Burlesque is coming to Iowa in a new and exciting way — right in the heart of downtown Davenport. On Saturday, June 21, American Pickers star Danielle Colby will lift the velvet curtains at the Ecdysiast Arts Museum.
The museum aims to be a cultural destination devoted to preserving and honoring the history of burlesque, according to a news release.
“This is more than just a museum — it’s the realization of a dream, rooted in my love for burlesque and in the city I call home,” Colby said. “This is a sacred space where we celebrate performers not only for their beauty and bravery, but for the trailblazers they were.”
Ecdysiast Arts Museum in Davenport ‘strips history’
The museum’s theme is “Stripping History,” a news release said, with the goal of peeling back the layers of judgment and misunderstanding that burlesque performers have experienced.
Attendees will be able to immerse themselves in the world of glamour, grit and history through costumes, photographs, stories and historic artifacts, many of which Colby discovered herself.
“These performers were so much more than entertainers,” she said. “They were visionaries — claiming space, pushing boundaries, and expressing themselves in ways that were often revolutionary.”
How can I get tickets to the Ecdysiast Art Museum grand opening?
The grand opening of the museum, located at 322 Brady St. in Davenport, will take place on Saturday, June 21 at 6 p.m.
Tickets are available now at ecdysiastartsmuseum.com and start at $75. Fans can expect exhibits from Colby’s private collection, live burlesque performances and personal stories.
Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: American Pickers’ Danielle Colby is opening a museum devoted to burlesque in Iowa
Reporting by Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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