Palmer Family Residence – Historic Davenport Attraction

We’ve seen some pretty unique and fascinating museums in our travels like the Bike Museum in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, the Porcelain House in Tianjin, or the Carpet Museum in Azerbaijan, but nothing will top the museum we just visited in Davenport, Iowa in the Quad Cities.

The Palmer Family Residence is a unique blend of history with artifacts from the Palmer family’s world travels (read more about it below). This unassuming house on Brady Street in Davenport, Iowa offers visitors a glimpse into chiropractic history through a beautifully preserved historic home. This National Register of Historic Places property was the family residence of prominent chiropractic figures from 1912 through the 1960s.

Some Quick Chiropractic History

You’ve probably heard of or been to a chiropractor at some point in your life, but have you ever wondered how this entire field of healthcare got started? The story is pretty incredible, and it all began right here in Davenport, Iowa, with one man’s curiosity and another man’s willingness to try something completely new.

The year was 1895, and Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer was operating as a magnetic healer in downtown Davenport. Palmer was a curious guy who had serious doubts about conventional medicine and was constantly searching for better ways to help people heal. His office was on the fourth floor of a building where Harvey Lillard worked as the janitor. Harvey had been almost completely deaf for 17 years.

One day in September, D.D. Palmer noticed an unusual bump in Harvey’s spine while he was working. Palmer theorized there might be a connection between this spinal irregularity and Harvey’s hearing loss, pretty revolutionary thinking for 1895. On September 18, 1895, D.D. Palmer performed what would become known as the first chiropractic adjustment in history. The results were immediate and dramatic. Harvey’s hearing was completely restored!

Palmer didn’t stop there. He founded Palmer School and Cure (now Palmer College of Chiropractic) in Davenport in 1897, creating the first educational institution dedicated to teaching this new healing art. Despite facing legal challenges and opposition from the established medical community, Palmer persevered. His son B.J. Palmer carried on the work after D.D.’s death in 1913, building the profession into what we know today.

One interesting thing to note is that B.J.’s wife Mabel was very involved in the school. She was actually a professor teaching anatomy classes. Chiropractic care has always been a profession that accepted women from the start, not as an aid or nurse assistant but as a full practitioner alongside male counterparts from the start. Good on you B.J. and Mabel!

Back to the Museum / Palmer Family Residence

B.J. Palmer and his wife Mabel purchased the house in Davenport, Iowa, from the Petersen family in 1912. The home originally belonged to a prominent local businessman Louis A. Petersen, one of the founders of the Petersen Harned Von Maur Department Store, which later became the well-known Von Maur retail chain. After acquiring the house, B.J. Palmer made several additions, including installing radio station WOC (one of the first commercial radio stations in the U.S.) and filling the home with artifacts from his world travels.

After his death in 1961, the Palmer House was basically locked and preserved. It was given to the Palmer Family and Chiropractic History Museum. The house now stands as a museum and educational space, allowing visitors to explore the personal life of B.J. Palmer. And let me tell you, it was a fascinating life for sure!

Eclectic Travel Collections at The Palmer Family Residence

Now onto the eclectic collections he gathered during his travels. This is the most fascinating part to me. In the 1920-1930’s this family traveled all over the world. Travel at that time was slow but they would take months to circle the globe. Along the way they picked up so many fabulous, interesting, unique things like: ivory chess sets from all over the world, elephant feet umbrella holder and humidor (for cigars), dragons from China, art work from Japan, a bust of Abraham Lincoln (one of only 11 ever made by that artist), an indoor tree fort made from 300 year old trees on campus that was held up with belts from WWI soldiers who became students at the university, a picture of Jesus that has its eyes both open and closed depending on how you look at it, lots of swords, Hindu and Buddha statues, a giant taxidermied moose, a safe that cannot be opened (although the other 6 safes have been opened with the passwords he’s left), his portable typewriter (very unique), a working pipe organ that cost over $1.5 million in today’s money (three times the house cost) to install, and a library with books that document his travels, his speeches, and the textbook he and his wife wrote for the college students.

The family liked to keep everything on display. The first floor of the home is brimming with all these items so they could show off the world to others. They recognized how privileged they were to be able to travel that much. They would host other people in their house to allow them to experience unique parts of the world.

That’s not all. There are so many quirky, interesting things sprinkled throughout the house. It’s like a scavenger hunt to find them all. When you visit, look for: a drawing from Chief Blackhawks grandson, a letter from President Herbert Hoover, Mabel’s drivers license from the early 1900’s, an award from a Magicians society, a microphone in the ceiling for the radio show, a picture of B.J. leaning on the Great Wall of China, the elephant march up a tree trunk, the red chapel doors with an impressive inlay of geodes, and finally a Kelvinator two-door Foodarama.

So the best part of the whole experience is the tour guide, Julie, who knows so much information about the house, the artifacts in the house, the history of it all, and who is so enjoyable to work with. She’s truly delightful. They suggest a $5 donation for the tour and it’s well worth it!

So if you find yourself in the Quad Cities, or close enough to make a quick trip over, this unique museum is well worth your time. It’s so different from anything else we’ve seen and we were blown away by all the well preserved artifacts from around the world. Let us know what you think when you go!

For all the details to plan your next trip. See below or click here to visit their website.