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The John Deere Commons are located on the site of John Deere’s first plow factory in downtown Moline. Visitors to the commons will find a combination of office facilities, restaurants, shopping, overnight accommodations, and entertainment venues. The commons are home to the John Deere Pavilion, The Mark, and the John Deere Store.
The John Deere Pavilion is the largest and most comprehensive agricultural exhibit in the world as well as the Quad Cities most popular tourist attraction. The 15,000 square foot exhibition hall cost $7 million to construct and was opened on August 16, 1997. The pavilion pays tribute to the Deere heritage, agriculture, and the farm implement business. On display are John Deere tractors from 1918 to present. For additional information call (309) 765-1000.
The John Deere Planetarium at Augustana College was opened in 1968. The planetarium is home to a large collection of meteorites including a 556-pound iron meteorite. Besides a look at the solar system, visitors may enjoy United States space exhibits as well as the planetarium’s historical library of astronomy. To learn more about the John Deere Planetarium contact (309) 794-7318.
The Niabi Zoo opened in 1959 as a 38-acre wild animal farm. Four years later it was purchased by Mrs. Charles Deere Wiman and given to Rock Island County with an additional 200 acres. Niabi Zoo is home to more than 700 animals such as monkeys, lions, tigers, and bears. Other zoo attractions include a new aquarium exhibit, petting zoo, playground, train rides, and picnic areas. Call (309) 799-5107 for more details on Niabi Zoo.
Built in 1892, the Butterworth Center was a wedding gift to William and Katherine Deere Butterworth. William served as the third president at Deere & Company and the home was used to entertain business associates. In 1955, the Butterworth Center was opened to the public. The ornate, formal structure offers visitors a wealth of Deere family history. The Butterworth Center is located at 1105 8th Street. Phone (309) 765-7971 for additional information.
Moline has the second largest Belgian population in the United States.
The Center
for Belgian Culture preserves and shares the local Belgian
heritage. The center displays memorabilia from early immigrants, an Old
World lace exhibit, and other Belgian items. The Center for Belgian Culture
is located at 712 18th Avenue and can be reached at (309) 762-0167.
The Colonel Davenport
Home, located on the north shore of Arsenal Island, is the
oldest home in the Quad Cities. The federal-style home was built in 1833
and was home to the Colonel’s family until 1863. The Colonel was
murdered in the home on July 4, 1845. The structure was restored in 1907
and again in 1988 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today the home is filled with artifacts from the mid nineteenth century.
For more details call (309) 786-7336.
Arsenal Island was originally called Rock Island and changed to avoid confusion with the town of Rock Island. The 946-acre island was first occupied by native Indians and later became a military outpost. In 1816 Fort Armstrong was established on the island. During the Civil War, Arsenal Island served as a prisoner of war camp where nearly 2,000 prisoners died and were laid to rest in the island’s confederate cemetery. Today more than 6,000 people are employed at the island’s military manufacturing facility. The island’s other attractions include Lock & Dam 15, the Colonel Davenport Home, Rock Island Arsenal Museum, and the National Cemetery.
The Deere-Wiman House is located in Moline at 817 11th Avenue on top of a hill overlooking the city. The house was built in 1872 for Charles Deere, son of John Deere, who succeeded his father as president of the company. His granddaughter, Patty Deere-Wiman, lived in the house until 1976. Three years later it was opened to the public. Visitors can tour the grounds for a look at the outstanding gardens or see a wealth of Deere family history inside. For more information phone (309) 765-7971.
With one of the largest and finest collections of rock, mineral, and fossils in the Midwest, Fryxell Geology Museum at Augustana College in Rock Island is a wonderful place to visit. The museum’s diverse collection offers more than 1,500 specimens such as a complete tylosaurus skeleton, a tyrannosaurus rex skull, and a two-billion-year-old fossil. Call (309) 794-7318 for more information about Fryxell Geology Museum.
The Hauberg Indian Museum was constructed in 1934 at the Blackhawk State Historic Site in Rock Island. Rock Island resident, John Hauberg, provided a majority of the artifacts for the museum. Hauberg’s collection of Sauk and Fox Indian artifacts included jewelry, weapons, and domestic items. The museum interprets the Indian culture with seasonal dioramas depicting daily life for the Sauk Indians from 1750 to 1830. For more details about Hauberg Indian Museum call (309) 788-9536.
A 45-minute drive to West Branch, Iowa will take you to the birthplace of our 31st president, Herbert Hoover. The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site was established August 12, 1965, and is run by the National Park Service. The site’s attractions include Hoover’s birthplace cottage, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, Hoover’s grave site, and the Herbert Hoover Library. The library contains more than seven million pages of documents and reveals the many sides of the only president to come from Iowa. More than 250,000 visitors come to explore the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site each year. Call (319)643-2541 for details.
Davenport’s Putnam Museum
of History and Natural Sciences has been serving the Quad
Cities since 1867. The 76,000-square-foot facility holds more than 160,000
artifacts. Exhibits cover natural sciences, anthropology, and local history.
The museum’s artifacts include a 3,000-year-old mummy, a 200-million-year-old
tree, and a wealth of items from Quad City settlers and Indians. The newest
addition at Putnam, a 270-seat IMAX theater, opened in the Spring of 2002.
The Putnam Museum of History and Natural Sciences is located at 1717 West
12 Street and can be reached at (563) 324-1933.
The Black Hawk State
Historic Site was the home of Sauk and Mesquakie Indians
from 1730 to 1831 when they were forced to leave. From 1882 to 1927 the
site was a popular amusement park. During the height of its popularity,
the daily attendance would reach 15,000 visitors. When the park closed
in 1927, the state of Illinois purchased the site. Today Black Hawk State
Historic Site is a 205-acre park with 4 miles of hiking trails that overlook
the scenic Rock River. Call (309) 788-0177 for more information.
Iowa’s largest and most grand movie theater in the 1930's was located
at 136 East 3rd Street in Davenport. The Adler
Theater premiered all of Hollywood’s major releases
and hosted a variety of touring performers. The beautiful art-deco theater
was built in 1931 and was fully restored in 1984. Today the 2,400 seat
theater hosts Broadway musicals, symphony concerts, comedians, and family
shows. Call (563) 326-8555 for more information about the Adler Theater.
Established in 1855, the 95-acre Chippiannock Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery has an abundance of historic landscaping and grave site architecture. The cemetery office offers a brochure that details the lives of many historically significant people that have been buried at Chippiannock. The cemetery is located in Rock Island at 2901 12th Street. Call (309) 788-6622 for more information.
The Rock Island Arsenal Museum was established in July 4, 1905. Exhibits highlight the history of the arsenal and the development of military firearms. The museum displays the history of the island from native Indians to the present. Weapons from the United States and foreign countries as well as firearms from military and civilian sources are on display. Call (309) 782-5021 for more details.
The Davenport Museum of Art was established in 1925 with a gift of 334 paintings from Charles Ficke. In 2003 the museum relocated to the heart of downtown Davenport and was renamed the Figge Art Musuem. Today there are more than 3,500 pieces in the museum’s permanent holdings. The collection spans four centuries and includes paintings, drawings, and sculptures. The museum regularly hosts exhibits from other prominent museums and collections. The Figge Art Musuem is located at 225 W. Second Street and can be reached at (563) 326-7804.
The Village of East Davenport is a 120-acre historic district that dates back to 1851. The district includes 500 homes, but most visitors are interested in the district’s shopping opportunities. There are more than 60 unique shops in a six square block business district. For information about the Village of East Davenport call (563) 322-1860.
The Family Museum of Arts & Science moved to a new facility on 2900 Learning Campus Drive in Bettendorf in March 1997. A year later the museum was recognized as “The Iowa Attraction of the Year”. It’s no wonder, this hands-on museum offers a wide variety of exciting science and art exhibits. Children can drive a John Deere combine, operate a TV camera, or create a cloud. Contact the museum at (563) 344-4106 for more information.
For an up close and impressive look at the mighty Mississippi River, Lock & Dam 15 is the place to go. This lock & dam is 15th in a chain of 27 lock & dams that start in St. Paul, Minnesota and end in Granite City, Illinois. Visitors can witness river traffic move through the lock or just sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There is a visitor’s center at the west end of Arsenal Island that contains exhibits about the river and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The Rock Island County Historical Society House-Museum at 822 11th Avenue is an excellent source of Quad City history. There are three museum buildings, one of which is a mansion that dates back to 1878. The mansion is furnished with artifacts to reflect life in the 19th century. Notable exhibits include carriages, dolls, Indian artifacts, clothing, and milk processing equipment. For more information about the museum call (309) 764-8590.
Walnut Grove Pioneer Village in Long Grove, Iowa offers a unique look at a 19th century pioneer village. In the 1860's Walnut Grove was an actual crossroads settlement in Scott County. Today, the 3-acre site is a replica of that settlement with 18 historic buildings. A blacksmith shop, school house, and church are among the village buildings. For details call (563) 285-9903.