A New Burlesque Museum Opens This Weekend in Eastern Iowa

A unique new museum dedicated to the art of burlesque is set to open in the Quad Cities this weekend! The Ecdysiast Arts Museum will host its grand opening at 322 Brady Street in Davenport on Saturday, June 21st.

About the Museum

According to River Cities' Reader, the Ecdysiast Arts Museum in Davenport is a new venue "dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history and artistry of burlesque." The word ecdysiast is defined as "a striptease performer."

The museum will feature "thoughtfully curated collection that highlights the evolution of Burlesque, from its early roots to its modern-day resurgence," as well as "provide an inclusive and mindful space that honors the performers and their cultural significance."

Ecdysiast Arts Museum is owned by Danielle Colby, who you may recognize as one of the stars of the show American Pickers. In fact, many of the items on display at the museum were found during her travels for the show! Danielle is also a burlesque entertainer herself, performing under her stage name Dannie Diesel.

If you're wondering why Danielle chose the state of Iowa for her museum, it's because Danielle is actually an Iowa native. A post from her Instagram says that she grew up on the banks of the Mississippi in Clinton.

The Grand Opening

The Ecdysiast Arts Museum will hold its official grand opening celebration on Saturday, June 21st beginning at 6 p.m. The night's festivities will include a cocktail reception, a tour at 7 p.m., and then a series of burlesque performances starting at 8 p.m. The lineup includes local performers, as well as some big names from NYC, Chicago, and Puerto Rico! Tickets are required for the 21-and-over event, and can be purchased online HERE.

Future Events

There are already several other shows and workshops on the Ecdysiast Arts Museum website, including 'Awaken Your Inner Goddess' with Adira Yamilet on June 23rd and 'Intro to Flexibility' with Yulie Padilla June 24th through 27th. For more information on these events and more, check out the events page on their website HERE.