DESTINATION QUAD CITIES
Brimming with history and affordable activities, the Quad Cities have plenty to offer meetings and events. B Y R O G E R G O R D O N THE QUAD CITIES plays host to a surprising number of international conventions and regional events. “It’s a great destination because we’re centrally located within six hours of a great population, 37 million people,” says Jessica Waytenick, public relations and marketing manager for Visit Quad Cities. “Meeting and convention planners love the ease of our area because they can get around easily, there are great, affordable activities for convention attendees. We have walkable downtown areas, and people can walk to dinner after their meetings are over. The Quad Cities is also known for craft breweries and live music venues.” The Quad Cities also brims with the history of John Deere, a well-established blacksmith who, in the 1800s, realized that the Midwest needed blacksmiths for the expanding settlers who were there. So the Vermont native moved to Grand Debour, where he invented the steel
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plow, which made it easier for farmers to plow the rich Midwestern soil. “When Deere moved to Moline, he started a factory that was quite successful,” Waytenick says. “He became a wealthy entrepreneur in this area and really helped shape the Quad Cities area, bringing
other businesses to the area. “The influence of Deere’s company is longreaching. We have the John Deere Pavilion, which is the history of Deere’s company. A lot of people think he invented the tractor, but that’s not the case. He got everything started
P H OTO S : V I S I T Q UA D C I T I E S ; J O H N B E L L E N I S P H OTO G R A P H Y; (OPPOSITE) VISIT QUAD CITIES
QUAD CITIES
