Important Ingredients of a Strong Environment

Davenport is the home of Iowa's oldest art museum. The Figge Art Museum has more than 3,500 permanent holdings including nationally and internationally know works of art. Education programs, an interactive Children's Center and traveling art exhibitions make this a rich cultural resource.

Davenport's Putnam Museum and Giant Screen Theater explores local and global history through unique exhibits that include full-scale African and Arctic animals, a 3,000-year-old mummy and Mississippi River habitats. The museum presents educational programs for all ages.

The Family Museum of Arts and Science, located in Bettendorf, stimulates imagination and creativity through interaction. Five galleries, special events, classes and an outdoor playground make learning fun.

Three Library Systems

Three library systems provide easy access to resources. All libraries are part of RiverShare, a bi-state, multi-type consortium of libraries with on-line members and database.

• The Scott County Library, the oldest county library system in the state, conveniently serves the entire county at 6 branch locations and a traveling bookmobile. Headquartered in Eldridge, with branch locations in: Blue Grass, Buffalo, Durant, Eldridge, Princeton, and Walcott.
• The Davenport Public Library is the third largest public library in the state. There are three locations: Downtown Main Street, Fairmount Street Branch and Eastern Avenue Branch.
• The Bettendorf Public Library is part of The Learning Campus, which includes the Family Museum of Arts and Science.

Communications With The World

Daily and weekly newspapers; network, educational and cable television; local Internet access companies; and more than 20 radio stations serve the Scott County area.

Shopping is Varied and Fun

NorthPark Mall in Davenport serves the county and entire region as one of Iowa's largest shopping centers. Duck Creek Plaza in Bettendorf complements the shopping experience with additional stores.

Neighborhoods and county communities provide other opportunities for shopping excursions. Historic areas, like the Village of East Davenport, are filled with one-of-a-kind shops. Several rural communities specialize in Midwestern arts and crafts, antiques and other specialty stores.

Accommodations

The choices for lodging in Scott County continues to grow. Bettendorf's riverfront Casino Hotel, the historic Blackhawk Hotel in downtown Davenport, as well as quaint bed and breakfasts in historic mansions, farm and riverfront homes add local flavor to the lodging experience. Major hotel and motel chains are also well represented in our downtowns and along Scott County's Interstate highways.

Expansive meeting and convention facilities are also available, including the RiverCenter in Davenport, which offers more than 104,000 square feet of space.