Grand Rapids Public Museum facts for kids
Van Andel Museum Center
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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 a super old and interesting history museum. It's located right on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. It first opened way back in 1854! Back then, it was called the "Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History."
In 1971, the museum earned a special award. It became the first museum to be officially recognized by the American Association of Museums. This means it met high standards for how museums should be run.
Inside the museum, you'll find lots of fun things. There's a cafe where you can grab a snack. You can also visit the gift shop to find cool souvenirs. One of the most popular attractions is a 1928 Spillman carousel. It's located in a special building right over the Grand River! A big Wurlitzer #157 Band Organ plays music for the carousel. The museum building also has the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. Here, you can explore space and learn about the stars.
The museum you see today was built in 1994. It's on Pearl Street N.W. Before that, the museum was in an Art Deco style building. That old building is now a high school. It's still connected to the museum's collections and city records.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum often hosts new exhibits. These special shows change throughout the year. They cover many topics like science, history, and different cultures.
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Explore the Museum's Cool Exhibits
The museum has many amazing exhibits for you to discover. Here are some of the main ones:
Anishinabek: The People of This Place
This exhibit tells the story of the Anishinabek people. They are the Native American groups who lived in West Michigan. You can learn about their history and culture.
The Streets of Old Grand Rapids
Step back in time to the 1890s! This exhibit is like a mini-town. It shows what a business street in Grand Rapids looked like. Everything is built at one-fourth its real size.
West Michigan Habitats
Discover the different natural areas of Western Michigan. This exhibit shows you the plants and animals that live here. You can also see a huge skeleton of a Mastodon! It's a great way to learn about the natural world.
Collecting A through Z
This unique exhibit uses the alphabet to show off museum items. For example, "D is for Dolls." It's a fun way to see many different artifacts. These items come from the museum's huge collection.
Newcomers: The People of This Place
Learn about the many different groups of people who have moved to Grand Rapids. This exhibit shows how they have all helped shape the community. It highlights their unique cultures and contributions.
Voigt House Victorian Museum
The museum also takes care of the Voigt House Victorian Home. It's located at 115 College Ave. SE. This house was built in 1896. The Carl Voigt family lived there for over 76 years.
The family gave the house to a foundation in 1971. Then, in 1974, the museum took over. The Voigt House is like a time capsule. It shows what life was like in the late Victorian era. The family never changed the house after 1907!
Sadly, the Voigt House has been closed to visitors since 2009.
