DAVENPORT, IOWA (August 30, 2022)  Anne Frank: A History for Today opens September 2, 2022, at the Putnam Museum and Science Center. Part of the community-wide project, Out of Darkness: Holocaust Messages for Today, the exhibit tells the story of Anne Frank against the background of the Holocaust and the Second World War.

Anne Frank: A History for Today brings to life the story of the young Jewish girl who — in the pages of her world-renowned diary — documented two years of hiding in German-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. By sharing Anne’s legacy with visitors, students, and teachers, this traveling exhibit seeks to inspire our commitment to never be bystanders but instead to stand up together against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and inequality wherever they may exist today.

“Anne Frank’s story is so important for today,” said Christina Kastell, Curator of History and Anthropology. “Her story inspires girls and boys alike, telling them that they, too, can inspire others.”

This exhibit is on loan from the Anne Frank Center and has been embellished with artifacts from Quad Citians who were impacted by the Holocaust, the Illinois Holocaust Museum, and Danville Station and Museum. These artifacts include a concentration camp uniform, a flashlight used by guards in Theresienstadt, a Star of David patch, and the story of the Geiringer family who were on a similar path to the Franks while in hiding, depicting their experience through paintings that were later recovered.

Serving as the site for the Out of Darkness launch, the exhibit is only one of dozens of programs for children and adults across the community — all designed to counter damaging contemporary issues such as intolerance, misinformation, and hate speech.

“The Putnam is proud to be a partner in the Out of Darkness project during this important time in our region’s history,” says Rachael Mullins, CEO and President of the Putnam. “We hope the community will find value in the exhibit as well as support the programming of all the collaborative partners over the coming months.”

This exhibit was made possible with support from the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Scott County Regional Authority, Regional Development Authority, Rauch Family Foundation II Inc, KWQC, and the Joyce and Tony Singh Family Foundation. Anne Frank: A History for Today is sponsored in North America by the University of South Carolina and the Anne Frank Center; it was developed by the Anne Frank House.

Exhibit admission is included in the price of general admission — $9 for adults, $8 for youth (ages 3-18), seniors, college students, and military. Through the Putnam’s Museums for All program, admission is $1 per person for households with the presentation of an EBT card. Admission is free for members.

For more information, visit https://www.putnam.org/exhibits/anne-frank. For groups, or to plan your visit, call 563-324-1933.

About the Putnam

The Putnam Museum brings to life a sense of place, time, and purpose to ignite human potential and inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people. For more than 150 years, guests have experienced the Putnam’s permanent exhibits ranging from Unearthing Ancient Egypt to our family-favorite science galleries, as well as an array of programs and internationally-recognized traveling exhibits. The Putnam is dedicated to helping guests discover and explore in a friendly and engaging atmosphere, including wheelchair access throughout the museum and theater, sensory-friendly maps and backpacks, and wheelchairs available to borrow upon request.

For more information about events, exhibits, and accessibility visit putnam.org.

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