to visit with our 4 and 6 year old. They had a good time; lots of interactive things for them to explore.

Took my granddaughters to the museum and we all had a great time. Seen the movie wild Africa awesome the speaker before the movie every educational she kept the kids involved with a lot of information made it exciting for them.

This is mainly a children's museum, but a good place to renew your history memories and maybe learn something new. Pretty confusing going from one display to another though and couldn't find the museum store and the theater. It became very noisy to concentrate when the loads of 6th grade classrooms came through which made it impossible to enjoy the museum any longer.

We visited here mainly for the King Tut exhibit, and before we knew it 4 hours had gone by and we were still exploring this museum. It is a history and science museum all in one, with history exhibits and hands on science exhibits. It also has an Imax theater which we didn't partake in on this trip but looked neat. The price was $19 for the general admission and Tut exhibit combined, or just general admission is $8. This is a great bargain for all there is to see and do here.

Went here for the Titanic exhibit. It was overpriced for what was there. Super disappointed that no photos were allowed to be taken. They acted like it was a felony to even have a camera out. The best thing about the exhibit was the replica of the iceberg. As for the museum, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........ Better exhibits for free online.

Checked out the Diana exhibit. That is quite an undertaking to get a big deal like the Princess Di exhibit to come to the Midwest. A sincere Thank You to the staff and city of Davenport for making it possible. Imax theatre was clean and films were entertaining. Rocky Mountain Express and Jerusalem were fascinating films and I would recommend both. Nice concession area. Clean restrooms. Extremely attentive staff. Davenport has much to brag about with their museum.

Every impressed lots of hands on for kids this is was our first trip up there I would highly recommend this .place

It can be a great day trip with the kids when the right attraction is up. The IMAX theater is nice if you like to watch movies on the big screen.

I loved the interactive areas for children, there was so much that the kids could interact with and learn while having fun

My latest experience at the Putnam was a field trip with my students. Their education department was so eager to make our experience enjoyable. I love the teachers night that the museum does so that teachers can preview the exhibits. I really enjoyed the science exhibit!

if you are in the area go see it you will be amaze inside.for a small museum you would be surprise what they can do many different rooms to visit and hands on things to try for adults and kids alike.

I would call this museum "thought provoking". Look at what the museum offers: the principles of physics and other sciences (certainly not only for children), nature conservation, the history of the Mississippi valley and the Quad City region, and the history of the people in this region; and finally the impact of technical and technological advances on our lives. More than enough to absorb, digest, discuss and comtemplate.

My daughter and I like to go when we feel like we've been cooped up inside too long. Prices are not outrageous and we always have a good time. I swear we find something new every time we go. Its great for kids of all ages and it has a fun mix of science, history and imagination.

We took a little road trip up here from springfield, IL to eat at the machine shed. While here, we decided to check this place out. We all had a blast. There were lots of fun things to do and we even brought home some gemstones and fossils. I would definitely visit again!

We visited to see the display of women authors. It was very well done. We enjoyed our time at the museum. Displays change, so it is a place you can visit again and again and alway see something new and different. It is a good place to visit on a winter day, or rainy day. There are many activities for children, too, and an outdoor play area if the weather is nice. It is well worth your time.

Very exhaustive and iformative in terms of areas explored. The only drawback is the maze like set up which can find one rather directionless at times and often repeating the same path.

They change some things up every few months! The Imax is really nice and the movies are great quality. During the summer they offer $1 admission Mondays (doesn't include movie or special exhibits).

I'm torn on this review. I read reviews before we traveled to the area and chose this over the other children's museum in the area. We arrived at noon on Sunday when they opened. The parking lot was a ghost town and had lots of overgrown weeds in it. Maybe that's intentional but it doesn't look like it's meant to be that way. The entrance area was very dark and I couldn't even figure out if they were open. We paid for our tickets, which are quite affordable. There were a lot of great exhibits but it was very strange that there was hardly anyone there! We ran into 6 other guests in 3 hours. Which would be great but sometimes my kids like to interact with other kids. They did love the exhibit where they got to destroy old electronics. Don't miss the Egyptian exhibit which is tucked away in the basement and it's really nice. I'm not sure why that isn't in a more prominent location. The dino dig was disappointing and again, weedy...but the map said, "now open!" so I thought it was supposed to be a new area. We have a large children's museum and science center where we are from and they are PACKED on a Sunday afternoon. We didn't really see anything we hadn't seen before, but if you don't have those then this would be worth a visit.

They try to charge extra for the cool exhibits and not include them in the regular entrance fee. It is not worth the money.

We spent the day at the Putnam Museum---very much enjoyed the CSI exhibit and also the rest of the Museum. Would recommend it to anyone visiting the area---great way to learn and had things for all ages and many hands on exhibits for younger and older kids. Special set up today for dissecting an owl pellet, flower and earthworm.

Taking our grandson and having a great time. We saw the king Tut display and other mummies. The aquarium, mammals, and science section were very educational and offered interactive displays for kids.

Really interesting displays and interactive items. Good for all ages. Difficult to find you way around and the map is not very clear, but if you don't mind wandering a bit, it's well worth your time.

This is a very good natural history museum with exhibits depicting river and midwest history. They also have mummies and an attached Imax theater that runs a variety of movies.

We went to see the Dinosaur exhibit. The price was unbelievable. I did not pay for it .21.00 for adult and 17.00 for children. Saw a movie and toured the other exhibits. The snack bar prices were outrageous as well. Very pricy for a day with the kids.

The bathrooms were not cleaned very well. And it was very overpriced.

I really like the Putnam Museum. They had some interactive things for kids. I would have like to have seen more interactive activities but for the most part it was good. My granddaughter thoroughly enjoyed her visit and requested to go again. There is a lot of history in this museum. Very nice!

We loved this place! We mostly went because our three boys love football. The Gridiron Glory exhibit was so worth it. The kids and adults loved it.
It was a very interactive museum with lots to do for children of all ages. The facility was clean and easy to get around. I would recommend visiting here before the Gridiron exhibit leaves!

Great to visit anytime of season, they have a good circulation of art throughtout the year. As a local to the QC area it is a nice place to visit no matter the time. I've gone alone, with my friends.

Nice exhibit with recordings as
walked through. Harder to keep attention for younger kids. Lots of hands on exhibits for kids in the rest of the museum. My kids would have loved it. Ages 8 and 13.

My kids were getting bored of the Family Museum in Bettendorf, so we tried the Putnam. I was pleasantly surprised! My kids are 6 and 3 years old and they absolutely love this place and beg to go all the time!!!! It's very kid friendly. I was worried my little guy wouldn't like it, but there were so many things for him to interact with. A great visit! We're thinking of getting a membership.

We visited the museum for the King Tut exhibit, and spent more time than expected looking at the other exhibits. This museum is simply delightful, and all exhibits are well done.

We arrived a couple of hours before they closed and we had been here before many years ago and there wasn't that much to do and see, so we thought we would have enough time to get through it. We were wrong. Their traveling exhibit "Race" was the first thing we saw. It was so interesting that we lost our first hour just going through it. Played with some of the hands on exhibits and then started another permanent exhibit and ran out of time. We had other places and things to do the next day so we were not able to go back and finish, but we will another day. There is a lot to do and see here, a lot more than our last visit. I highly recommend coming here when you are in Davenport.

We have a membership to The Putnam Museum and Science Center. We love taking our grandchildren to all the awesome traveling exhibits - they especially loved the King Tut exhibit and The Princess Diana exhibit. The IMAX theater is an experience in itself, we love the giant screen! The childrens science workshop and play area is fascinating. A big plus for the museum is all the wonderful day camps for different aged children where they have hands on learning of ergonomics, mathmatical projects, engineering techniques, etc. My grandson loved it and made new friends. Great asset to the QCA.

Visited the King Tut exhibit, beautifully displayed , even the 7 and 10 yr old found it interesting in part because of the way it was presented. Fun and hands on area for children. Small outdoor area for kids to dig for dinosaur bones.

Liked all the exhibits and the dates of things. Good people working there. Want to bring family next time

Incredible, wonderful introduction to the history of the local geology/topography/environment and of the local industries and businesses. Beautiful collections of natural and manufactured items. Fascinating collection of exotic artifacts accumulated by Dr. Palmer. Meaningful rotating displays. IMAX-style theater always has several films worth watching.

GREAT for all ages.

The exhibits of some of the museum's permanent collections are excellent - - instructive and pleasant to observe. Displays depict the prehistory of the Quad Cities area, the Euro-American settlement of the area, key industrial and commercial endeavors, immigrants etc. A nice context for those interested in the Beiderbecke family, Bix especially, and the jazz festivals held in Davenport. The museum hosts first class traveling exhibits also. "Body Works" was showing when we were there, but we did not go through the exhibit since we had seen it previously elsewhere.

This is a great little museum to take a family to. It is reasonably priced. They have a good selection of IMAX movies -- something for everyone. We live over an hour away in IL but still find it much easier (and relaxing) to go to Davenport than heading into Chicago when we want to see an IMAX movie.

We went to see the King Tut exhibit. It was a little bit spread out, but there was a lot to see. Haven't been there in years, but will be interested to see what comes next.

After reading some of the not so wonderful reviews about this museum, I had to think twice about going. But I am so glad that we determined that we would decide for ourselves whether it was worth the trip. While I think bringing our grandson along would have made the trip a little more fun (lots of interactive things for kids), my husband and I had no problem spending about 3 hours there, actually a little longer if you count the Imax movie we went to see. Of course, we did go for the special "Princess Diana" exhibit, and I could have stayed in that area all day. They did a wonderful job showcasing her dresses, and her live in general. The other exhibits were well done, and we enjoyed the coral reef that volunteers had crocheted. I also want to mention that there were restrooms EVERYWHERE! I You never had to look to far to find one! The only negative were the prices of the snack bar, but that is to be expected when you are in a museum atmosphere. All in all we had a very positive experience.

While vacationing in the Quad Cities area, my wife and I stopped by this museum for something to do on a rainy afternoon. Our primary reason was to view the King Tut exhibit. And, while the reproductions of the tomb escavations, as well as the fascinating history involved, were as impressive as advertised, the rest of the museum is every bit as interesting. Unfortunately I agree with another reviewer that the hand held speakers on the self guided tour are far too cumbersome. Headphones would better serve the purpose but, that's a minor detail in an otherwise well laid out exhibit.
Cameras are allowed and we used ours liberally. Children, of course, are invited to share in hands on exhibits that are meant to entertain as well as educate. The staff are friendly and helpful and they have a 3D-IMax theater that shows a variety of films (we saw a narrative on the National Park System). You can buy popcorn at the snack shop right by the theater entrance and enjoy the movie. There is also a very nice gift shop with a good assortment of items at reasonable prices.
The building itself is quite impressive as well, due to the futuristic architecture and the cleanliness of the grounds and interior
All in all it was an amazing experience and the next time we're in the area, my wife and I plan to return to see what we missed. This museum is clearly a good destination for an entire day.
As in most museums the admission can seem steep (the King Tut exhibit and the 3D-IMax cost extra) but we thought it was worth it. Those with children may have a tougher time of it but, if you can swing it, you'll get your moneys worth.

My 9 year old son and I were in the Quad Cities for a concert this past Friday. I looked online for suggested activities in the area, and the Putnam Museum was listed. My son and I went yesterday, and were both impressed. There were a lot of hands-on activities for him to do, and a lot to see. We arrived there about 10:45 yesterday morning, and left about 4:00 pm. They had a pollinators event happening, which was very informative and interesting. We also enjoyed the 2 IMAX movies that we watched; Oceans and Flight of the Butterflies. All in all, I was pleased, and my son had a great time. I was happy to have found the suggestion for the Putnam.

We had a great afternoon here just going through the regular exhibits. We didn't pay the extra for the special exhibit and we had plenty of things to see to take the afternoon. Many hands on things for the kids and lots of history. We had a very good time.

I like to visit the museum at least once a year - sometimes I can get there more often, but always enjoy the exhibits.

This science centre was really well done. It is small but the displays are very well designed to explain science in imaginative and interesting ways. Some of the displays are showing signs of age. In addition to the fun interactive displays for children, there were some very good sections for more adult interests.

The Quad Cities is extremely fortunate to have such a high quality museum. The Putnam is a world class museum. The level of the exhibits, the management of the museum, and the staff are second to none. Everyone living in or visiting the Quad Cities should have the Putnam on their "Must" list.

We went strictly for the Titanic exhibit. I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit although I felt the admission price was a bit steep. We did not feel rushed. We got to look at all the items on display as well as read the walls, etc. We spent just under 2 hours in the exhibit. We were there on a Thursday afternoon so I cannot say what weekend crowds are like. Museum was a bit difficult to find but parking was plentiful.

This is a great place to take the young and old family members. Interactive and very interesting projects to do for the whole family. Always fun being and acting YOUNG again!

I've been there numerous occasions for exhibits, historical displays, and shows. They offer a good variety of things to enjoy and it's a great place for learning and family outings.

I was pleasantly surprised with this museum. I haven't been since I was quite young and they've done a great job with the exhibits. Many STEM exhibits that are hands on and keep the kids interested. It would be great if they made a few of the historical exhibits in the prairie and history of quad cities sections interactive. We have a science center in a larger city where we live and this science center is a much better value. Affordable and kid oriented.

This museum preserves the regional history of this area and explores the relationship between the different cultures and science and how the past affects everyone. It gives us the ability to see a mummy,travel back in time, solve a crime(CSI the experience),walk through a Mississippi river cave and watch a movie on large Imax screen.

I haven't been to the Putnam in years. I was pleasantly surprised when I returned with my 10 year old daughter to see all the science based, hands on activities. She had fun trying everything out and learning a lot about physics. Very nicely done!

The Putnam is a great place to take your children to see some great history. They have traveling exhibits that are extra in cost (I think it should be included), but they are usually pretty cool. It's a nice place to spend an afternoon and if you are in town to visit.

I have been visitng the museum since it was housed in an old church on the corner of Brady and W. 10th Street back in the 1950's. It has truly grown to be a place of adventure for all ages. There is a special educational wing for children and permanent exhibits of great interest including the Egyptian exhibit. The Putnam did have the IMAX but that has been replaced with another movie forum that still has the huge screen and they have various movies of interest. The Putnam also hosts a lot of really nice exhibits; for instance, they had the Titanic exhibit that generated a lot of interest and just recently the 'Diana - A Celebation' that featured many of Diana's famous gowns, momentos, home movies and photographs ... her beautiful wedding gown was the main attraction. Every item was meticulously displayed. Many museums vied for this collection and were unable to get it, the Putnam was indeed fortunate to have it. The Putnam, overall, is a really nice museum; there is a gift shop and nicely supplied movie snack bar. Member of the museum receive free passes, 10% discount on tickets, 10% on items in the gift shop and at the snack bar. If you're in Davenport, a visit to the Putnam is well worth the time.

Nice range of things to do for all ages! Clean facility, some exhibits weren’t functioning, and the a/c didn’t seem to be functioning. Would visit again at a cooler time.

We have no kids but my husband and I love to go and check out the museum often. We fully love the side expeditions. It is also nice to bring my nieces and nephews.

Went to the Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit yesterday and was astonished that it cost so much and the exhibit was very minimal. The rest of the museum had not been maintained as four of the activity portions did not work.On the website it stated that they charged extra for the dinosaur exhibit but did not say it was $10.00 on top of the $7.00 so an adult cost is $17.00 and the kids were $12.50 each,I feel very expensive for the quality of the exhibit,even my 8 year old grandson who loves museums said that wasn't very much to see.We went last spring to The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum in Springfield and it was much cheaper and much more entertaining and educational.Probably will not be going back here for there special exhibits!

I spent two hours at the Putnam visiting the Diana Museum. The exhibit was laid out well with video of the dresses and of her early life corresponding to the time periods of her life in each room. The museum itself is very modern with clean facilities and a gift shop. The Diana gift shop was right at the end of the exhibit. I had no trouble finding the museum.

Nice museum with lots of hands on activities for kids. Exhibits are well done, with lots of variety. Captures history and nature of the region really well. Nice way to spend a few hours.

Great exhibits for kids to use their fine and large motor skills. Exhibits are a little too advanced for toddlers and early elementary though there are activities within each exhibit for smaller children to participate and learn. The vacuum tubes and scarves had our grandsons entranced for 30 minutes plus! The dress up and play Indian village is great fun as is the tall tree house.

Of course, everyone must go to the lower level to see mummies and sarcophagus - as interesting now as it was 40 years ago

We remember the building when it was Davenport Art Gallery. It is great to see this wonderful space utilized by exhibits allowing room for large or small tours.

Whether visiting the Quad Cities or a resident, there are interesting exhibits for young and young at heart.

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Amazing museum for all ages. They have something new each month. Also the have the largest 3d imax theater.

Went on a date. Great fun. And while many of the science exhibits are for the young. They are also fun for the young at heart.

The display was interesting. A great history lesson. Glad it started with a short learning video. The handheld items were a pain though, because you'd have to keep holding them up to your ear to listen to what was being said. After a while enough is enough, especially if you have children in tow and trying to keep track of other things. Staff was not present throughout and if help was needed, there was no one to ask. There is an added charge if people use science center cards to see the Tut display.

The Putnam Museum off or something for everyone. If you’re a history buff they have many exhibits to capture your interest. Their exhibits for use in children are very engaging and interactive. They also have a large theater With great seating and acoustics. I’ve had to beg my grandchildren to leave the gift shop. This is a great family activity that will take at least an afternoon to get through. Every trip has been a pleasure visiting the Putnam.

the museum is a great size for kids and elders. there are so many things to see and do. i truly enjoyed the forensics exhibit ane fantastic classroom experience. in fact, i came back to enroll my granddaughter in the class.

Visited displays of science (especially good kids interaction and experiments for learning), Egyptian, natural science, mammals, local river life, and more. Big screen theater is located at the same location (some 3d, National Geographic, very informative and interesting selections; call for movies and times. Can get a combination movie and museum or separate tickets).

An educational and very much hands on interactive museum with the bonus of an IMAX Theater. On a recent Monday afternoon we nearly had the place to ourselves.

I went to see the new giant screen movie Dream Big 3D (42 mins.) this morning at the debut showing at 11:15. The lower level tables had a bus load of several grade schoolers with their teacher waiting to get in. The show promptly started at 11:15 sharp and the kids became very quiet. The Dream Big 3D movie is narrated by Jeff Bridges and covers all sorts of engineering feats from space, to solar power, to skyscrapers, bridge building, and earthquake defense technology. The whole premise of the movie is to encourage young children to get interested in engineering, architecture, and the sciences. Several college and high school engineering clubs, and young professionals were featured and some amazing camera work as you'd expect with 3D movies of soaring over mountains and down valleys, etc. I hope many, many school kids get hauled to this movie at the Putnam Giant Screen. These kids will be the builders of our future buildings, technology, and sciences. It was an excellent movie and any parent should take their child to see this movie. The Putnam does excellent work and their educational programming is well known in the area. What a view you get when you exit the theater at the top overlooking the Mississippi River. As I was walking towards the front to leave on the second level, the downstairs tables were filled again with probably 60-70 more students eating their lunches before their viewing of Dream Big 3D. Hopefully there will be some engineers come out of this movie in about 15 years. Everything at the Putnam is kept up and top quality. There is no reason Davenport residents should ever be ashamed of this top notch facility.

Have been here several times. Have been there for exhibits and the Imax theater. The activities for children to do hands on things is great. They have special events for children during the year. We have been to the Polar Express movie a couple times. The King Tut, Outer Space, and Dinosaur exhibits were great. Our grandkids loved it and had a great time.

The Putnam is an amazing museum with so much hands-on stuff to try for both kids and adults...which is why I say it is better than the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. There is an IMAX 3D theater with typical theater snacks available for purchase...we saw a film on humanoid robots that was excellent. A few exhibits in Nov 2015 included a Jewish Heritage exhibit and an Egyptian exhibit. The price for an adult to see an IMAX 3D film and all exhibits was $13.50.

Beside the permanent displays there are ones only there for a certain time; Titanic artifacts, Dinosaurs. They have great programs for kids. And of course the Nat Geo Giant Screen movie theater.

Our main reason for visiting the museum was for the special King Tut Exhibition. It was very well done and we enjoyed it immensely. Note: This is not the "real" Tut treasure. It is a replication of the original. Awesome to think that of all that gold was found in the excavation. We spent about 1-1/2 hours for this exhibition.

Used our reciprocal pass from science and industry to visit. Perfect sized museum to spend a few hours. Nice interactive exhibits for kids.

The newly revamped Putman was so exciting for my kids of all ages. The new hands on Center's kept my kids engaged for hours.

We have a family membership and the grandchildren ask to go at least once a week. The STEM exhibit has at least 20 different activities and we spend at least 20 minutes at each one. This week it was the Lego raceway. We all made Lego vehicles which we raced on a timed track, last week they dug for dinosaur bones in an outdoor area with rubberdust rather than messy sand. There are plenty of places to sit at each area for us old folks also.

Great museum for family's of all ages. We found it to be a very educational afternoon and was glad we visited.

Visited here as part of Navy Week Quad Cities. Touring the museum I saw there were a lot of interactive displays for kids to play with covering a wide range of scientific disciplines. There are also some interesting displays on collecting as well. There is an admission cost, some where around $8-9 for adults but there is a discount for students, seniors, and military/veterans. They have a nice concession area with snacks, drinks, and a barista.

We were in town and had time to waste (there isn't a lot to do here other than eat or drink), but found the King Tut exhibit was in town. This was an outstanding exhibit and was done well. We also saw a 3D movie on America's parks which was nice. I don't know what it is like to visit when they don't have the King Tut exhibit as the rest of the museum didn't have much to offer. It was like a science museum for 7 year olds otherwise, so I'd really focus in on what exhibit they have (or be sure you have very small kids or they will be bored). This place is kept clean and has food/beverages. Where I live this would be free to visit and only charge for the exhibit or the movies, so it was disappointing to pay so much to get in when it's in a small town and wasn't real exciting. If you are here and looking for something to do, this is about it (indoors).

We visited during the King Tut exhibition. Would definitely recommend. It was a little expensive but the replicas of the Egyptian artifacts were very good and the audio commentary that went with it was well done. We ran out of time to explore the whole museum but it looked like it would keep both kids and adults busy for a long time!

Enjoyed the Disney exhibit very much and the movie was also great. We spent a long time in the Disney exhibit and it was exceptional. Been to the museum several times now and always enjoy ourselves very much. They have some great exhibits for kids.

With panoramic views of the Mississippi River Valley and outstanding interactive exhibits to engage children (and adults) of all ages, the Putnam Museum is truly a gem worthy of discovery. This summer's attraction, 'The Discovery of King Tut', is exceptional! The audio tour, accompanying the incredibly crafted displays and videos, is very well done .. entertaining and educational!

The museum is small compared to larger cities, but it has a little bit of everything. The children's area is getting better and has things for all ages.

The kids enjoyed it, great family outing. Really like how they do the scout events and work with the kids to learn in a different way.

Drove 3 hours to see the Bodies Revealed exhibit. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we arrived an hour before the museum closed. Thinking we were going to be rushed, the stress level was high! Went through the Bodies exhibit in less than a half hour and had seen nearly all the exhibits by the time the museum closed. The museum has some nice exhibits though many are very small. We particularly liked the room where kids can take apart electronics and the room where kids can explore and build using various materials. If you are in the area, this is a nice museum to pass the afternoon. However, there are better choices within a 3-hour drive from Wisconsin.

Never a disappointment. This is our second visit to the museum. Great experience for family, lots of hands on for the kids.
The Beatles Exhibition was interesting and educational. Definitely recommend. It runs through June 4, 2017.

Davenport on a Monday is limited in things to do, but the Putnam museum is open all day. I went by myself and honestly had a great time! It's very interactive, definitely channeled to children, but there's plenty of displays and plaques to read for adults.I watched a movie at the IMAX on women in engineering and it was great. Also, the mummy exhibit is always my favorite about a museum and this one was notable too. I spent 3-4 hours here, and I would go back again!

I went to the Putnam a few times growing up as a child in Davenport. Now it is a totally different experience the theater is awesome. The new exhibits are exciting and intresting with a lot of hands on activities for kids. We had to drag them out of there to get them to go! Lol

The museum has been updated since I was there ten years ago to include more hands on activities for kids in addition to great exhibits for the grownups. The 3D movie on D Day was spectacular. The pricing is appropriate for what and where it is. In a bigger city you would pay twice as much. We plan to bring our kids the next time we were are in town.

Our family loves the Putnam Museum. There are educational exhibits for every age group. It is even becoming more hands-on science for kids. We have never been disappointed in a visit.

You can also attend the large screen theater without buying an entrance fee to the museum. The features playing are always educational, but super high-quality, and very enjoyable.

The Putnam Museum is an all around good experience. It is an Association of Science-Technology Centers Incorporated member so we received free admittance since we have a membership card from another institution.
The exhibits showcase the history of the Quad Cities area from pioneering days through the 1980's and 1990's. I really enjoyed the historical perspective.
In terms of science it offers exhibits pertaining to salt water sea life, space exploration, Egyptian artifacts including a mummy. There is also an Asian exhibit with a Shinto shrine available for viewing. There is a hands on exhibit for children that provides hands on stations regarding circuits, physics and mechanics. Lastly there is an exhibit dedicated to the animal life in the area both past and present.
All in all there is something for everyone at this museum. It is a valuable resource to the community and is a great educational tool.
There is some age and wear starting to show at some of the exhibits so I deducted my rating by one.

I was at the Putnam to see a travel film on Korea by Buddy Hatton; the film made me feel as I was there wondering this modern high tech city and feasting on Korean BBQ. After the film, I went to see the exhibition, "Diana - A Celebration". OMG, the first you one see walking in the gallery was The Spencer Family Tiara. Incredible priceless piece of jewelry, along with other fabulous pieces. More impressive was seeing The Wedding Gown Princess Diana wore - the train was huge! The gown was topped with her tiara. After watching this wedding of the century, it was a privilege to see it in person.

My son and I love this museum! He loves all the interactive things there are for him to do. I love the art and sculptures! Especially love how each room is a different theme in history!

I was impressed by the breadth and variety of the museum's collection. The nature exhibits are well constructed. I particularly like the Egyptian exhibit (with mummys!) and the Japanese jar and Samurai outfit collection

I didn't even know that this level of museum, was hiding in Davenport. Little smaller then a Chicago museum, but the price tag was smaller too. I had a blast a the King Tut exhibit, it was MUCH larger then I expected. No lines, I got there Saturday at 2:00 pm and spent just over 1.5 hr looking over the exhibits. I loved the history of Davenport being from Iowa it was extremely interesting. I don't have kids but I did walk into the kids science part (which was included with my ticket) to see what was there. If I was a kid I would have been in heaven, so much to touch and play with, reminded me of the Science Station I went to as a kid!

Wonderful permanent displays and exhibits plus they have several special exhibits during the year! We saw the CSI exhibit twice and enjoyed it both times. I have also held special events at the Putnam that were very successful and well attended.

Everyone had lot of fun. Kids enjoyed the mummies and are still talking about them. Adults had fun watching the kids enjoy themselves.

Displays were interesting but no signage or directions found from section to section of museum. We were a bit confused as where to go and missed several exhibits.

We were recently in Davenport for a wedding and we needed something fun to do with the kids before the wedding started. This museum had it all from your typical history exhibits to a wonderful hands on section (building and racing Lego cars, stop animation, laser table, tug of war with a lever, and the list goes on and on). The kids enjoyed it all and didn't want to leave and asked if we could go back after the wedding.

We started our visit with a movie on the Big Screen (The Rocky Mountain Express) and then visited the museum, especially enjoying the Asian and Egyptian displays. I think what I like the best about this museum is that, while it does have displays and exhibits that are child-oriented, they do not dominate the museum. That balance is very important in a museum that wishes to serve the entire public. Very much worth the trip.

If there were a negative point to be mentioned, we did chuckle at the price (a whopping $18 bucks per person additional) to visit Lady Diana's dresses, which, of course, we declined. That is highway robbery...did they have to buy each outfit a plane ticket, or what? I could see such an exhibit being housed at the casino which sponsored it - or especially in Las Vegas. But why, oh why, in a museum?? Contrast that with the importance of the exquisite mummy in the permanent collection. Oh well, the chuckles were free. There's that.

My husband and I took our 10 and 8 YO granddaughters and we ALL had a great time! There is really a LOT to see and do. Lots of hands-on for the kids and plenty to interest the adults. My husband was especially glad we went on a Monarch butterfly day, so we got to take home caterpillars to feed and watch them turn into butterflys. Not really for young children, school age and above. We saw lots of older couples there. Also, we got in free thanks to the passes we checked out at the Davenport Public Library! What a treat! They have an IMAX Theater, but we didn't go this visit.

This is a great museum for kids that like to do things not just look at things. There are levers, laser musical instruments, reptiles and lots of other science-y stuff. Paper rockets, lego building and much more. 9-year old son wasn't really ready to leave after 2 hours. Could have stayed even longer.

It was nice. Several of the interactive activities did not work. I was expecting more history of Iowa though.

We found this museum several years ago. We have been here every time we have been back in this neck of the woods. The exhibits are a bit spread out, but the quality of the displays and the variety make you forget you have to walk a little bit more. One of my favorite displays is the walk through history.

Awesome place for kids to learn and explore! We love it here! They have stuff for kids of many ages and a lot of engaging learning activities with cool traveling exhibits and educational films. They also do some really fun events around the holidays!

As a local, I have been visiting the Putnam for over 50 years. I visited for the first time in 5 years to see the excellent Davenport's Civil Rights temporary exhibit. The River, Prairie, and People exhibit and the Black Earth, Big River exhibit give insight to the local area. All exhibits are very well done. Kids probably enjoy the Egyptian mummy and gift shops the best, but I heard squeals from school groups other places as well. Oh, I missed the shrunken head this visit!

The IMAX theater is like any other IMAX theater.

A lot of interesting exhibits. Wide selection of older movies to see on the big screen. tons of exhibits were children get to experiment and enjoy things.

Reasonably priced ! Great Service ! A place i would strongly recommend. Always a family favorite ! Fun place for the kids

We hadn't intended to visit the Putnam, but it was too blasted hot to even think about Vander Veer Botanical Park, our intended occupation for the day, so the Putnam got our attention. We were very impressed by the facility and especially enjoyed the section that contained the artifacts from the history of the area. Very well done.

Their displays are always worth the trip Otto go see! And my dad was a part of helping build this building when it was first constructed! So it holds a special place in my heart!

Nice museum for the town of Davenport. The kids really liked the mummies. Neat exhibits for a small town venue.

I visited during a special exhibit showing on two different occasions (dinos and egypt) the way they 'get' you here is the base price for your ticket is something like 12$, which isn't bad, but only includes a very small exhibit area.. each add on is anywhere from 8-20$ so when I went with my little sister for her 5th birthday this march, we somehow ended up with over 40$ tickets.. I paid less for the museum in New York

This place is great! My 12 year old loves it and we regularly see kids of all ages there being engaged and interested. There are LOTS of hands-on things to stimulate their curiosity as well as exhibits dealing with Egypt, Asia, Native Americans, animals, geodes, etc. There is also an IMAX theater.

My daughter and I enjoyed the entire exhibit. The Quad Cities are blessed to have this museum. There werent any negatives to be found.

Lots of things for kids to do, interactive. I enjoyed the history of the quad cities. Mumies are in the basement. I thought it was a strange place for them to be too.

We were camping in the area and wanted something to do to beat the heat. Just so happened that the King Tut exhibit was happening. We all loved it! We spent so much time in there that we ran out of time to explore the rest of the museum. Guess we'll have to come back.

Great time with our granddaughter... LOTS of hands on science for her. Well worth the money and time (she wanted to stay forever). The bathrooms were spotless (always a plus). The super large screen movies (3-D) are great too, but make it two trips - no better make it three. There is just too much to see and do...

We go every year at least once. When my own kids were young they LOVED this museum. I’m now a Big Sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters and my Little Sister loves it too. I think she would go every month if I agreed. Nicely maintained, interesting displays, and new exciting things rotate through. Gift shop is a great place to shop for educational gifts too.

The kids had an absolute blast at the Putnam. We stayed for most of the day, and there was plenty to keep them busy. I like how they change things around so it's new every trip back!

As a school bus driver I have been to the Putnam many times. At least a couple times each year. There is a permanent display showcasing the Quad City area and many other displays. Rocks, animals, Egyptian artifacts, hands on science learning center. Something to enjoy for all ages. Plus a giant IMAX movie screen.

Even with COVID-19 closing down the hands on exhibits, The Putnam is the museum of my childhood. Amazing mummies and antiquities from around the world, environmental history from the Devonian Era to today, and thoughtful collections spotlighting the people who developed this area of the Mississippi Valley. The current exhibit on the periodic table was the highlight of this trip.

We went to the museum to waste an afternoon while in town visiting family. It was really hot outside so being in the air conditioned museum was nice. The parking was free and there were plenty of spaces for a Saturday afternoon. The price for the standard museum was reasonable at $7 per person but to get into the changing exhibit "Bodies Revealed" it was another $11 per person. A little overpriced so we skipped that. The standard exhibits were nice but they were all very small with just a few items in each. Some of the items in the exhibits looked old and worn out or just not very well put together to begin with. There was a section that did local history and this seemed very interesting but by the time we got to it we were getting worn out....and plan to walk a lot as the exhibits are not set up to walk through one then another but more as you walk through and exhibit to the end and then have to backtrack to go to the next exhibit.

So empty. Room after room was just empty space. Nothing organized. We were in and out in less then 30mins. What a disappointment!
Skip this one.

My boyfriend and I decided to visit Putnam Museum for a date. We were not sure what to expect but were pleasantly surprised. All of the exhibits except for one were incredible! We were not very impressed with the exhibit on Race, we felt more could’ve been done with it. The slave shackles seemed to be off in a little corner without much information. The children’s area or hands on area was a lot of fun even though we are adults. We absolutely LOVED the Ancient Egypt exhibit even though it took us forever to find it. We would definitely visit this museum again. The price was very reasonable too and would be a great place for families.

We brought our kids ages14, 7, 3&1 here because it was raining and humid. It really surprised us how much there was to see and interact with. It was fun for all age groups! There was a lot to do without feeling overwhelmed! I recommend for families or as just a day date!!

The main reason we decided to make a stop here on our trip was for the Titanic exhibit, which was wonderful! It cost $11 extra to see the Titanic exhibit. I felt it was a little high, but we all did enjoy it and were not disappointed. The rest of the museum was average. There are a few hands on exhibits, but not enough. There were also a few play areas for children that were nice. I will say my 5 year old daughter, was not interested in most of the museum and we had a difficult time trying to entertain her while viewing the exhibits we were interested in. So if you have younger children, you may want to go in with a better strategy than we did! We did not visit the Imax theater because it was another additional charge.

I was astonished at how nice this museum is. The Egyptian Room, the hands on display and the local history rooms were all well done. A great place to go on a day trip. It was nice not to be in a crowded museum so that you could do all the exhibits.

Nice inexpensive day out with family I live in Davenport and find this attraction worthwhile to visit. Nice place to visit with children and grandchildren of any age or may alone just to wonder a bit

This museum is just the right size for a visit. Tour some of the exhibits and then watch a movie on their big screen. When leaving the theater besure to take a peek at the view of the Mississippi River and its bridges from the balcony.

After visiting the Zoo we decided to go do an inside activity. This Museum did not disappoint! The price was very reasonable, the kids exhibits were fantastic! Every exhibit was thorough, engaging, and even fun for adults! The only down side was oir lack of time. We were there for about 2 hours and I felt we rushed. Make sure to allow more time than I did, probably at least half a day.

Staff not very helpful or friendly
Map is confusing
Some exhibits not working or closed
I was here years ago and so much better

The little kids as well as the big kids had a great time with the interactive exhibits. I was happy to see the traveling exhibit and learn a bit of qc history.

This was my first trip to the Putnam. I actually went because they show classic movies on the big IMAX screen. However, since it is a 45 min. drive from my house I decided to see the museum first while waiting for the movie. What a good idea I had. I will be going back to spend even more time at the museum and also for another movie. It was a wonderful day. The information especially on the Mississippi river was very interesting. Things are displayed in a way that makes it easy to observe each piece.

I know that, because my grand-daughter and I make several visits a year. every movie includes a visit to the museum. certainly there are some things that could be updated, but in every exhibit we find something new to talk about. she is nine and enjoys everything from the popcorn to the gift shop, nature exhibits and interactive areas.

To my wife and me, the Putnam Museum and Science Center borders on greatness, but falls a bit short of its potential. We visited late morning on a Tuesday, and for our entire stay, we were practically alone. In a science center, being kids at heart, this was a plus because we could actually get close to and play with the displays without battling a bunch of school-aged children. However, no exaggeration, about half of the things were not working which we brought to the attention of one of the staff members. Buttons did not work, TV screens were black and not responding, the robot arm playing tic-tac-toe needed rebooted, etc.

The museum part had some interesting sections--history, natural history, mammals, oceanography, though some were in need of maintenance, e.g. "Feel the fur of these animals" where some of the samples were missing. My favorite part of the museum was the Egyptian room with ancient artifacts and an unwrapped mummy. The special exhibit dealt with Rube Goldberg-style inventions. This was fun, though two of the inventions were missing parts and/or had no easy-to-follow instructions.

The map of the museum and science center was a little hard to follow, and my wife and I were constantly opening doors to halls and offices that were not marked as off limits. We spent over two hours and enjoyed many parts of the building, but we could not help but feel that tech, maintenance or the administration needed to address some of the problems.

Giant screen theater, reel deal, special exhibits for Diana and Titanic, summer camps, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, history. Hands on learning exhibits. World adventure series. The museum provides it all at a reasonable cost. You can spend an hour or all day depending on why you are there.

We took our three granddaughters (age 3 to second grade) to the museum for an afternoon. They loved the flying silk cloths, the movie, the science exhibits and seeing all the stuffed animals. Will do it again.

This is just the right size museum for young and old will love it too. Always have traveling exhibits that you usually only get to see in like Chicago.

My family and I really enjoyed this museum. It had tons of hands on activities. Highlights included a giant tubing system that when turned on would blow balls and scarves into the air, a pulley system you could sit on, and a tennis ball launcher in the lobby. We saw the National Park Adventure 3D movie. I would also recommend seeing it. Price for two large pops and a large popcorn was $10. Admission was reasonable. We spent about 4 hours total there exploring. We opted not to do the King Tut exhibit because we had a little one with us and it recommended an hour and a half to get through it which I was sure he wouldn't do well with. He loved the rest of the museum though and it was so great to have so many things he could do and experiment with.

Great place to bring the grandkids. Affordable and always something new. The museum has some nice exhibits though many are very small. We particularly liked the room where kids can take apart electronics and the room where kids can explore and build using various materials. The dinosaur comes to life exhibits and the Bodies Revealed exhibit were fun. The kids enjoy the animals and interactive areas. I enjoy the river history and rock displays. The IMAX Theater is nice if you like to watch movies on the big screen. Parking is plentiful and free.

Great place to bring the grandkids. Affordable and always something new. The dinosaure comes to life exhibits were fun. The kids enjoy the animals and interactive areas. I enjoy the river history and rock displays. The i max theater is right next door for even more fun.

Just had a King Tut exhibit there and it was awesome!

Since I live local I usually go for special events.

it's amazing how much i enjoyed this place. I lived in Davenport for about 20 years growing up and scoffed at the idea of going to Putnam Museum. It was something that was always there and I passed it by easily a thousand times. I should of checked it out!
It's jam packed with lots of things to look at from geological exhibits to local history to fun hands on experimental exhibits. When we went there they also had a great Egyptian exhibit with actual mummies!! It was wonderful and we got lots of great pictures
If you're in the area, I suggest taking a peak at the museum. If you are a local and haven't been there, I also suggest checking it out. There's plenty to look at and I don't know about anybody else, but looking at the local exhibits, I found myself filled with a new sense of pride for the area and it's history.

The display was full of history. The items were reproductions but very beautiful.
It seemed to flow backwards, though - You approached the displays showing timelines from the right. You would have to walk past them (through the crowd) then read from left to right which meant you again had to walk past the crowd.
I would not recommend the exhibit for kids under 12. There was a lot of reading and the hand-held speakers were a pain because you'd have to keep holding them up to your ear to listen. If the crowd was loud it was hard to hear.
We were in the exhibit 2 hours and could have stayed longer but were tired of standing, dodging people so you could read/see the exhibit, and there was a lot of reading/listening.
There was not any staff in the exhibit to ask questions or for help. I enjoyed the Titanic and Princess Diana dress exhibits much more.

I went there last when they had the King Tut display. It was amazing. What a gem to bring to the Quad Cities! So much to learn.

This museum gets very interesting exhibits every year. The regular exhibits are really good and the curator manages to get some excellent travelling exhibits. Very nice for the area.

Really fun for going to have family fun times i recommend going on during the christmas times they always have fun things planned

The Titanic was a huge disappointment. All they had were large signs and pictures with maybe 100 artifacts but certainly not what we had expected. Been to the Titanic at Branson MO and this in Davenport is too expensive for what we got. Could go through the whole exhibit in less that 30 mins. And with a large crowd you can barely get close enough to see the items taken from the ocean. Would not recommend unless this is the only exposure you would have to the Titanic experience.

The Putnam always has great exhibits. Some old, some new. Can't wait to return for the upcoming ones. While some of the exhibits may not be interesting to all, others are and it has great flow.

Its kind of interesting, and has a lot of interactive exhibits, but it really wasn't that interesting to me. It had polite workers and a fair fee, but I doubt I'd ever go back.

This museum is completely hands on focused on science and technology. Kids of all ages will enjoy this place. There are several areas to explore and they have special exhibits and IMAX movies. Definitely worth it.

It's worth the visit and to see something interesting and that's very informative and I would recommend this place.

My children grew up going to the Putnam here in our hometown & it truly is something amazing to see. In years past it had become run-down and below average, but in the last 5 years they have done some amazing updates and it is now somewhere (again) that I am excited to take my granddaughter. The must-see is the "mummy room" as my kids call it. We have 2 authentic mummies in our own little town & the amount of information to be learned is boggling. Love, love, love this place!

Walked through entire museum in 2 hours, fun and educational .Veterans receive a discount. A good outing.

Try the movies here, giant screen and great variety titles. The Putnam has traveling exhibits throughout the year and all are worth seeing. Permanent exhibits related to local history. Museum also has exciting STEM activities for students.

I've heard good things about this museum for years so was looking forward to visiting, but was really disappointed. Most of the exhibits were not well put together/displayed. Unclear which way to go in the museum between exhibits so not to miss things. The beginning is the best for kids with hands on exhibits, but beyond that confusing and doesn't live up to reputation.

This is a very interesting and well run museum. The staff is always eager to help and very well informed. Loved it.

Wish we had time for the IMAX. We did the King Tut exhibition. It was a little pricey for what you get at $19.

We get reciprocal entry to The Putnam through our home children's museum. As grandma lives in Davenport and we live in Wisconsin, we often visit this places for a few hours every time we visit grandma.

My kids (10 and 8) love The Putnam. Very much worth a visit. Lots to see and do; touch and feel; read and experience.

You can't go wrong with a visit to this place!

Great place to enjoy with you children for some quality educational fun family time. They often change their venues always engaging.

the king tut exhibit was learning and educational.if you love history must go and see if in davenport area.they also have imax theater and science center.

Mummy exhibit was great. The auditory part of many exhibits in the wildlife area didn't work..Overall there were several exhibits that weren't working...which surprised us for the expensive $9 fee

Great place to go once in a while a fun place but I must admit not very interesting. It's fun for a little fun .

Since our Labor Day plans were rained out on Saturday, we decided to visit the Putnam -- a place I've not visited since a Junior High field trip back in the early 80s! Wow, has THIS place changed! It is a wonderful place to take kids (or not!) We got to experience the traveling Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit which was exceptional -- and my 6.5 year old dinosaur lover was blown away. We have been to the Field Museum in Chicago several times, and I can say without reservation that the Putnam experience rivaled that of The Field. We spent over 4 hours here, and still didn't see everything. There are extensive hands-on displays, extremely interesting exhibits for the adults, and everything is beautifully well maintained. All the staff was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We've already made plans to take the whole family when we're back in the QC for Thanksgiving.

Note that the movies (when we visited, they were showing Tornadoes and 3D Flying Monsters) only show once a day. We missed being able to watch Flying Monsters by 10 minutes, and since they only show it once, we were out of luck.

If you are members of a Children's Museum in your area that is part of a reciprocal program, be sure to ask if the Putnam is part of your same reciprocal program -- we got free admission for all of us, and while we paid extra for the Dinosaur exhibit, it was at their 'member' rate. It was a fantastic deal. We paid $23 for 1 child, 1 adult and 2 seniors. Well worth the price!

I took my daughter to the exhibit. It was wonderful. Her wedding dress was beautiful. It was interesting to see items from Di's childhood. There was also dresses on display from different events that she attended. It was well worth the time to go see!!

We love this museum! We got out VIV bracelets from one of the local hotels which gave us a discount on admission. Our girls age 11 and 13 both enjoyed it as well as did my husband. (Bracelet pick up locations listed on the tourism site for quad cities) We spent about 4 hours here and payed the extra for the 3D movie which we loved as well.

This is a nice museum with a focus on events concerning Davenport. The is a nice section on the civil war, and nice recreations of the environment.

Friendly staff, nice IMAX for short, interesting documentary films, many hands-on science, history, and animal exhibits, and nice snack & gift shop.

Definitely make this a priority when you're in town! We always try to make it here. Great fun for the whole family. My kids love it.

Great museum except for the part where they are still requiring masks for children under 12. Ridiculous to do to kids that rarely get or spread the virus.

I have had the opportunity to visit the museum many times over the past 10 years. The children I have attended with have always enjoyed all the museum has to offer. Every section has a different theme, so there is always something for all different interests. The IMAX theatre always has a great movie to see, too.

We took our grandkids to this museum in Davenport IA. It was fun and they had some interesting exhibits for my grandkids who age from 8-3. When we were there, the A/C was out and the fire alarms kept going off. We must have spent 45 minutes waiting around until the fire dept gave the all clear. The problem was the A/C which made it difficult to really enjoy the museum.

The Putnam is great for couple young or old, and great for kids. There is an good amount of interaction the younger kids will for sure enjoy and learn about life at the same time. My Wife and I went to see the King Tut exhibit and it was amazing. It was a self guided audio tour and was so informative and such a cool part of history to learn about. Take in the iMax theater for one of the many cool shows they offer. Seeing actual artifacts from the extradition of King Tut was surreal. This is a very well put together place and locals and tourist will find it fun.

Good place to spend some family time. Interesting exhibits to see some are interactive. Good time for kids

Great place to bring the kids to. We enjoyed the many exhibits and watching the kids interact with all of the children activities.

Expensive for a museum for the family. Nothing in there is going to knock your socks off.

We took my 3yrs old grand daughter here this spring. She had a lot of fun, however, she was still a little too young for some of the activities. Her favorite part was the popcorn and the show which was really good. A 3D movie on the oceans. We will be visiting again. A very nice place.

This program turns big screen movie goers into critics with a purpose. Viewers get to see a never before seen documentary on the Giant National Geographic screen. For a mere $7.00 you get one admission, a bag of popcorn, and a soft drink and a review form. After a brief introduction, you get to see an interesting movie on a variety of subjects and then critique the film and rate it. The highest ranking film is brought back for the next year's film season. What fun and great value!! Many of the movies are 3D.

This was ok, $8 admission, Civil War, lots of animals, exhibit on The periodic table with examples of Various products made from various elements. Some fun hands on science stuff.

Older museum that needs an update but the interactive exhibits were fantastic to a ten year old boy AND his grandpa! Best exhibit? The light piano-pass your hand under an arch with columns of light and make piano sounds. Like a Theramin, only not as eerie. The grandson's fav? The multi-tubed 20 foot compressed air exhibit in which one is supposed to use silk scarves to show travel and flow but we used a ball from another exhibit. The fun was trying to anticipate which tube the ball would eject from and be ready to catch it.

I was utterly enchanted by this exhibit. I loved how you got to "discover" the tomb just as Howard Carter did. The (self guided) tour takes 90 minutes but I took 2 hours as I was having such a wonderful time learning new things. The museum it's self lent it's self to exploring all kinds of things. There are elevators for handicapped folks but they are kind of out of the way. Just ask - the employees are very present throughout. It does have a snack bar which is snacks only, no sandwiches there. The surrounding area was Iowa farmland and rolling hills. You are not far from Iowa 80, the worlds largest truck stop which has all kinds of places to eat and lots of opportunities to shop.

Fun, extensive museum with numerous exhibits that covered a wide range of topics. There was a lot of hands on fun, as well as cultural, environmental and animal exhibitions. It was fun for the entire family.

The Putnam Museum & Science Center is a fascinating place to visit. There is a historical section which tells the story of this area from the early days, with lots of information, pictures, and artifacts. There is an IMAX theater which shows educational movies throughout the day; we saw one called "Dream Big: Engineering Our World" which was in 3D and very inspirational. There is also an expansive science and engineering section, with numerous hand-on items that educate in these areas. This section engages visitors in fundamental principles by giving a sense of what they mean and how they can be applied in the real world (outside the classroom). Excellent for any parent who wants to interest a child in science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics, and especially for any child who already is. There are other exhibits which we didn't get to, but plan to on our next visit. There is ample free parking and 100% wheelchair accessibility.

i have gone here since i was born my fondest memory as a child was the egyptian mummy exhibit they used to have but the imax is awesome