The Rock Island Arsenal Museum, located at 3500 N. Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61299, hosts a monthly open house and brown bag lunch lecture series exploring the diverse and rich history of Arsenal Island, the region, and current topics related to the Arsenal.

In the summer of 1944, more than 400 Italian POWs captured in North Africa during WWII arrived in the Quad Cities. Part of newly formed Italian Quartermaster Service Companies, they were part of a program that saw 30,000 captured Italians work at installations in 25 states. Historian Kaleb Bemis will explore the lives of these POWs turned workers during their 14-month stint at Rock Island Arsenal.

For more information visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RIAMuseum or our event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1818600404917241/