Rediscover Favorite Indoor Places in the QC
Find time to rediscover some of the Quad Cities’ favorite indoor places. Explore history, Get creative, Be active, Drive tractors, Stop to smell the flowers, and Discover science all here in the QC.
The Family Museum in Bettendorf, IA
The impressive Luckey Climber is two-stories tall and a ton of fun! It’s the first Luckey Climber in Iowa.
These Lucky Climbers can be found in museums, malls and theme parks across the world. The one in Bettendorf is made up of large climbing platforms and is surrounded by a secure vinyl-coated cable netting with entrances and exits on both the main floor and second floor landing.
The second floor landing brings you out of the Luckey Climber right at the new maker-space. It’s amazing!! Open to all ages, everyone will find some delightful options to feed their creativity. Visitors can paint, work with clay, use the hands-on tools, or (my kids’ favorite) use hot glue guns to make their very own masterpieces. Child(ren) must be with an adult. Adults will love it too!
Check the website for other great programming like Kids in the Kitchen, Music in Motion or the traveling exhibit. These are included in the museum entry fee.
The Hauberg Museum at Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, IL
Extensive renovations to the Tower Lodge with new roof and windows are complete and the Hauberg Museum is open again telling the story of the Sauk and Meskwaki people. Visitors can take the free handheld audio tour and experience an entire year with the two Native American tribes who were the last to live in the Mississippi River Valley.
The John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL
They've created a brand-new experience featuring new and vintage equipment, interactive and immersive exhibits, and a few surprises. Discover how John Deere forges the cutting edge every day.
My son was amazed by the sprayer which spans a great length in the main showroom. You can still climb up to the cab and “drive” many of the biggest machines. The interactive history lesson offers an opportunity to engage with the story of John Deere. My favorite part, however, was this amazing display of a diverse array of John Deere hats. There is an interactive screen that tells you the story of each hat. It was fantastic!
The Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport, IA
Our family is always excited to see what’s showing on the big screen or dive into the exhibits at the Putnam Museum. Recently the Putnam opened the World Culture Gallery right next to Unearthing Ancient Egypt. The space is a partially semi-permanent exhibit and partially featured exhibit. This space connects the big theater lobby to the lower level galleries.
Also, the Putnam received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for an ongoing community collaboration exploring regional history. This will help the museum update River, Prairie and People. Currently they have a reflection space at the end of the exhibit to collect community feedback on the update.
“Over multiple years and phases, the Putnam Museum and Science Center will partner across the community to assure the exhibit reflects the modern era, our shared experience as Quad Citizens, and the rich cultural diversity of our community. The update will bring the exhibit to the current day, including the extraordinary accomplishments and challenges of our times. Additions are also planned to reflect stories that are missing from the exhibit, including those that reflect the diversity of our region,” explains Leslie Klipsch, Vice President of Marketing & Sales. Come be part of this important project!
The Quad Cities Botanical Center in Rock Island, IL
There is nothing quite like a warm afternoon in the tropical Sun Garden to lift your spirits from the winter blues. Bring a book and take a seat on one of the welcoming benches. Feel the sun shine in and warm not only your body but your thoughts as well. See the banana trees and watch the koi fish swim through the water features.
In the winter they bring in a big sand pile much to the delight of younger visitors. Youngsters can dig and play in the clean sand while their grown-ups enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The sand will be available mid-January.
Enjoy exploring these Quad Cities treasures.
Written by Meghan Cooley
Meghan Cooley moved to the Quad Cities from St. Charles, IL, as an Augustana College student over 20 years ago. She left briefly after graduation and then returned to work in admissions and then marketing at Augustana College for 18 years. She now works as a consultant for admissions marketing and social media. She also does copy editing and writes for the Quad City Moms Blog. Now a true Quad Cities transplant, Meghan lives in Rock Island with her husband, Luke (R.O.W.V.A. and Augustana grad and Modern Woodmen employee) and four boys. She loves living in the Quad Cities and finds it the perfect place to raise a family, plan a date night, and go on adventures.