A Conestoga wagon that doubles as a kaleidoscope, Holocaust survivor violins that still fill a concert hall, and a triceratops headed for Iowa. That’s not a movie plot, it’s what’s happening across the Quad Cities museum world right now.
We’re joined by Kelly Lau, Vice President of Museum Experiences at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport, Iowa. Kelly walks us through what her job really touches, from education and field trips to curatorial work and exhibit planning. We talk about the Kaleidoscope special exhibit with local artist Tom Chateau and why this kind of hands-on art, optics, and design is one of the best examples of STEAM learning you can bring a family to.
From there, we zoom out to the bigger visitor experience: summer camps for every age, the new Family Discovery Center built for pre-K kids and sensory-friendly exploration, and what it looks like when a museum takes accessibility seriously. Kelly shares how Spanish language interpretation and other changes are helping more visitors feel welcome. Then we spend time with one of the most moving cultural projects in the state, Violins of Hope, and why hearing these instruments played makes history feel immediate.
We close with the kind of museum stories you never forget, including CT scans of Egyptian mummies and the behind-the-scenes journey toward unveiling a triceratops for the Putnam’s 160th birthday in 2027. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves the Quad Cities, and leave a review, then tell us: what exhibit would you drive across Iowa to see?
QC, That's Where is a podcast powered by Visit Quad Cities. Through the people, partnerships, and personalities woven throughout the Quad Cities region, you'll meet real Quad Citizens and hear the untold stories of the region.
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