Grand Rapids Public Museum

Grand Rapids Public Museum The Grand Rapids Public Museum celebrates the cultural and natural history of West Michigan
(3697)

The Grand Rapids Public Museum's Mission Statement:

We exist to be a living monument of artifacts, ideas and stories told through exhibitions, events and educational programming designed to inspire, motivate and celebrate our human bond. We enrich the life of our community through experiences of the wider world in a uniquely Grand Rapids context.

🔎 Every object in the GRPM's Collections has a story.When Matt Black began volunteering at the Community Archives and Re...
06/16/2026

🔎 Every object in the GRPM's Collections has a story.

When Matt Black began volunteering at the Community Archives and Research Center, cataloguing specimens, he came across a Rufous Hornbill.

He could have admired it and moved on, but Black decided to be curious.

Read what he discovered on the GRPM's blog today: https://www.grpm.org/blog/rufous-hornbill-mosley/

☀️ ⛱️ What a kick off to Summer Saturdays! Thank you to all the visitors, performers, artists, vendors, and volunteers w...
06/15/2026

☀️ ⛱️ What a kick off to Summer Saturdays! Thank you to all the visitors, performers, artists, vendors, and volunteers who joined us for the Riverfront Celebration this weekend.

With a fish windsock parade, hands-on artifacts, live music, and so much more, this celebration had it all. We can't wait to host more activations along the Grand River this summer. 🎏

There are many more Summer Saturdays to enjoy, with themes from birding to dance. Join us this Saturday for activities inspired by Unseen Oceans, the opening day of the newest traveling exhibit!

Plan your Summer Saturday visit at https://www.grpm.org/summer-saturdays/

🎠 Did you know tomorrow, June 13, Carousel rides are FREE? Thanks to a generous donor, visitors planning to join us for ...
06/12/2026

🎠 Did you know tomorrow, June 13, Carousel rides are FREE? Thanks to a generous donor, visitors planning to join us for the GRPM's Riverfront Celebration can reserve a free ticket today.

And there's so much more fun planned tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the riverfront. Enjoy music, food, and fun activities for all ages, from a parade of fish wind socks to river ecology talks.

Don't miss this special chance to get acquainted with this new community space and have some family-friendly fun on the Grand River. We hope to see you there!

The riverfront will be open to the public with access via Lacks Park. Tickets required to explore inside the Museum.

Reserve your Carousel ride today at https://www.grpm.org/1928-spillman-carousel

Photography by Bryan Esler for Experience GR

❤️ Today is Loving Day, which marks the landmark Supreme Court decision in Loving vs. Virginia (1967) that struck down a...
06/12/2026

❤️ Today is Loving Day, which marks the landmark Supreme Court decision in Loving vs. Virginia (1967) that struck down all state laws against in*******al marriage in the US.

In 2024, the Grand Rapids Public Museum celebrated Loving Day in collaboration with Ebony Road Players and Grand Rapids Children's Museum by bringing together five Grand Rapids families in relationships legally affirmed by Loving vs. Virginia (1967). The couples explored challenges, acceptance, love, community, and how their unions have made Grand Rapids the city it is today.

Their stories were recorded and now live in the GRPM's Digital Collections, preserved for future generations and accessible to all.

Celebrate with us by revisiting their stories today at https://www.grpmcollections.org/Detail/objects/221892

Get outside, have a blast, and see downtown Grand Rapids from a new angle this Saturday at the GRPM's Riverfront Celebra...
06/10/2026

Get outside, have a blast, and see downtown Grand Rapids from a new angle this Saturday at the GRPM's Riverfront Celebration!

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be music, food, and fun activities for all ages.

🎠 PLUS, Spillman Carousel rides are free all day thanks to a generous donor!

🎵 🎶 And check out this line-up of local talent:
10:30 a.m. - Rin Tarsy
11:00 a.m. - Nicholas James Thomasma
11:30 a.m. - Edye & Mike
12 p.m. - Avant Theatre Ballet
12:30 p.m. - Red Thyme
1:00 p.m. - Chris Cranick

Don't miss this special chance to get acquainted with this new community space and have some family-friendly fun on the Grand River. We hope to see you there!

The riverfront will be open to the public. Tickets required to explore inside.

Learn more about Summer Saturdays at https://www.grpm.org/summer-saturdays/

Photo by Bryan Esler Photo for Experience Grand Rapids

🤿 Dive into summer with Unseen Oceans, opening Saturday, June 20. Discover the latest ocean science and encounter the r...
06/09/2026

🤿 Dive into summer with Unseen Oceans, opening Saturday, June 20.

Discover the latest ocean science and encounter the researchers and technologies that are revealing our blue planet as never before.

🪼 Explore marine species that biofluoresce, enlarged models of otherworldly planktonic species, a partial recreation of the Triton Submersible, immersive screens, and more!

Plan your visit today at https://www.grpm.org/unseen-oceans/

Unseen Oceans is produced by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and curated by John Sparks, curator in the American Museum of Natural History’s Department of Ichthyology in the Division of Vertebrate Zoology.

Unseen Oceans is sponsored by The David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, Meijer, MSU Federal Credit Union, and the Steve and Amy Van Andel Foundation

During June, GRPM Members can triple their summer fun with free admission to the Blandford Nature Center, the Children's...
06/05/2026

During June, GRPM Members can triple their summer fun with free admission to the Blandford Nature Center, the Children's Museum of Branch County, and, of course, the GRPM.

🦉 Blandford Nature Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Explore 264 acres with 8 miles of trails, 2 playscapes, a 10-acre working farm, and over 30 rehabilitated wildlife.

🧪 Children's Museum of Branch County in Coldwater, Michigan, offers exhibits crafted to explore growth and development for young visitors. Check out their wind tunnel, rock climbing wall, spin table, and more!

Want to join in on the fun? Become a GRPM Member today at https://www.grpm.org/membership/

🧑‍🎓 Last Friday, we held the 4th annual Grand Rapids Public Museum School Symposium, a student-organized and led present...
06/04/2026

🧑‍🎓 Last Friday, we held the 4th annual Grand Rapids Public Museum School Symposium, a student-organized and led presentation of scholarly work. Students took over the GRPM, sharing projects on topics from space to our very own Grand River through slides, poster boards, demonstrations, and talks.

This special partnership between the Museum, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, The City of Grand Rapids, and Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. inspires curiosity, nurtures creative problem-solving, cultivates critical thinking, and supports innovation.

Moments like these bring together our visitors and staff with these exceptional scholars, creating unique opportunities to make connections and giving students real-world experience sharing academic research and projects.

Learn more about the Grand Rapids Public Museum Schools at https://www.grpm.org/grpms/

06/03/2026

🌊 We're bringing the ocean to you this summer.

🤿 UNSEEN OCEANS opens at the GRPM on Saturday, June 20! Discover the latest ocean science and encounter the researchers and technologies that are revealing our blue planet as never before.

Explore marine species that biofluoresce, enlarged models of otherworldly planktonic species, a partial recreation of the Triton Submersible, immersive screens, and more!

Plan your visit today at https://www.grpm.org/unseen-oceans/

Unseen Oceans is produced by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, and curated by John Sparks, curator in the American Museum of Natural History’s Department of Ichthyology in the Division of Vertebrate Zoology.

Unseen Oceans is sponsored by The David and Carol Van Andel Family Foundation, Meijer, MSU Federal Credit Union, and the Steve and Amy Van Andel Foundation.

🔎 Do you know a kid who LOVES museums? If they're going into 7th, 8th, or 9th grade in the Fall, we have the perfect sum...
06/02/2026

🔎 Do you know a kid who LOVES museums? If they're going into 7th, 8th, or 9th grade in the Fall, we have the perfect summer experience for them.

At our Curating Creativity camp, students get an all-access, behind-the-scenes experience at the GRPM. They'll meet the teams that run the Museum, dive deep into the archives, and discover what it takes to create an exhibit of their own!

This camp has ONE SESSION running June 15 through June 18 from 9 a.m to noon, so now is the time to sign up!

Register your student today for this camp at https://bit.ly/49D6GOd

Address

272 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI
49504

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+16169291700

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Grand Rapids Public Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Grand Rapids Public Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category