Grand Rapids Public Museum facts for kids
The Van Andel Museum Center building.
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| Established | 1854 |
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| Location | 272 Pearl Street Grand Rapids, Michigan / |
| Type | Public museum |
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is one of the oldest history museums in the United States. You can find it in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, right on the bank of the Grand River. The museum first opened way back in 1854. At that time, it was called the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History.
Inside the museum, you can find a cafe, a gift shop, and a beautiful 1928 Spillman carousel. The carousel sits in a special pavilion that looks out over the Grand River. Music for the carousel is played by a giant Wurlitzer Band Organ. The museum building is also home to the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, where you can explore the stars.
The museum moved to its current building on Pearl Street in 1994. The old building was a cool Art Deco style building on Jefferson Avenue. Today, that building is used as a high school and for storing the museum's collections.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum also hosts many different traveling exhibits each year. These special shows cover all sorts of topics, from science and history to world cultures.
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Main Exhibits at the Museum
The museum has several permanent exhibits that you can see all year round. These are called the "core exhibits."
Anishinabek: The People of This Place
This exhibit tells the story of the Anishinaabe, the Native American people who have lived in West Michigan for centuries. You can learn about their culture, traditions, and history in the region.
The Streets of Old Grand Rapids
Step back in time to the 1890s! This exhibit is a recreation of what the streets of Grand Rapids looked like long ago. The buildings are built at one-quarter of their real size, making you feel like you're walking through a historic model town.
West Michigan Habitats
Explore the natural world of West Michigan in this exhibit. You can learn about the different ecosystems, from forests to rivers. It also shows how the museum has studied nature over the years. A highlight of this section is a huge, real skeleton of a Mastodon, an ancient animal related to elephants.
Collecting A through Z
This fun exhibit uses the alphabet to show off all the different things the museum collects. Each letter stands for a different type of item. For example, you might see a display where "D is for Dolls."
Newcomers: The People of This Place
Grand Rapids is a city built by people from all over the world. This exhibit celebrates the many different ethnic groups that have moved to the area. It shows how their unique cultures have helped shape the community.
Voigt House Victorian Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum also takes care of a special historic home called the Voigt House Victorian Museum. The house was built in 1896 for the Voigt family, who lived there for more than 75 years.
When the last family member, Ralph Voigt, passed away in 1971, the house was donated to the city. It is a perfect time capsule of the late Victorian era. The family never remodeled the house after 1907, so it looks almost exactly as it did over 100 years ago.
The Voigt House has been closed to the public for tours since 2009.
