The Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was at one time a flour mill. The museum is one of the oldest history museums in the United States founded in 1854. Originally it was known as the “Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History”. A major attraction is a 1928 Spillman carousel located in a pavilion over the Grand River. The carousel’s music is played by a Wurlitzer #157 Band Organ that plays 165 rolls.
In the fall, the “Bodies Revealed” exhibit will be at the museum through September 27, 2020. The twenty bodies in the exhibit are real human bodies from Nanjing Medical University in China that have been preserved permanently by a process called “polymer preservation” so they will not decay. The bodies were donated with consent for the remains to be used for medical research, including public education.
Currents exhibits in the museum include “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” from the Smithsonian which highlights how pathogens can spread to people from wildlife and livestock, why some outbreaks become epidemics, and new information pertaining to Covid-19. Another exhibit is “West Michigan Habitats” which are life-like exhibits of mounted animals and plants in their natural environments of Western Michigan. Oher current exhibits are “Grand Fish, Grand River”, “Anishinabek: The People of This Place”, “Streets of Old Grand Rapids” and “Egypt: Be Curious” to name a few.
The museum also houses the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. The planetarium is named after the Grand Rapids-born astronaut who died in the 1967 Apollo I spacecraft fire. The shows at the planetarium feature the latest Digistar projection technology and immersive surround sound for a realistic experience. The seats recline for relaxation as the patron experiences the forces of the universe during a forty- minute show. With general admission, planetarium shows are $4 each. Museum members are free and planetarium-only tickets are $5. Programs are also available for school visits.