Putnam Museum Museum
History and science museum in Davenport, Iowa
In Davenport, Iowa, the Putnam Museum houses regional history, Native American collections and Mississippi River exhibits alongside rotating science displays. Families and school groups visit for hands-on shows and local archaeology.
Putnam Museum at a Glance#
Address: 1717 W 12th St, Davenport, IA 52804, United States
Website: https://putnam.org
Hours: Tue-Sat 10:00am-4:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-4:00pm, closed Mondays (hours may change for holidays)
Admission: Adult $12, youth/senior discounts, children under 3 free (prices may vary for special exhibits/IMAX)
How to Get to Putnam Museum#
The Putnam Museum sits west of downtown Davenport. From Interstate 74 take exit 1B (US-61/US-67) west into downtown and follow signs for West 12th Street; the museum is at 1717 W 12th St with on-site parking behind the building. By public transit, Davenport’s CitiBus routes stop within a short walk; check the local CitiBus route map for the downtown stops.
Tips for Visiting Putnam Museum#
- Visit on weekday mornings to avoid school groups and see the live-animal exhibits with quieter crowds.
- Check the IMAX schedule and buy combined-exhibit + theater tickets if a film is running-the theater shows regional natural-history films as often as blockbusters.
- Enter via the main door on W 12th Street; free parking is available behind the building but fills up on weekend event days.
- Don't skip the regional history galleries-local Davenport artifacts include Civil War and Mississippi River objects most visitors breeze past.
Best Time to Visit Putnam Museum#
Indoor attraction best visited when the weather pushes people outside (cold winters or hot midsummer) or on a weekday morning to avoid school groups.
Weather & Climate near Putnam Museum#
Putnam Museum's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Continental - Hot-Summer Continental climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -11°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (902 mm/year).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -11° - -1° | -12° | 36 mm | - | - | 4.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | -8° - 2° | -8° | 27 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | -2° - 9° | 0° | 62 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 16° | 10° | 90 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 11° - 23° | 17° | 96 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 16° - 28° | 22° | 108 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 31° | 25° | 115 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 17° - 29° | 23° | 100 mm | - | - | 2.8 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 12° - 25° | 19° | 97 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 18° | 12° | 66 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | -1° - 9° | 0° | 58 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | -7° - 1° | -8° | 47 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
