There are many incredible museums in Grand Rapids, Michigan but in my opinion, these are the 7 you can’t miss.
Grand Rapids is a wonderful city for arts, culture, and history. Well curated museums are abound, with interactive and educational exhibits for all ages.
As a self-proclaimed exhibit buff, I’ve enjoyed getting lost in a display of toys and games from different eras, sitting in a real-life replica of the Cabinet Room at the White House, and learning about the local African American woman who owned a baseball team.
Want to know more? Here’s my list of the 7 best museums in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1. Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is an engaging, multi-story complex that focuses on the story of Western Michigan.
Highlights include a 1928 Spillman Carousel, Fashion and Nature Display, Finny the fink whale skeleton that hangs over the entrance and measures 75 feet in length, and seasonal displays.
The main floor serves as an event venue. There’s also the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, with shows daily.
I enjoy this museum even as an adult and it’s right across the street from the Ford Presidential Museum so it’s easy to reach and visit, but I’ll admit a lot of people are there with children and families.
There is parking at a garage down the street.
The GRPM is part of the Blue Star Museums program by the National Endowment for the Arts so military members and their families get free admission each summer.
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2. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is truly worth a stop. It contains a piece of the Berlin Wall, life-sized replicas of the Oval Office and White House Cabinet Room, and insight into the life of our 38th POTUS.
The reason I enjoy this particular site so much is because a lot of the exhibits, and even Ford’s opponents, talk highly about his character and integrity.
It is refreshing to see a politician that takes the office seriously and about whom everyone speaks positively, across the aisle.
President Ford and his wife, Betty Ford, are laid to rest in a monument behind the museum. It’s not a bad idea to come prepared with tissues, as it’s a very moving site.
Michigan residents, check with your local library to see if they offer a pass that can be rented (limited and usually on a first come, first serve basis) to give you free admission to the museum.
3. Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is a bright, expansive building with diverse subjects on its walls. I loved seeing the variety of mediums and topics on display.
There are permanent and touring exhibitions. They also have events like artists-led workshops and GRAM After Dark which includes cocktails, a DJ, and dancing.
Thanks to a gift from the Meijer Foundation, you can get free admission every Tuesday from 12pm-5pm and Thursdays from 5pm-8pm.
4. Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park
The Frederik Meijer Garden & Sculpture Park has been named the best sculpture park in the country and is one of the most popular museums in the world.
It spans 158 acres and features more than 300 sculptures, many of them larger than life and integrated into the outdoor setting.
There’s also a tropical conservatory, cactus collection, add-on tram tours, performances and concerts on site, a children’s gallery, a Japanese garden, amphitheater, and cafe.
You could spend hours here, easily and comfortably year-round.
One of the most prized sculptures in the collection is The American Horse, inspired by a work created by Leonardo DaVinci for the Duke of Milan in the 15th Century.
It stands at 24-feet tall and has a twin sculpture on display in Milan.
Parking is plentiful and free in their private parking lot.
EBT/WIC card members can visit the park at a reduced rate of $2 per person for up to 6 people, and Michigan residents should check about renting an entry pass through their local library.
5. Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives
The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archive is an impeccably curated timeline of African American history and influence in the region.
The award-winning museum tells the stories of local public figures like Al Green, Floyd Mayweather, and the first African American woman to own a baseball team.
The staff is usually on site to help direct you and answer questions. They also have a library of books by Black authors.
This stop is accessible by foot in the downtown area, around the corner from the Grand Rapids Art Museum.
Admission is free and you do not need to reserve a ticket in advance.
6. Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum is for families only — adults are not permitted without a child. I visited as a member of the press on a day that they were having a block party, complete with foam machine and giant inflatable unicorn.
I also saw a traveling exhibit related to the Inside Out movie, where kids could step up and see different emotions come to life in the mirror.
The exhibits change on a regular basis but are meant to encourage play rather than items on display so it’s a great place to have children be active.
There are two floors and daily drop-in programs that encourage learning through play.
Under the Museums for All initiative, EBT/WIC card holders get reduced admission for $1.75/person for up to 12 people.
7. Meyer May House
The Meyer May House is a Frank Lloyd Wright home and currently operates as a museum. Built in 1908, it is a prime example of Wright’s prairie style and nicknamed “Michigan’s Prairie Masterpiece.”
It is part of the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites, as well as the National Register of Historic Places, and is located in the Heritage Hill District.
Tours are offered Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am to 1pm and Sundays from 1pm to 4pm.
Admission is free, but reservations are required and spaces sell out about a month in advance.
Tours last an hour and a half and include a 35-minute film about the restoration of the house, followed by a 50-minute docent-led tour.
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Till next time, safe travels!
This post was sponsored by Experience Grand Rapids. All opinions are my own.
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