Focusing on West Michigan's culture, history, and environment, the Public Museum'spermanent exhibits feature both interactive regional humanities and natural science themes.

Highlights & Collections:

Visitors to Van Andel Museum Center can also enjoy the fully restored 1928 Spillman carouseland viewing the breath-taking 76-foot whale skeleton that is suspended above the museum's 3-story Galleria.

In addition, the restored 1888 Grand Rapids City Hall tower clock is on display, among a numberof other permanent exhibits.

The largest of the Public Museum's exhibitions is "The Furniture City." This tribute to thecraftsmanship of Grand Rapids furniture designers takes you on a tour of time, starting in theearly 1800s when the Grand Rapids area was first settled. A walk through the exhibition showschanging trends in furniture through displays containing over 120 pieces of Grand Rapids madefurniture. In addition, a fully functional 35-ton 1905 Corliss-type steam engine with an 18-footflywheel is on display. The exhibition ends with present-day designs, leaving the visitor todecide what the future holds.

Another major exhibition is "Anishinabek: The People of this Place," which tells the story ofNative Americans of the region, and includes hundreds of beautiful items from their culture.Interactive videos through the exhibition feature Native American stories, elders speaking of theirfears and hopes for the future of their people, and computer stations demonstrate the languagespoken by Native Americans of the region. Items on display include beadwork, full pow-wowregalia and items showing common stereotypes of Native American people.

Other attractions at Van Andel Museum Center include Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, whichoffers spectacular sky shows and laser light shows in its state-of-the-art, 145 seat Digistartheater. A natural history exhibition entitled "Habitats" shows the diverse story of the area'snatural environment, including many local plants and animals. The exhibition "Grand Rapids1890s" is a re-creation of life in late 19th century Grand Rapids, with thousands of items fromthat era.

Exhibits & Special Events:

• http://www.grmuseum.org

Hours:

Admission & Directions:

• $5 Adults
• $4 Senior Citizens
• $2 Children (ages 3 - 17)
• Children under 3 are admitted free

• From U.S. 131, use Pearl Street Exit 85B.
• From I-196 West, use Ottawa Ave./Downtown Exit 77C.
• From I-196 East, use Lake Michigan Drive Exit 75, east to downtown.