Traveling Exhibits

The Family Museum works with some of the most respected institutions around the world to bring exhibits to our campus, including the Smithsonian Institution, Science World British Columbia, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Traveling exhibits are chosen for their unique, educational, interactive and fun content.  Exhibit dates are subject to change.  Please call (563) 344-4106 to confirm exhibit prior to visiting the Museum.

October 18 - November 16

We use many different forms of communication in our everyday lives.  From the subtleties of speech to signs and symbols, sending and receiving information from the world around us is second nature.  Play and experiment with all the different ways you “get the message” in this interactive exhibit.  Try your hand at virtual cave art, create a coat of arms, puzzle over expressions, send a message in Morse code and more! 

Get the Message was developed by the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa and the Discovery Center Museum of Rockford, Illinois as part of the T.E.A.M.S. collaboration.  Traveling Exhibitions At Museums of Science is a collaboration between the National Science Foundation and seven science museums nationwide, including the Family Museum, to produce intriguing traveling exhibitions.  For the past several years, this group has worked together to fabricate four different exhibitions, including Get the Message.  Each of these hands-on exhibitions has appeared at the Family Museum during the last 2 years.