Chunfen Z.
Yelp
Long story short, the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is one gem of a museum, and if you love museums, you should make an effort to come explore it if you are anywhere between Chicago and Detroit (or further afield). Now here is the long story: first, although the Museum doesn't have extended hours, it opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and is open seven days a week, which provides a level of accessibility not often seen even in museums of larger cities; second, while the Museum doesn't seem to have free days, its admission is quite reasonably priced, and it is to me even a steal considering what this museum has to offer; third, the current main building of the GRPM opened in 1994, so admittedly, in some parts of the Museum the exhibit labels and lighting get in the way of an optimal viewing experience. However, such issues are less of a problem in museums of natural and cultural history (compared to, say, art museums), and the exhibits here are so diverse and fun that the issues can largely be ignored.
In particular, I think their "Collecting A to Z" (which consists of small exhibits themed by a keyword starting with one specific letter--e.g., A is for Automobiles) is an excellent idea of filling the Museum space. It not only introduces the practice of collecting--still the backbone in most kinds of modern-day museums, but showcases a variety of collections that would otherwise rarely have the opportunity of making their way out of storage rooms. While children will make the most of some of these exhibits such as dolls and toys, I am sure that adults will learn from the exhibits as well since many of their themes are thoughtfully chosen and well-executed (check out the ivory exhibit, for example). I also like the detail of placing the clocks & watches display opposite the tower clock of the old Grand Rapids City Hall (and the musical instruments exhibit is at the entrance to the Meijer Theater).
Another thing to applaud for the GRPM's curatorial team is their approach of blending nature and culture, which is reflected throughout the Museum--from small displays to whole exhibitions. The Lake Sturgeon exhibition ("Grand Fish, Grand River") combines audiovisuals, artifacts made by Native Americans, and live specimens (and their natural habitat right outside the window) to narrate the story about this amazing fish. Also, walk into their newer "Fashion and Nature" exhibition and you will see how this curatorial tradition is continued (as is implied from the name). In the galleries of "West Michigan Habitats", this approach stands out more in the details: urban birds are displayed on an architectural fragment, and the topic of falconry is brought up in the birds of prey display.
I cannot praise the GRPM highly enough, but of course, no place is perfect and there is always room for improvement:
(1) Some smaller displays/exhibits are not shown on the visitor map--you will have pleasant surprises in exploring the Museum, though.
(2) A coat room always comes handy, but I would appreciate it if there were self-service lockers for use. You can carry your backpack around but you can also easily spend half a day in this place--it never hurts to go light(er)!
(3) Selection of hot foods is limited in the Museum café.
(4) While ample seating is provided inside the exhibition halls, there is, in my opinion, a lack of it in the hallways on the second and third floors.
(5) The Native American exhibition ("Anishinabek: The People of This Place") is designated as a "Quiet Area", however, you can hear the sounds from the nearby Arcade. I also feel that the Arcade is more a game center than an exhibit--a bit more information such as the history of arcade games or how these machines work would be a welcome addition.
(6) In some exhibits such as arms and hats, it is not easy to match objects to labels without them being numbered.
(7) "Streets of Old Grand Rapids", while nice, doesn't feel lively and could benefit from a better soundscape. The immigrants exhibition ("Newcomers: The People of This Place") is very text-heavy and could also use a better flow when the Museum starts to renovate its "core exhibition spaces".
This may seem a long list, but trust me: these are really just quibbles that should in no way discourage you from visiting this delightful museum. The GRPM is currently undergoing an expansion that seeks to better integrate its building with the riverfront of the Grand River. I'm confident that once this first phase of their ambitious project is complete, the Museum will become a gathering place for residents of the Furniture City (if it hasn't already been so). As an out-of-state visitor, my future visit is also guaranteed as I would "Be Curious" to find out how they will "tell the stories of West Michigan and the wider world" through upgrading some of their main exhibitions.
