Colonel Davenport House Foundation

The gift shop has a plethora of interesting and historic items for sale. A selection can be seen in the collage below. All proceeds aid the Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation's efforts to share the story of George Davenport, our area's first permanent white settler, and to preserve his former home on Arsenal Island, the Quad Cities' oldest permanent residence.

BEAVER’S NEW COAT ($3.00)

Learn how the fur trade changed the world through a narrative by Dr. Will Leinicke, former Interpretive
Specialist at the John Hauberg Indian Museum.

OTTER GETS TRICKED! ($5.00)

Meet George Davenport, a founding father of our area, in a biographical sketch by Regena Jo Schantz, who’s been researching the Davenports since 1977.

WILDCAT’S WILY DINNER ($5.00)

Learn how the Mississippi River shaped the Quad Cities through a narrative by Dr. Roald Tweet, creator of WVIK’s “Rock Island Lines.”

BACKYARD HISTORY BOOKS ALSO OFFER

Native American folk tales and fun facts about their animal characters, suggestions for activities adults & children can do together, including art projects, games, and science experiments, and lists of books to read for more information.

SPECIAL SET PRICE FOR ALL THREE: $12.00

All proceeds help preserve the Colonel Davenport House, the oldest permanent residence in the Quad Cities.

To order by mail, send checks (made payable to CDHF) to
Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation
Attn: Backyard History Books
P. O. Box 4603
Rock Island, IL 61204-4603

To cover shipping, include $1.51 for one book or $2.23 for the set.

The House That Courage Built: The Story of Colonel George Davenport DVD

The 18-minute DVD program explores the life and contributions of Colonel Davenport, an early settler and a founding father of the City of Davenport and the surrounding region. It also includes his impact on the economic development of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. The DVDs are for sale in the gift shop. Each city’s library main branch has a copy of the DVD to check out if you'd like to have it for a program. The CDHF would also be happy to provide a speaker for your group.

Your Obedient Servant Book

Through a grant from the Riverboat Development Authority and the efforts of CDHF volunteers, Bill Hannan extensively annotated and footnoted “Your Obedient Servant,” an except from Franc Wilkie’s “Davenport Past and Present.” Hannan has illuminated this book with numerous graphics, maps, artwork, and uncredited photos bringing this important piece of history to life. These paperback books are for sale in the gift shop.