DAVENPORT, IOWA (January 31, 2023) — The Putnam Museum and Science Center is thrilled to host the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Narwhals: Revealing an Arctic Legend. From their depiction in the 1500s as angry sea monsters to their status as icons of pop culture today, the narwhal, with its unique spiral tusk, has inspired legend in Inuit and European society and fascinated people across cultures for centuries. This mysterious animal and its changing ecosystem are highlighted in this Smithsonian traveling exhibition.

“We are thrilled to host this exhibition at our museum,” shares Chris Chandler, Curator of Natural Science. “Narwhals are fascinating animals in so many ways. This exhibition will definitely serve to enhance the Putnam’s ongoing message of environmental stewardship.”

Developed by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and its Arctic Studies Center and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the exhibition explores interdisciplinary research conducted about the narwhal by Smithsonian scientists, in collaboration with Arctic researchers and members of Inuit communities, about the narwhal in their rapidly-changing Arctic environment. The exhibition uses firsthand accounts from these scientists and Inuit community members to reveal how traditional knowledge and experience, coupled with scientific research, heighten the understanding of narwhals and the changing global climate.

“The narwhal gives us unique insight into the changing Arctic and inspires us to preserve and protect its environment, cultures, and creatures,” said William Fitzhugh, curator of the exhibition and director of the Arctic Studies Center.

Featuring an eighteen-foot, life-size model of a male narwhal, the exhibition examines “the unicorn of the sea.” Visitors will learn what the narwhal tusk is for, test their tooth knowledge, examine a cast of a skull from a prehistoric narwhal relative, and compare the different ways that narwhals and their whale relatives have adapted to the Arctic environment. Panoramic images of landscapes and a soundscape of narwhal vocalizations, ice and water flows, and other Arctic wildlife will immerse visitors in the Arctic environment of the narwhal. The exhibition highlights how the narwhal and its tusk have inspired medieval European unicorn imagery and legend. Visitors can read the Inuit legend of the narwhal, illustrated by artwork from Inuit community members. Audiences will learn what the Inuit have learned and how environmental changes are affecting the way of life for both narwhal and Inuit.

“The Putnam Museum and Science Center is honored to host this important exhibition, created by our partners at the Smithsonian Institution,” shares Rachael Mullins, President and CEO of the Putnam. “This celebration of these magical creatures and the stewardship of the Inuit people advances our mission to ‘inspire our diverse community to learn about and care for our world and all its people’.”

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 putnam.org/exhibits/BuildCreateInnovate. For groups, or to plan your visit, call 563-324-1933.

About the Putnam

The Putnam Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, 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.

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

About the Smithsonian  

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth’s unfolding story. The museum is one of the most visited natural-history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world’s most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. Its Arctic Studies Center conducts research on Arctic peoples, cultures, and environments throughout the circumpolar region.

SITES and Smithsonian Affiliations are critical national-outreach units at the Smithsonian Institution. For more than seventy years, SITES has been connecting Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history. Smithsonian Affiliations establishes and maintains the Smithsonian’s long-term partnerships with museums, educational organizations, and cultural institutions in the US, Puerto Rico, and Panama. Together, SITES and Affiliations share the Smithsonian's vast resources with millions of people outside Washington DC. Visit sites.si.edu and affiliations.si.edu for more information.

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