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About the Family Museum
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Mission
The Mission of the Family Museum is to inspire life-long learning
in children through interactive arts and science activities and exhibits.
Just the Facts
The Family Museum of Arts and Science is a
department of the
City of Bettendorf
built
in 1997 and located on the Learning Campus next to the
Bettendorf Public Library
off 18th Street and
Spruce Hills Drive in Bettendorf. Since opening in the new facility, the museum has served
over 1,000,000 people. The facility includes 44,000 sq. ft. of programming
space including a 9600 sq. ft. exhibit hall, three multi-purpose
rooms for dance instruction and performances, two preschool
classrooms, two art studios, one science studio, a party room, a
great hall, museum store, welcome theater for school groups and an
outdoor science discovery park "Kingdom for Kids" playground.
Exhibits and classes
are
designed for all ages.
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History
In 1994 planning was begun to create a new facility to house the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa. In the Spring of 1997, that vision became a reality as
the doors of the new museum opened for the first time to the public at 2900 Learning
Campus Drive in central Bettendorf. Situated next to the Bettendorf Public Library on a
10-acre property, both structures are part of a complex called The Learning Campus,
providing a full spectrum of life-long learning opportunities for all ages. The Family
Museum is a merger of the former Children's Museum and Center for the
Cultural Arts in Bettendorf and offers interactive educational experiences to families in
the Quad Cities and the Midwest area. Since opening in the new facility, the
Museum has
served over 1,000,000 people. This unique, fun-packed, hands-on Museum
is designed for children and families of all ages to share in the
joy of discovery, investigation and learning together.
Historical Timeline
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1974
Bettendorf Museum established in former Washington School.
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1980 Former
Lincoln School opens as Lincoln Center for the Cultural Arts.
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1985
Interactive children's exhibits introduced in the Bettendorf Museum.
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1987
Bettendorf Museum changes name to The Children's Museum
.
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1990
Introduced idea of new facility to Bettendorf City Council.
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1992
Children's Museum and Center for Cultural Arts merger discussions begin.
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1994
Referendum passes to construct new facility for merged museum and arts center.
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1995 Merger
complete and name changed to Family Museum of Arts & Science.
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1996 Closed
down museum activities in former Washington & Lincoln Schools on December 31.
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1997 Grand
opening of new facility on Learning Campus Drive on March 2.
March
2000
The Family Museum greeted it's 500,000th visitor.
April 2002 The Family Museum celebrated it 5th
Birthday and 625,000th visitor.
2003
The Family Museum receives accreditation from the American
Association of Museums.
2005
Name formally changed to The Family Museum.
July
2005 The Family Museum Foundation is incorporated.
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The Learning Campus
The Family Museum at the Learning Campus is located on Learning Campus Drive off 18th Street
next to the Bettendorf Public
Library. The Family Museum is
a department of the City of
Bettendorf and moved
into a new facility in March, 1997. Since opening, the Family Museum
has served over 1,000,000
persons. The library and museum offer visitors the opportunity to
pursue the joy of life-long learning at two modern, attractive
and inviting
high-tech
facilities.
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Affiliations/Awards
The Family Museum was honored
as the 1998 Iowa Attraction of the Year by the Travel Federation of Iowa
at the Iowa Tourism Conference.
The Family Museum
general brochure "Join the Adventure" was named the 1999 Consumer
Brochure of the Year at the annual Iowa Tourism Conference.
The Family Museum was accredited by the American
Association of Museums in 2004
Memberships
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American Association
of Museums
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Association of
Children's Museums
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Association of Midwest Museums
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Association of
Science/Technology Centers
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Iowa Museum
Association
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Eastern Iowa Tourism
Association
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Quad City Convention
and Visitors Bureau
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Bettendorf Chamber of
Commerce
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Davenport Chamber of
Commerce
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Illinois
Quad City
Chamber of Commerce.
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