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The 33-acre park was established as Central Park in 1885 on the site of the old Scott County Fairgrounds. The Botanical Conservatory offers various floral displays during the year. The Municipal Rose Garden, which features almost 145 different varieties, is an All-America Rose Selections garden. The Hosta Glade is one of the first gardens registered as an American Hosta Society National Display Garden. And the All-America Selections Display Garden is one of 180 public gardens in the United States, Canada, and Japan that grow AAS winners for display. The Children's Sculpture Garden was established in 1999 and the renovated Grand Allée was dedicated in 2001.
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The residence was home to B.J. and Mabel Palmer from 1912 until their deaths in 1949 and 1961. They developed the chiropractic profession and Palmer College of Chiropractic, which owns the house. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 because of the uniqueness of the porch, a showplace of the Palmer collections. The house holds a fraction of the collections once owned by the Palmers, who were known for their collecting mania.
The facility flanks East Third Street and hosts events throughout the year that include events geared towards the public, as well as trade shows and conferences. The Iowa/Illinois Regional Auto Show takes place annually in early February. The Adler Theatre is also a part of the complex (see below).
The Adler Theatre is a 2,400-seat performing arts center that is adjacent to the RiverCenter. It was opened as the RKO Orpheum on November 25, 1931. The Art Deco style theater was designed by A.S. Graven of Chicago, and Henry Dreyfuss of New York City designed the interior. Restoration of the old RKO Orpheum began in 1981 and further renovations, which included increasing the size of the stage, took place in 2005 and 2006. The theater is home to the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Ballet Quad Cities. It also hosts Broadway touring companies and other productions and performances. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Figge has a collection of approximately 3,000 works that includes works from the Renaissance to contemporary art, with particular strengths in American Regionalist, Mexican Colonial and Haitian Art. In addition, the Figge now houses the over-12,000-piece collection University of Iowa Art Museum.
Fine art of all kinds is available at two festivals that are held in May and September in front of the Figge Art Museum Plaza on 2nd Street. The festivals include juried fine art and fine crafts, musical entertainment, a children's art project area, and a food court.
River Music Experience
The RME is a non-profit performing arts center providing opportunities for the community to listen, learn, and play music.