2026 Channel Cat Talks
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
- May 26 & 28 - Commanding the Rock Island Arsenal
- Col. Joe Parker - RIA Garrison Commander & Patrick Allie - Director, RIA Museum
- Discover the Arsenal’s history, contributions to the Quad Cities, new activities open to the public, and the island's role in national defense.
- June 2 & 4 - Twisted Tales of the Quad Cities
- Jeff Adamson, Author and Historian
- Adamson blends history and humor to explore lesser-known lore of the Quad Cities, such as a missing canal along Campbell's Island, a historic fire that leveled the East Village, and a local connection between Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain.
- June 9 & 11 - Raptors Along the River (kid friendly)
- Dave Murcia, Director, Wapsi River Environmental Education Center
- See a live raptor up close and personal as a Scott County Conservation Naturalist discusses birds of prey found in Quad Cities habitats. Learn about local ecology and the impact humans have on these amazing flying predators.
- June 16 & 18 - Behind the Scenes of a Barge Operation
- Walt Bassow - River Towboat Captain, Upper Mississippi Fleeting
- Cruise the river with a river towboat captain,who will offer insights into the industrial powerhouse of barge transportation and share behind-thescenes stories from a captain’s perspective.
- June 23 & 25 - River Science with the National Weather Service
- Mary-Beth Schreck, Senior Service Hydrologist, NWS
- Learn about hydrology of the Mississippi River, including some notable floods and how the National Weather Service forecasts river stages along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. We’ll also learn about fun facts about the river along the way.
- July 7 & 9 - Ferrying on the Mississippi
- Reggie Mcleod - Editor and Publisher, Big River Magazine
- Before we crossed the Mississippi River on bridges, people used a creative variety of ferry systems, and a few still operate today. Learn all about ferries and why they are an important part of history and river life.
- July 14 & 16 - History of the Sauk and Meskwaki Tribes in the Quad Cities region
- Beth Carvey - Retired Director of the Hauberg Indian Museum at Black Hawk State Historic Site. Author of "Twelve Moons: A Year in the Life of the Sauk and Meskwaki, 1817-1818."
- Learn about the culture and history of the last two tribes of American Indians to inhabit the Quad Cities region. Follow them through a year of seasonal activities and learn about the history that drove them from this region.
- July 21 & 23 - Making Room for The River
- Anthony Heddlesten, USACE Civil Engineer and Mayor of Riverdale
- Widening confluences on the Mississippi River creates room for the river when it floods. Hear about the Duck Creek confluence and improvements coming to Riverdale's creekbank.
- July 28 & 30 - Bix & Friends
- Josh Duffee, Musician & Jazz Historian
- Josh Duffee celebrates the music of the 1920s by playing recordings and talking about the music that Bix Beiderbecke and other groups recorded during the Roaring 20s. Sign up for both days, as the music and information will be different for each Channel Cat event!
- August 4 & 6 - Barrio Communitites in the Quad Cities
- Micaela Terronez, Special Collections Librarian, Augustana College
- Micaela Terronez’s presentation will include the historical reasons for the high influx of Mexican migrants to the Quad Cities in the early 20th century, as well as the personal experiences of individuals and families living in these working-class neighborhoods, or barrios.
- August 11 & 13 - The Mosaic of Our Mississippi River Landscape
- Norm Moline, Retired Augustana Professor
- This area has a unique geologic history, a divided river channel around Arsenal Island, and a flow modified by the dams. This sets the context for a wide variety of riverfronts, from intense use to open space. We will discuss this mix of natural and cultural features that add to the character of our area.
- August 18 & 20 - Rhythms of the River (kid friendly)
- Ben Schwind, Education Manager, Common Chord
- A history of American Roots Music up and down the Mississippi River. We'll discuss jazz, blues, gospel, rock & roll, country and their origins in towns along the river. This presentation will feature live performances along with recorded examples of some of music’s legends .
- August 25 & 27 - Gongoozling on the Mississippi w/USACE
- Anthony Heddlesten, Civil Engineer & Deputy Design Chief, US Army Corps of Engineers
- Explore USACE history and lock through the first lock constructed in the 1930s for the 9-foot channel system (navigation queue permitting). We’ll learn how it operates, why the system was built, and what maintenance and upkeep is required to keep it running for over 90 years.
Go to the 2026 Riverine Walks full schedule and details.
Return to the Explore the River Series home page.
Presenting Sponsor
- MetroLINK
Sponsors
- Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial
- BITCO Insurance Companies
- IHMVCU
- Crawford Company
- Eaton
- Quad-City Times
- Scott County Regional Authority
- Davenport Kiwanis
- Moline Kiwanis
- Optimist International - Moline Breakfast Club
- Davenport Noon Optimists
- Moline Rotary
2026 SPONSORS
Make a donation to River Action via PayPal.
