Quad Cities' Summer Looks Bright With These Online Events

Summer is here, and while the kids are great, and fun to spend time with... Sometimes they get a bit bored, and rowdy. These virtual events will not only keep the kids entertained, but teach them as well. There is something for QC residents of all ages this Summer.

Get ready for some fun with Art, Math, and History!

When it comes to art the Rock Island library has you covered! It's a virtual art series with Ms. Glo, and water colors! Youtube link will be provided for this virtual. Supply kit will be available for curbside pickup. More information can be found here.

ElenaNichizhenova

There is also a virtual Math series with the Rock Island library! Ms. Elizabeth will take you through a rainbow of fun math activities. More information can be found here.

Maria Symchych-Navrotska

If history is more your thing, then you can learn virtually too!

Take another look at World War I military history, and learn about local and/or Rock Island Arsenal history related to WWI.

More information can be found here.

Megan Brady

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The Figge Art Museum also hosts a "Virtual Family Day - Your Way!" Which as the name implies, is perfect for the family!

There are also a few in person activates as well!

The LeClaire Library has their Summer Reading Program which is perfect for kids looking to do actives outside of the house.

The Ride and Seek scavenger hunt is also back in the Quad Cities this year!

Participate on your own or with your hosehold in an outdoor scavenger hunt adventure during social distancing!

There are also multiple in person actives involving art as well.

As always stay safe and have fun Quad Cities!

Quad Cities Trivia

Do you think you are a Quad Cities expert? Test your knowledge below!

Iowa's Island City

There is something unique about every town, but there is really something special about Sabula, IA. Known as "Iowa's Island City," Sabula is the only town in the state of Iowa that is entirely on an island. While not a lot of people have been to, or live in Sabula, it is a quaint little town nestled right on the Mississippi River.

Before we show you around "Iowa's Island City," let me give you the history of Sabula. Sabula was established in 1835, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis. Isaac Dorman and a man named Hinkley crossed the river from the Illinois side on a log and decided to settle on what is now Sabula. An Ohio couple, James and Margaret Woods would settle on Sabula about a year later in April of 1836. Their son, Dr. E. A. Woods would purchase Hinkley's interest in the claim. Charles Swan and W. H. Brown would soon purchase Dorman's interest. The three men, Woods, Swan and Brown later had the land plotted in 1837.

The idea behind plotting the land was because there was no town between Lyons (north Clinton) and Bellevue. The plot of the new town was recorded in Dubuque as this area was part of Dubuque county at the time, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

According to Island City Harbor's website, Sabula went through a few names before landing on the official town name. In 1837, Sabula was first called Carrollport. Residents of the town didn't like the name because there was a man's name who was Carroll who had a bad reputation. The town changed its name to Charleston, after early settler Charles Swan. The only issue was that there was already a town called Charleston in Iowa which caused much confusion.

In 1846 the settler’s decided to find a name. Island City Harbor's website says that because of it’s sandy soil, William Hubble suggested the town be called "Sabulum" which is Latin for sand. A party was being held around the time the town name was being discussed, when a woman, supposed to be Miss Harriet Hudson, suggested the town be called Sabula as it was easier to pronounce and sounded more elegant, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

Sabula did not actually become an island until 1939. According to Wikipedia, in the 1930's, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the lock and dam system. In 1939, Lock and Dam No. 13 between Clinton, IA and Fulton, IL was built which caused the bottomlands west of the town permanently flooded. With the Mississippi River east of the town, this created the "Island City." A levee was built around Sabula in 1957 for protection, according to Island City Harbor's website. This also allowed for the south sand pit to be turned into a boat harbor.

I would like to thank my mom Beth, her fiancé Matt, my brother Nolan and my wife Ellie for accompanying me to Sabula. We always have a blast on our trips and this one was no exception.

It's now time to introduce you to Sabula, Iowa, Iowa's Island City.