Putnam Museum and Science Center
The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a nonprofit museum and science center in Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities region with a 250,000-item collection, interactive science exhibits, a GIANT Screen Theater, educational programs, and signature events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1867
- HeadquartersDavenport, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Putnam Museum and Science Center does
The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a nonprofit museum founded in 1867 and headquartered at 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities bi-state region. The institution operates a combined natural history, cultural, and interactive science facility housing a permanent collection of over 250,000 artifacts, a GIANT Screen Theater for large-format film, and signature galleries including the Vault, Weather Center, Hall of Mammals, Black Earth | Big River, and a Mixed Reality VR Ancient Egypt experience. Its core products span on-site admissions, annual memberships, GIANT Screen movie showings ($10 adult / $9 youth-senior), educational programming (Putnam Explorers workshops, day camps, school field trips, IMMERSE! at $10-$20 per program), facility rentals (Grand Lobby, Lardner Balcony, Theater, Party Room), museum retail, and an active donor program including Birdies for Charity pass-throughs through the John Deere Classic.
The museum's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on signature annual events (Dino Days, Putnam Palooza, Polar Express Pajama Party, BOOvie Fest, History On Tap lectures), K-12 school group bookings, private event rentals, and free or low-cost programming such as the Davenport Civil Rights Trolley and Bicycle Tours co-produced with the Davenport Civil Rights Commission. Distribution is primarily through on-site visits at the single Davenport facility (Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5), supplemented by an online store (shop.putnam.org), self-service program registration on its Blackbaud ticketing platform, and a new bi-monthly Artifacts & Archives podcast co-produced with the Davenport Public Library launched in 2026. Revenue is diversified across admissions, subscription memberships, retail, facility rentals, educational services, and donations, with no public revenue disclosure available in the data.
The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees under President & CEO Cindy Diehl Yang, with operational support from major municipal and civic backers including the City of Davenport, Quad City Cultural Trust, Iowa Arts Council, and John Deere Classic. Its most consequential ongoing initiative is the Putnam Dino Expedition — a multi-year Triceratops excavation and preparation partnership with Augustana College and Leap Lab, expected to install as Iowa's only full dinosaur skeleton in 2027.
Putnam Museum and Science Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Putnam Museum and Science Center
- Legal name
- Putnam Museum and Science Center
- Website
- https://putnam.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1867
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a nonprofit museum and science center in Davenport, Iowa, serving the Quad Cities region with a 250,000-item collection, interactive science exhibits, a GIANT Screen Theater, educational programs, and signature events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Putnam Museum and Science Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Museum and Science Center
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Natural History Museums (THAJADAC), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)
Keywords
Where Putnam Museum and Science Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Davenport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Putnam Museum and Science Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Museum Admission: General admission fees for visitors. The museum offers tiered pricing for adults, youth, and seniors. Special events and seasonal exhibitions may carry separate admission fees.
- Memberships: Annual membership programs offering exclusive access and benefits, with periodic promotional discounts such as 20% off during Halloween weekends and $20 gift card promotions.
- GIANT Screen Theater: On-site movie theater showing documentary and feature films on a giant screen. Ticket sales for movies and special film events. Hosts large-scale film events such as Hamilton on the GIANT Screen.
- Museum Store / Retail: On-site museum store selling merchandise including specialty items such as Triceratops-themed merchandise, with proceeds supporting museum programs.
- Facility Rentals: Rental of museum spaces including Grand Lobby, Lardner Balcony, GIANT Screen Theater, and Party Room for private events, parties, and weddings.
- Educational Programs and Camps: Revenue from structured educational programs including Putnam Explorers (Kinder, Junior, and full Explorers), summer camps, school field trips (Putnam IMMERSE!), and workshops. Pricing varies by program tier and membership status.
- Birdies for Charity Donations: Annual giving program through John Deere Classic Birdies for Charity. The Classic passes 100% of contributions to the museum and adds a 5-10% bonus. Used to supplement operating funds.
- Donations and Capital Campaign: Direct donations supporting specific projects such as the Bring the Dinosaur Home to the Quad Cities campaign for the Triceratops skeleton. Community involvement through in-person and online donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Museum Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Movie Theater Admission |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Putnam Explorers and Junior Explorers Programs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kinder Explorers Program |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Summer and Seasonal Camps |
| Subscription | Annual | Annual Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Putnam Museum and Science Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Putnam Museum and Science Center operates a single-site museum and science center in Davenport, Iowa that combines a natural history museum, a history and culture museum, and a hands-on interactive science center under one roof. It sells general admission, GIANT Screen Theater tickets, facility rentals, museum store merchandise, and structured educational programming (field trips, Explorers workshops, day camps, and IMMERSE school programs). It also operates a 250,000+ item permanent collection that is increasingly made publicly accessible through the Vault gallery, runs signature community events (Polar Express Pajama Party, Dino Days, Putnam Palooza, BOOvie Fest, History On Tap), and is undertaking the multi-year Putnam Dino Expedition to install Iowa's only full dinosaur skeleton by 2027.
Product overview
The Putnam Museum and Science Center is a museum offering a unified experience combining natural science, history, and cultural exhibits. Its core offerings include GIANT Screen Theater for movies, Science Center interactive galleries (Weather Center, Evolution of Science, Science of Space, Science of Art), History & Culture galleries (Common Ground, Quad City Innovators, The Vault, Ancient Egypt with VR), Natural World exhibits (Hall of Mammals, Black Earth | Big River), and educational programming (Putnam Explorers workshops, day camps, field trips). Additional offerings include the Artifacts & Archives podcast, Storytelling Booth, Civil Rights tours, BOOvie Fest movie events, Polar Express Pajama Party, History On Tap lectures, and event rentals. The museum also operates the Putnam Dino Expedition, a multi-year project bringing a Triceratops skeleton to become Iowa's only full dinosaur skeleton by 2027.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GIANT Screen Theater A large-format theater inside the museum showing documentary films, feature films, and special film events (including Hamilton and The Polar Express), available to museum visitors and the general public at per-ticket pricing (Adults $10, Youth/Seniors $9).
- Science Center Exhibits Interactive science galleries bundled for museum visitors, including the Weather Center, Evolution of Science, Science of Space, and Science of Art, with hands-on activities for all ages.
- History and Culture Galleries Permanent historical exhibits covering Common Ground, Quad City Innovators, The Vault, Unearthing Ancient Egypt (with Mixed Reality VR), World Cultures, and the Traveling Civil Rights Exhibit.
- Natural World Exhibits Natural science permanent exhibits including the Hall of Mammals, Black Earth Big River Mississippi River exhibit, and the Putnam Dino Expedition.
- Education Programs Structured educational programming covering Putnam Explorers (grades 4-6), Junior Explorers (grades 1-3), Kinder Explorers (Pre-K-K), day camps across summer, spring and winter, school field trips, and the IMMERSE program.
- Putnam Explorers Monthly Workshops Drop-in Saturday workshops held the first Saturday of each month for children in grades 1-6, covering topics like chemistry, engineering, robotics, water, nature, and space mission. Pricing $20/program non-members, $15/program members.
- Putnam Day Camps Seasonal day camps offered in summer, spring, and winter, with full-day, half-day, and preschool options available for registration through the museum website.
- Field Trips and Putnam IMMERSE! Curriculum-aligned field trip offerings for K-12 groups, including the Putnam IMMERSE! program and access to an Educational Film Library.
- Event Rentals Venue rental service offering the Grand Lobby, Lardner Balcony, GIANT Screen Theater, and Party Room for private events including weddings, corporate gatherings, and birthday parties.
- Annual Museum Membership Annual subscription membership offering exclusive access, benefits, and member discounts across exhibits, programs, and events throughout the museum.
- Museum Store On-site and online retail store selling museum merchandise including specialty and Triceratops-themed products, with proceeds supporting museum programs.
- Polar Express Pajama Party Annual holiday ticketed event featuring a screening of The Polar Express on the GIANT screen, hot cocoa bar, crafts, reindeer hunt, and family activities; celebrating its 20-year tradition.
- Davenport Civil Rights Tours Ticketed guided tours exploring local civil rights history via trolley or bicycle, run in partnership with the Davenport Civil Rights Commission and led by Ryan Saddler of Friends of MLK.
- History On Tap Lecture Series Adult-only lecture series held every third Thursday with guest speakers presenting historical topics, accompanied by beverages, aimed at ongoing patron engagement.
- Artifacts and Archives Podcast Podcast co-produced with the Davenport Public Library exploring how Quad Cities history connects to national milestones, drawing on Putnam artifacts and Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center archives.
- Putnam Dino Expedition Multi-year paleontology project culminating in the permanent installation of a Triceratops skeleton expected in 2027, which would be the only full dinosaur skeleton on public display in Iowa; developed in partnership with Augustana College's Fryxell Geology Museum and Leap Lab.
Companies that use Putnam Museum and Science Center
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Putnam Museum and Science Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Putnam Museum and Science Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Davenport Public LibrarycoreThe Putnam Museum and Davenport Public Library co-produce the Artifacts & Archives podcast, exploring how Quad Cities history connects to national milestones. Episodes are released every other month throughout 2026 and use artifacts from the Putnam and archives from the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center.
- Augustana College / Fryxell Geology MuseumcoreTriceratops bones excavated in Lusk, Wyoming are being prepared at the Fryxell Geology Museum at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, as part of the multi-year dinosaur project.
- Leap Lab: Ventura County Science CentercoreDr. Marcus Eriksen, Founder and Executive Director at Leap Lab, hosts the dig expedition, assists with bone preparation, and fabricates missing bones for the Triceratops skeleton project.
- Quad City Cultural TrustcoreMajor sponsor and supporter of the Triceratops skeleton project and the museum's capital campaigns. Provides operational and programmatic funding support.
- Quad City Symphony OrchestraminorSupporting sponsor of the Bring the Dinosaur Home to the Quad Cities project, contributing to the community dinosaur initiative.
- Eastern Wyoming Nature CenterminorPartner in the dinosaur project supporting the Triceratops excavation and related scientific work.
- Davenport Civil Rights CommissioncoreOfficial partner in creating and leading the Davenport Civil Rights Trolley Tour and Bicycle Tour, bringing local civil rights history to the community.
- Friends of MLK / Ryan SaddlercoreRyan Saddler, CEO of Friends of MLK, leads the Davenport Civil Rights Trolley and Bicycle Tours in partnership with the Putnam and the Davenport Civil Rights Commission.
- John Deere Classic / Birdies for CharitycoreAnnual Birdies for Charity program where the John Deere Classic passes 100% of donor contributions to the Putnam and adds a 5-10% bonus check, designated as Birdies for Charity #595.
- City of DavenportcoreMajor general operating supporter of the Putnam Museum, providing municipal funding that enables museum operations and programming.
- Iowa Arts CouncilminorProvides general operating support to the Putnam, contributing to cultural and arts programming.
- Genesis Health SystemminorDonated time and CT scan equipment to help authenticate the Magic Mirror discovery, working with museum staff to verify the artifact's unique properties.
- Cincinnati Art MuseumminorShared research on double-plated bronze magic mirrors; Dr. Hou-Mei Sung and Kelly Rectenwald provided expertise comparing the Putnam's mirror to the Cincinnati Art Museum's similar artifact.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Putnam Museum and Science Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cincinnati Museum Center: Mid-size Midwestern museum complex that combines history, natural history and children's museum experiences under one roof at a landmark Union Terminal building. Closely parallels the Putnam's blend of natural science, cultural history, science-center interactives and community/civic programming.
- COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Columbus, Ohio science center with interactive exhibits, large-format theater, educational programs and traveling exhibits. Operates the same combined science-center + education + donor-supported model as the Putnam in a comparable Midwestern regional market.
- Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh science center with large-format theater (XPLOR), interactive exhibits, traveling exhibits and educational programming. Comparable in operating a multi-experience science center within an established museum network.
- Science Museum of Minnesota: St. Paul-based mid-size science museum with a giant-screen theater, permanent exhibits, Omnitheater, and K-12 education programs. Closest comparable in scale and operating model to the Putnam: combines hands-on science, theater admissions, educational programming and donor-driven exhibits in a Midwestern metro.
- Tellus Science Museum: Cartersville, Georgia science museum featuring a fossil gallery, planetarium and hands-on exhibits. Comparable to the Putnam in operating a donor-supported paleontology and natural science program with a planned dinosaur/fossil draw.
- Discovery Center Museum: Rockford, Illinois hands-on children's and science museum serving a small Midwestern metro near the Wisconsin/Illinois border. Most directly comparable in scale, family-member economics and K-12 school-group dependence.
- OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry): Portland-based science museum with hands-on labs, IMAX-style theater, and K-12 field-trip programs. Comparable in revenue mix (admissions, theater, memberships, education, rentals) and in operating a donor-funded regional science center outside a top-10 metro.
- Boonshoft Museum of Discovery: Dayton, Ohio museum combining science, natural history, a planetarium and children's discovery experiences. Closely comparable to Putnam in size, combined-format offering and reliance on regional membership/school field-trip economics.
Broad incumbents
- Field Museum: Chicago natural history museum with a globally recognized collection and traveling exhibit operation. Comparable to the Putnam's natural-history and anthropology collection profile, but at vastly larger scale, and serves as a competing draw for regional visitors and donor attention in Illinois and Eastern Iowa.
- Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Massive Chicago science museum with rotating blockbuster exhibits, Omnimax theater and deep K-12 programming. Larger and broader portfolio but the closest Upper-Midwest incumbent benchmark for science-center attendance, exhibit IP and school-field-trip economics that frame Putnam's competitive set.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Putnam Museum and Science Center social profiles
Digital presencePutnam Museum and Science Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Putnam Museum and Science Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Putnam Museum and Science Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Putnam Museum and Science Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Putnam Museum and Science Center
What does Putnam Museum and Science Center do?
The Putnam Museum and Science Center operates a single-site museum and science center in Davenport, Iowa that combines a natural history museum, a history and culture museum, and a hands-on interactive science center under one roof. It sells general admission, GIANT Screen Theater tickets, facility rentals, museum store merchandise, and structured educational programming (field trips, Explorers workshops, day camps, and IMMERSE school programs). It also operates a 250,000+ item permanent collection that is increasingly made publicly accessible through the Vault gallery, runs signature community events (Polar Express Pajama Party, Dino Days, Putnam Palooza, BOOvie Fest, History On Tap), and is undertaking the multi-year Putnam Dino Expedition to install Iowa's only full dinosaur skeleton by 2027.
Is Putnam Museum and Science Center a public or private company?
Putnam Museum and Science Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Putnam Museum and Science Center founded?
Putnam Museum and Science Center was founded in 1867. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Putnam Museum and Science Center based?
Putnam Museum and Science Center is headquartered in Davenport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Putnam Museum and Science Center make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Museum Admission is the primary driver. The others are memberships, GIANT Screen Theater, museum Store / Retail, facility Rentals, educational Programs and Camps, birdies for Charity Donations and donations and Capital Campaign.
Who are Putnam Museum and Science Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cincinnati Museum Center, COSI (Center of Science and Industry), Carnegie Science Center, Science Museum of Minnesota, Tellus Science Museum, Discovery Center Museum, OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) and Boonshoft Museum of Discovery. Broad incumbents are Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago.
Does Putnam Museum and Science Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Putnam Museum and Science Center.
What industry is Putnam Museum and Science Center in?
Putnam Museum and Science Center's product category is Museum and Science Center. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAD, Science & Technology Museums, with a secondary code of THAJADAC, Natural History Museums. Its NAICS code is 7121.