The Putnam Museum and Science Center is opening a unique collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution, with “Legacy of Land: Treaties and the Shaping of America,” a traveling exhibition on view Sept. 19, 2026 through Feb. 7, 2027.
Developed in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian and Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street, Legacy of Land explores the history and enduring impact of treaties between Tribal Nations and the United States. Through artifacts, historical documents, photographs, and personal stories, visitors will discover how these agreements transformed the American landscape, reshaped communities, and continue to influence our nation today.
At the Putnam (1717 W. 12th St., Davenport), the national exhibition is uniquely connected to local history through the story of the Black Hawk Treaty of 1832, a defining agreement between the Sauk, Meskwaki, and the U.S. government that ultimately led to the founding of Davenport, according to a Putnam release. By connecting national themes to regional history, the exhibition offers visitors a deeper understanding of how treaties have shaped both the country and the Quad Cities region.
“This is unusual to do a Smithsonian or any traveling exhibit like this,” Christina Kastell, Putnam curator of history and anthropology, told WVIK on Wednesday, Sept. 16. “Usually your traveling exhibit comes in, you present it, and then it goes away. But in this instance, The Smithsonian wanted to offer an opportunity for organizations to really dig into the history of the land that their institution is built on.”
The Putnam part of the exhibit was to produce content about the 1804 treaty that in this case forcibly ceded the land. “But we went beyond that, then further than most Smithsonian partners do. We wanted to talk about the 1832 treaty. But that in itself, you don't really understand that treaty unless you have the basis for it,” Kastell said.
“The basis dates back to the 1804 treaty that ceded the land that Black Hawk's home was on. And because of that, the whole Black Hawk War happened. And the ultimate outcome of the Black Hawk War is that the Sauk and Fox were forced to cede the land on the western side of the Mississippi River as punishment and repayment to the government for the Black Hawk War.”
“What makes Legacy of Land so unique is the presence and guidance of our curators and content experts from the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and the Meskwaki Nation. Through their collaboration, this exhibit shows the effects treaties had at the time on both Tribes who were living in Iowa and Tribes who were removed here. This exhibit does an amazing job of showing the different perspectives that went into the signing of these treaties and the ramifications of those differences.” Hailey Lorenzen, NAGPRA specialist at the Putnam, said in the museum release.
“It’s especially meaningful to me that we are exhibiting objects from both of our partner’s nations. When visitors read about these broken treaties and attempts to forcibly assimilate Native Americans, they will also see evidence that it did not succeed and that Tribes have continued to demonstrate their sovereignty and pass on their cultural traditions. That is something we at the Putnam are really celebrating through this exhibit.”
More than a traveling exhibition, Legacy of Land reflects the Putnam Museum's commitment to presenting history accurately, thoughtfully, and respectfully. Throughout the development and installation process, the Putnam worked closely with multiple Tribal Nations, Native American historians, cultural advocates, educators, and community partners to ensure the stories represented in the exhibition are shared with authenticity, care, and historical accuracy.
“This exhibition represents the kind of work the Putnam Museum strives to do every day, bringing people together through education, dialogue, and meaningful community partnerships,” said Cindy Diehl Yang, president and CEO of the Putnam. “We are honored to work alongside the Meskwaki Nation, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Native scholars, and community partners to share these important stories.”
Lorenzen – who earned a master’s in anthropology in 2024 from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee -- is in a new position (which began last January), funded through a grant from the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, of the National Park Service, Kastell said.
“Hailey has worked with the Sauk and Fox and the Ioway, who are local tribal nations that are part of the grant process. So, being able to install the artifacts in the exhibit was important,” she said.
“We went further back in history than most people would do because we had to have the coherent story,” Kastell added. The Putnam created two traveling pop-up exhibit banners, which will go to Native American reservations, the settlement for the Sauk and Fox, and the Ioway, who were partners on the project.
“And we'd also like to have it go as many places as we can. We'd love to see it go to Des Moines and be visible in the Capitol,” she said.
The banners present this history, how the Ioway indicated ownership of this land, going back years, she noted. “We talk about their story too: how they were moved west and south from the push of the European settlers, and how they settled down at Saukenuk (today’s Rock Island), and then were fraudulently removed from the land from a treaty that was done in 1804, and were pushed west, and how ultimately they settled in Tama (Iowa), having learned the ways of the white people's land ownership, and they purchased their own land.”
The Smithsonian part of “The Legacy of Land” addresses the Native American ceding of lands to settlers nationwide, and the movement of the Native Americans throughout the country's founding up until the last treaties were made, Kastell said.
The Putnam added exhibit cases with artifacts that represent the Meskwaki Nation, the Sauk and Fox Nation in Iowa, and it borrowed objects from the Ioway because the museum didn’t have objects that represent them, she noted.
Kastell hopes Putnam visitors will “come away with an understanding of how much we owe to the Native Americans and that how important these land resources are to us and to the Native Americans whose land this was.”
Preview and programs
The community is invited to an exclusive preview evening on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., before the exhibition opens to the public, with a short program at 6 p.m. featuring area Native Americans.
The special event will feature representatives from the Meskwaki Nation (Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa) and the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, who will share stories and perspectives that provide deeper context to the exhibition. Guests will enjoy complimentary food and beverages, hear from tribal representatives, and experience the exhibition before it opens to the public.
Throughout the exhibition's run, the Putnam Museum will present a series of programs designed to encourage deeper exploration of Indigenous history, culture, storytelling, and the lasting impact of treaties.
· Friday, Sept. 25: Dreamcatcher with Leland Faulkner: First People Stories Presented in partnership with Quad City Arts' Visiting Artist Series, acclaimed Native American storyteller, performer, and educator Leland Faulkner will share traditional Native stories and magical adventures that celebrate imagination, heritage, and the wisdom passed down through generations.
· Saturday, Sept. 26: Fourth Wall Film Series: Lost Nation: Ioway Screening of Part 2 followed by a discussion and Q&A with filmmakers and Reuben Ironhorse-Kent, Ioway artist and elder.
· Thursday, Oct. 1: Author Talk and Book Signing with Eric Zimmer: Zimmer will discuss his book Red Earth Nation, exploring Indigenous history and its relevance today.
· Saturday, Oct. 3: Author Talk and Book Signing with Bill Green: Green (the former state archaeologist of Iowa) will discuss his book, This Is the Route of My Forefathers: The 1837 Ioway Map, and sign copies following the presentation.
· Saturday, Nov. 28: Storytelling and Drumming with Larry Lockwood: Join Lockwood of the Native American Coalition of the Quad Cities for an engaging program focused on storytelling, culture, and music.
· Thursday, Jan. 20, 2027: History on Tap -- Clothing and Identity: Portraits of Black Hawk. Historian Jane Simonsen will examine the historical significance of Black Hawk's portraiture and the role of clothing and identity in shaping public perceptions.
Legacy of Land: Treaties and the Shaping of America is part of Museum on Main Street, a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service | Smithsonian Affiliations and state humanities councils.
For more than 65 years, SITES has shared Smithsonian collections and research with communities across the country, while Museum on Main Street has brought exhibitions and educational opportunities to rural and underserved communities in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
The Putnam is a Smithsonian affiliate institution.
Friday’s preview is free for Putnam members; $15 general admission; $10 for seniors, college students, and military, and $25 for an enthusiast ticket, available HERE.
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