Iowa Public Television

The new museum was designed by architect David Chipperfield, in conjunction with Iowa architects Herbert Louis Kruze Blunck. Its glass walls help visitors enjoy views of both the Mississippi River and the bustling downtown area.

Because of the new building, the collections of the Davenport Art Museum will have their first-ever permanent display areas. Curious patrons will now be able to experience a wide range of art pieces -- from a 'signature' Grant Wood self-portrait, to a bright collection of Haitian and Mexican colonial art, to solemn works from the 17th century.

This story also tours the new Family Activity Center, where the first display is about -- what else -- architecture's building blocks.

The first major exhibit in the new museum is "The Great American Thing," a collection of art highlighting photos, paintings, and memorabilia of Georgia O'Keefe, Max Weber, and Alfred Stieglitz, among others.

Apart from art, the new building also offers Quad Citians a bite to eat, in a gourmet restaurant with a fine wine selection.