List of museums in Michigan facts for kids
Michigan is a state full of amazing places to explore, and museums are some of the best! A museum is a special place where people collect, take care of, and show off cool objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or different cultures. They help us learn about the past, understand the world around us, and even imagine the future. This list will help you discover some of the most exciting museums in Michigan, perfect for kids aged 12-14!
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Awesome Museums to Visit
Michigan has many fantastic museums. Here are some of the most interesting ones you might want to check out!
Science and Discovery Museums
These museums are packed with hands-on fun and amazing facts about science and the world.
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Located in Ann Arbor, this museum is all about interactive exhibits. You can touch, play, and experiment to learn how things work. It's a great place to explore science in a fun way.
Cranbrook Institute of Science
In Bloomfield Hills, this museum offers a deep dive into natural history and science. It has a planetarium where you can explore space and a nature center to learn about animals and plants.
Curious Kids' Museum
Found in St. Joseph, this museum is designed just for kids! It has lots of hands-on activities that make learning exciting and memorable.
Impression 5 Science Center
This Lansing museum is another fantastic spot for hands-on science. You can explore different scientific ideas through fun, interactive exhibits.
Michigan Science Center
In Detroit, this center is full of dynamic exhibits about science, technology, and engineering. It's a place where you can discover new things and get excited about STEM subjects.
Michigan State University Bug House
Part of Michigan State University in East Lansing, this unique museum lets you get up close with live and mounted insects. It's a fascinating look into the world of bugs!
Upper Peninsula Children's Museum
If you're in Marquette, this museum offers a variety of exhibits designed to spark curiosity and learning for younger visitors.
Cool Cars and Planes
Michigan is famous for cars! These museums celebrate the history of transportation.
Air Zoo
Near Portage, the Air Zoo is more than just an aviation museum; it's also an amusement park! It features historic airplanes, flight simulators, and even a Michigan Space Science Center.
Automotive Hall of Fame
In Dearborn, this museum honors the important people who helped create and develop the automobile industry. You can learn about the pioneers of cars.
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Also in Detroit, this is a very special place. It's the birthplace of the famous Ford Model T and the oldest car factory building in the world that's open to the public. It was built in 1904!
Gilmore Car Museum
Located in Barry Township, this museum has nearly 200 vehicles displayed in restored historic barns. It shows over 100 years of automotive history.
R. E. Olds Transportation Museum
In Lansing, this museum showcases Oldsmobiles from 1897 all the way to 2004, along with other vehicles from the REO Motor Car Company.
Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum
In Ypsilanti, this museum features production cars from the Willow Run Plant and Hudson Motors, showing off Michigan's rich car-making history.
History and Culture
Learn about Michigan's past, from its early settlers to famous figures.
Arab American National Museum
In Dearborn, this museum explores Arab civilization and the experiences of Arab Americans in the United States. It's a great place to learn about different cultures.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Located in Detroit, this museum celebrates African American cultural history and highlights important figures who made a difference.
Detroit Historical Museum
Also in Detroit, this museum tells the story of the city. It includes a recreated 19th-century street, exhibits on local businesses (like car companies), and displays about Detroit's leaders and culture.
The Henry Ford
This huge museum complex in Dearborn is a must-see! It's all about American innovation and history, featuring everything from historic vehicles to famous inventions and a recreated village.
Michigan History Museum
In Lansing, this museum covers five levels of Michigan's history. You can explore everything from prehistoric times to modern-day events.
Motown Museum
Known as Hitsville U.S.A., this Detroit museum is dedicated to the amazing legacy of Motown Records, its artists, and its music. It's a fun look into music history!
Museum of Ojibwa Culture
In St. Ignace, this museum explores the culture and traditions of the Ojibwa people, including their first interactions with French explorers.
Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways
Located in Mount Pleasant, this center focuses on the culture and traditions of the Anishinabe people, offering a deep look into their heritage.
Art and Creativity
Discover beautiful artworks and creative expressions from different times and places.
Detroit Institute of Arts
This famous museum in Detroit has an incredible collection of art from all over the world. You can see paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from Europe, America, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and more.
Flint Institute of Arts
In Flint, this museum features art from America, Europe, Native American cultures, Africa, and Asia. It includes paintings, sculptures, prints, and decorative arts.
Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
Located in Grand Rapids, this is a unique place with beautiful botanical gardens, a conservatory, and a large sculpture park. You can see over 170 sculptures by famous artists.
University of Michigan Museum of Art
Part of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, this museum has European and Asian art, including works by famous artists like Pablo Picasso. It also has impressive outdoor sculptures.
Lighthouses and Maritime History
Michigan has a long coastline, and lighthouses are an important part of its history.
Au Sable Light Station
Located in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Grand Marais, this historic lighthouse offers a glimpse into maritime life.
Copper Harbor Lighthouse and Museums
In Copper Harbor, you can explore this lighthouse and several other museums at the site, including ones about maritime history, mining, and commercial fishing.
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Near Paradise, this museum tells the stories of shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. It features artifacts recovered from sunken ships and includes the lighthouse keeper's quarters for Whitefish Point Light.
Michigan Maritime Museum
In South Haven, this museum focuses on the history of the Coast Guard, local fishing, and maritime stories. You can even see a replica of the 1810 square topsail sloop Friends Good Will.
Museum Ship Valley Camp
Docked in Sault Ste. Marie, this is a real Great Lakes freighter that has been turned into a museum. It has over 100 maritime exhibits, aquariums, and even lifeboats from the famous S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.
USS LST 393 Veterans Museum
In Muskegon, you can explore this tank landing ship that was built for the United States Navy during World War II. It's a powerful piece of history.
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
Also in Muskegon, this museum features the USS Silversides (SS-236) submarine and a Coast Guard cutter. It's a fascinating look at naval history.
Unique and Fun Museums
Some museums offer truly one-of-a-kind experiences.
American Museum of Magic
In Marshall, this museum is filled with magical items and illusions, including devices that belonged to the famous magician Harry Blackstone, Sr..
Cross in the Woods & Nun Doll Museum
Located in Indian River, this Catholic shrine has a unique museum with dolls dressed in various nun's habits.
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum
In Farmington Hills, this museum is a wonderland of historical and modern arcade machines, sideshow wonders, fortune tellers, and other curiosities.
Travelers Club International Restaurant & Tuba Museum
In Okemos, this restaurant has an amazing collection of tubas, sousaphones, and French horns. It's a musical feast for the eyes!
Michigan's Regions
Michigan is divided into different areas, each with its own history and attractions.
- Central Michigan
- Flint/Tri-Cities (includes The Thumb and Greater Tri Cities)
- Northern Michigan
- Southeast Michigan / Metro Detroit
- West Michigan (includes Michiana)
- Upper Peninsula of Michigan
More to Explore
- Arboreta in Michigan (places with many different trees)
- Aquaria in Michigan (places with fish and other water animals)
- Botanical gardens in Michigan (places with many different plants)
- Historic landmarks in Michigan
- Houses in Michigan
- Forts in Michigan
- List of historical societies in Michigan
- Nature Centers in Michigan
- Observatories in Michigan (places to look at stars)
- Registered Historic Places in Michigan
Find Out More
- Michigan Travel & Tourism: Museums
- Michigan Museums Association
- Motor Cities National Heritage Area
- Hunt's Guide to the Upper Peninsula
