Museum Honors Putmans With Barge Theater Name
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, has renamed its barge theater the Capt. Jeremy & Julie Putman Barge Theater, honoring Riverview Companies owners Jeremy and Julie Putman for their dedication to the Mississippi River and their continued support of the museum.
The naming was announced November 6 during the museum’s annual Captain’s Ball, where Riverview Companies was a major event sponsor.
Jeremy Putman, president of Riverview Companies, serves on the boards of both the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the National Rivers Hall of Fame.
The Putmans bought Riverview Boat Store in Bellevue, Iowa, in 2003, and they have since expanded to two grocery supply stores, Riverview Tug Service and Riverview Marine Repair, serving the commercial marine industry from the Upper Mississippi River to the Louisiana Gulf Coast.
“The Mississippi River has been a huge part of our lives, both personally and professionally,” Jeremy Putman said. “To have our names associated with an institution that preserves the history of the river and educates future generations is an incredible honor.”
He said supporting the museum is about more than recognition.
“We’ve built our lives and businesses around the river,” Putman continued. “Supporting the museum is our way of giving something back to an industry and a community that have given so much to us.”
The theater will continue to serve as an educational space where visitors can learn about the Mississippi River, its history and its importance to the region.
“Julie and I couldn’t be more excited,” Putman said. “Knowing that future generations will walk through those doors and learn about our rivers makes this especially meaningful to us.”
Featured photo caption: Jeremy Putman, president of Riverview Companies, and Julie Putman at the entrance to the Capt. Jeremy & Julie Putman Barge Theater at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. The museum named the theater in their honor November 6. (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Putman)
