In celebration of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary this year, the Putnam Museum and Science Center and the Davenport Public Library are launching a new podcast, Artifacts & Archives. The first episode premieres Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

This engaging series will take listeners on a journey through 250 years of American history—seen through the unique perspective of the Quad Cities, according to a Putnam release. Each episode will explore a timeline from the nation’s founding to modern times, featuring remarkable artifacts from the Putnam Museum and archival treasures from the Davenport Public Library’s Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center.

“The Putnam Museum and Science Center is excited about teaming up with the Davenport Public Library,” says Putnam Museum Assistant Curator, Nora Moriarty. “Both of our institutions hold clues to our community’s history, and both of our collections are expansive enough to illustrate how the Quad Cities fits into our nation’s history. This podcast feels like a match made in heaven.”

Listeners will discover fascinating and often surprising stories that connect our community to pivotal moments in U.S. history. From notable artifacts on display at the Putnam Museum to rare items kept behind locked doors, and from historic documents to recommended reading, Artifacts & Archives offers a rich, local lens on national milestones.

“Davenport Public Library is so excited to partner with our friends at the Putnam Museum and Science Center for this special podcast series!” says Brittany Peacock, Youth Service Supervisor at the Davenport Public Library. “Listeners are going to love learning about historical artifacts that helped shape our nation found at the Putnam Museum and Science Center, as well as, supporting documents, books, resources, and artifacts found in our Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center and Davenport Public Library collections!”

The podcast aims to uncover the stories behind the objects and documents that shaped our region—and our country. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the Quad Cities’ role in America’s story, this podcast is your gateway to learning more.

Upcoming episodes will include:

Episode 1: Thomas Jefferson, the American Mastodon and Nation Building
January 19, 2026
What links one of our nation’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, the fossil finds of a giant beast—the American Mastodon—and the early American fight against Old World elitism to bolster the legitimacy of the American experiment? Tune in to find out!

Episode 2: Black Hawk Treaty and the LeClaire Family
March 16, 2026
What put Antoine and Marguerite LeClaire in the right place at the right time to play an instrumental role in the Black Hawk Treaty signing in Davenport in 1832? What led to the treaty—and what were its lasting effects?

The new series will be available on major podcast platforms and at www.putnam.org/artifacts-archives-podcast/.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.