Seniors Spend Time In Moline

Moline is a city in Illinois with more than 43,000 inhabitants, that senior travelers will find nestled between the banks of the Mississippi River and Rock River. A factory town was platted in 1843 on the Illinois shore under the working name of “Rock Island Mills”. The name did not stick.

When Charles Atkinson, one of the major landowners in the area, was offered the choice of naming the town Moline, “City of Mills”, from the French moulin, as suggested by a local surveyor, or Hesperia, meaning “Star of the West”, he chose Moline. So let’s go there for a visit.

Incorporated in 1848, Moline’s founding fathers were primarily industrialists from New England whose endeavors attracted many Swedish, Belgian, and German immigrants to the area. Moline continued to see population increases well after World War II with additional waves of immigrants from France, Eastern Europe, and Mexico.

Seniors Enjoy Moline’s Eclectic Environment

Moline has a quality environment for business. The corporate headquarters of Deere & Company, the operational headquarters of KONE in the United States, the Quad Cities International Airport, the iWireless Center, Black Hawk College, Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, and SouthPark Mall are all currently located in Moline.  The Mississippi River and John Deere are the two biggies.

The diverse heritage still found within Moline is best described as eclectic and offers a broad range of cultural experiences. The Belgian Museum of the Quad Cities offers a collection of documents and archival material for genealogical/historical research.

I know that I would enjoy touring the John Deere Factory. Senior visitors can experience the John Deere Legend by visiting the John Deere Commons, located near the site of the first John Deere Factory. Start with the John Deere Pavilion, one of the largest agricultural exhibits in the world.

The iWireless Center draws top talent in the music industry as well as special performances by Disney on Ice and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The iWireless Center is also the home of the successful minor league hockey team, the Quad City Mallards. Senior visitors can head off to Stephens Square Park to enjoy live music and dancing during the free summer concert series.

 Seniors Investigate The Quad Cities

Moline , along with neighboring communities make up what is called the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The  city attracts regional and national visitors because of its strong ties to John Deere and Deere & Company.

Downtown Moline will be home to the future Quad Cities Multi-Modal Station, which will provide passenger rail service from Chicago to Moline. Construction of the downtown Moline station is expected to be completed in 2016.

Be sure to take in the Plaza at Bass Street Landing, situated along Moline’s revitalized riverfront. Take a cruise on the Celebration Belle, the largest non-gaming riverboat on the upper Mississippi River. The Mighty Mississippi is always a big draw for senior tourists. -jeb