Grand Rapids Public Museum
Grand Rapids Public Museum
Grand Rapids Public Museum
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a place of never-ending inspiration and discovery, with a focus on science, history and culture. We have three floors of core and traveling exhibitions, the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, a 1928 Spillman Carousel and a Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- Regina A10 contributionsBeautiful restorationsInteractive museum for kids & adults. Beautiful restorations. 3 floors, Cafe, carousel, planetarium. Plenty of restrooms, elevator, coat room(by restrooms when you first enter). This is also on the list of EBT discounts. 4ppl per card.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten November 3, 2023
- MonumentFanRichmond, Virginia86 contributionsA Gem on the RiverHonestly, this museum was not on my radar, but what a gem of a museum. Something for everyone from grandparents to toddlers. Lots of interactive exhibits for the kids and interesting exhibits for all ages. From Bugs to Dolls, old Grand Rapids to Outer Space, this is a well-designed museum with a lovely view of the river. A ride on the beautiful 1928 Spillman Carousel with its Mighty Wurlitzer Organ was included in the reasonable ticket price. Rides are every 20 minutes.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 26, 2023
- kalispunk1917 contributionsFun Visit with KidsLots of interactive and family friendly exhibits with a scavenger hunt. Could step inside and explore 1800s/early 1900s stores with volunteers in costume providing information on area history. Our kids most enjoyed the Robot Zoo and building blocks area on top floor.Visited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten July 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
726 reviews
Excellent
461
Very good
204
Average
51
Poor
9
Terrible
1
Terry T
Indianapolis, IN18 contributions
Sep 2021
Was from out of town and the security guard at the Ford Museum recommended this because their museum was still closed due to Covid. I was glad I went over there because they have a vintage Spillman carousel I got to see which was currently being restored. I also liked the old time street with the shops. The rest of the museum is mostly about local history.
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the good review! We're thrilled you enjoyed your visit to the Museum. Come again soon!
Written January 10, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Roxane C
Michigan10 contributions
Sep 2020
This is a very interesting and engaging museum . We went there with our two six year old grandchildren and loved every thing. There was ample social distancing and everyone but one teenager was wearing a mask the correct way. Friendly museum people to help. We hung out there a long time and was fun the whole itme.
Written September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the great review! We're glad you enjoyed your time at the Museum. We hope to see you again soon!
Written September 19, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kathy H
Saint Louis, MO312 contributions
Jan 2022
There were so many things in this museum we loved. Bats, overstuffed local wildlife dioramas (with sound effects!), Dark Side show, old Grand Rapids exhibit, clockwork toys and videos, ivory carvings... we only allotted two hours and it wasn't nearly enough (and we are Type AA people).
Written January 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffrey Koslowski
Canton, MI729 contributions
Jul 2021
For what it is, this is a solid Museum. Lots of different exhibits and cool artifacts. The only issue I have is that they cut a really wide swath for what they show. You go one way and you see furniture production of western Michigan. Turn another way and there is a small room dedicated to Ancient Egypt. If the aim is to give younger patrons an introduction to what is out there in the world, mission accomplished. If it's goal is to make people experts in the field, shrinking their scope would be a wiser decision.
There are a ton of games for kids to play that are scattered throughout the Museum in really strange places. The giant light bright set is located within the old town city street display. Underneath the fin whale is a corn hole set. Want to look at watches and time pieces? It is over by the giant Connect 4 game. For a lot of people I'm sure it was nice to see things that they could stop for a minute and play or give their kids a break from looking at cases and cases full of taxidermied animals but for a serious Museum professional, it felt very strange.
I didn't see the new exhibit called Popnology as it was an extra fee. I didn't see the fairly new exhibit about pollinating animals (which is just outside the sections about quilting and money). It is good for what it is and has lots of hands-on displays but it is definitely geared toward the younger audience and, I would argue, more toward school groups as well.
Overall, if you are in Grand Rapids and you have kids, give this place a look. It is far more kid friendly than the Gerald Ford Museum which is right across the street. Don't expect to learn a ton but there is something there for every learner of every age and ability.
There are a ton of games for kids to play that are scattered throughout the Museum in really strange places. The giant light bright set is located within the old town city street display. Underneath the fin whale is a corn hole set. Want to look at watches and time pieces? It is over by the giant Connect 4 game. For a lot of people I'm sure it was nice to see things that they could stop for a minute and play or give their kids a break from looking at cases and cases full of taxidermied animals but for a serious Museum professional, it felt very strange.
I didn't see the new exhibit called Popnology as it was an extra fee. I didn't see the fairly new exhibit about pollinating animals (which is just outside the sections about quilting and money). It is good for what it is and has lots of hands-on displays but it is definitely geared toward the younger audience and, I would argue, more toward school groups as well.
Overall, if you are in Grand Rapids and you have kids, give this place a look. It is far more kid friendly than the Gerald Ford Museum which is right across the street. Don't expect to learn a ton but there is something there for every learner of every age and ability.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for leaving the GRPM a good review! We appreciate your throrough feedback and will pass it along to our team for consideration. We hope to see you again soon.
Written September 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MonumentFan
Richmond, VA86 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Honestly, this museum was not on my radar, but what a gem of a museum. Something for everyone from grandparents to toddlers. Lots of interactive exhibits for the kids and interesting exhibits for all ages. From Bugs to Dolls, old Grand Rapids to Outer Space, this is a well-designed museum with a lovely view of the river. A ride on the beautiful 1928 Spillman Carousel with its Mighty Wurlitzer Organ was included in the reasonable ticket price. Rides are every 20 minutes.
Written November 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nina D
2 contributions
Dec 2019
We love the GR museum. There is so much to see and our membership was worth the cost. Unfortunately, we were unable to see the bodies exhibit because we all times were booked (wish we would have know to register in advance) but the kids enjoyed all the other exhibits and the carousel ride. Parking structure was full (as expected on a weekend) but we were able to park nearby.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the great review! Bodies Revealed has been extended through September 27, 2020. Advance ticket purchase required for contactless entry. We hope to see you soon!
Written August 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charlotte L
39 contributions
Aug 2021 • Business
I tried to enjoy it but too many exhibits were poorly lit, non operational or not available. The Wurlitzer organ could not be seen and both the carousel and vintage engine for furniture lathe were out of order. Since Grand Rapids also has a Children’s Museum I was quite mystified as to why many exhibits at this museum are geared towards children. On the flip side, I did find the Native American and natural history sections to be quite good. Gift shop could be improved! This nice city deserves better.
Written August 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the review. We appreciate your honest feedback about your experience and we will pass along this information to our team for consideration. If you'd like to provide additional feedback, feel free to email us at info@grpm.org.
Written September 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tammy S
Romeo, MI1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Family
I thought the museum was very clean, nice and beautifully located, but I really would have wished for better focus on themes. I felt like I was missing the history of Grand Rapids except for a few displays. Perhaps there is another history museum that covers that, but the family hoped to learn more, and we were pretty much overwhelmed by the dissimilar or trite information at every corner, but no immersive theme.
The toy display, for example, was out of place and didn’t fit with surrounding displays. As far as I could tell it had nothing to do with the area or town. Around that display we felt like we would hurry through and get out. It was stifling.
In contrast, the Gerald R Ford museum across the street was thematic, told a story and didn’t divert from the message. The bottom line is, tell it like a story. The GRPM doesn’t do this yet. I hope they will and I’ll come back to learn.
The toy display, for example, was out of place and didn’t fit with surrounding displays. As far as I could tell it had nothing to do with the area or town. Around that display we felt like we would hurry through and get out. It was stifling.
In contrast, the Gerald R Ford museum across the street was thematic, told a story and didn’t divert from the message. The bottom line is, tell it like a story. The GRPM doesn’t do this yet. I hope they will and I’ll come back to learn.
Written January 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark P
Swampscott, MA2,517 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
This is an interesting and very well curated museum located across from the Presidential Library. It offers terrific exhibits about Grand Rapids and its history, along with local wildlife. Ours was a fairly quick trip, but we were impressed.
Written July 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave W.
Ludington, MI537 contributions
Feb 2020
Great museum! It really highlights the great history of this beautiful city. I am not a resident, but I was actually born in GR, and this place really shows the history of Michigan and Grand Rapids extremely well. They also touch on a lot of great world and national history, and the tiny gift shop is actually packed with some really cool stuff. This place is worth the visit. Try to avoid times when you see school busses however, because as much as I love children, they have no respect for public educational and historical artifacts. This is not a playground.
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the good review! We're thrilled you were able to enjoy your time at the Museum.
Written August 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Do you recommend purchasing admission tickets prior to entry?
Written October 24, 2022
Entry was very quick for us although we did not purchase tickets in advance as some visitors had done that entered when we did. You might save time purchasing in advance if you happened to enter when there were at lot of others coming in at the same time.
If I went again I would purchase in advance because they do ask and divide the visitors entering with those purchasing in advance able to go right in showing their tickets while we had to purchase ours at the time of entry.
Written October 25, 2022
How much time is required to explore this museum?
Written August 28, 2022
They have parking at The museum and it is downtown near some parking garages. I would call the museum to find out about overnight parking arrangements.
Written January 13, 2020
I didn’t see anything about parking on their website. Foes the museum have parking or is it public lots nearby. We are planning on going on a Sunday if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance:
Written July 8, 2019
Parking is not very convenient. there are meters and ramps to use. the meters have a digital sign in where you pay with your credit or debit card. Its called Motu. I used it . no very happy with that tho
Written July 12, 2019
Can you leave the museum and re-enter later in the day? If you wanted to get lunch somewhere or something?
Written February 11, 2019
Yes, I believe so. They stamp your hand or put a paper band around your wrist.
Written February 11, 2019
Is there a place to stop and eat while at the museum?
Written July 23, 2018
Yes, we ate in the small cafe on the 3rd floor at a table with a great view of the river and cityscape.
Written July 24, 2018
Will the Museum accept my tickets on my phone if I can't print them?
Written November 15, 2015
Yes we will. The front desk is able to scan the tickets off your phone at our front desk.
Written November 16, 2015
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has a parking ramp directly across from the Museum on Front Street. The parking ramp is run by the city and is $1.00 per hour of parking, with a $5.00 maximum. If you are looking for handicap parking, we have a few spots underneath the Museum's drive thru turn around, with additional spots located in the ramp.
Written November 10, 2015
Hi Dan,
To visit "The Discovery of King Tut" on display through January 31, 2016, adults are $18, seniors $17, children 3-17 are $13, 2 and under are free. This pricing includes this blockbuster exhibition, admission into our traveling exhibit "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition" on display through January 17, 2016, general admission into the Museum to see 3 floor of our core exhibits and a free carousel ride.
General admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $3 for children (3-17) and 2 and under are free. This pricing includes admission into "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition."
Carousel rides are $1 and planetarium shows are $4 with general admission and $5 for planetarium only tickets.
We hope to see you soon!
Written October 6, 2015
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