This fall we are beginning a project by professionally photographing 500 of the artifacts of the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Visitors to the website will eventually be encouraged to attach their own oral and written histories to the artifact, giving them a more complete and in-depth story. We’ve asked community members to write about objects that caught their attention so we can share them here.

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Geoffrey L. Gillis+

The Old Museum The shrunken head is no longer on display. He is buried under sensitivities and recognitions. Locked away...

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Tim Priest: Silver Dust Blue detergent box+

Heavy duty Silver Dust Blue detergent, you know, for washing clothes.  Isn’t it evident on our packaging?  We clearly show...

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Anna Zaharakos: The Iron Lung and Margaret Pfrommer+

The Iron Lung and Margaret Pfrommer By Anna Zaharakos, Owner, Studio Z, Grand Rapids, MI When my daughter Eva and...

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Kara McNabb: Floral Dress+

:::1893::: Her dress billowed around her bare feet. She breezed past the butcher shop and the pharmacy with a book...

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Mary Ellen Fritz: Dresses+

Admittedly, I give very little thought to my own wardrobe.  I really don’t have to. Dressing like most modern women...

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Evan Hunt: Are you the King of Pop?+

Are you the King of Pop? Hiya, ladies and gentlemen! King Kernel here with a “pop” quiz for ya. Let’s...

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Collin Hunt: REO Speedwagon+

The band REO Speedwagon is one of my favorite bands, and I’ve always known it was named after a car....

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Charles Honey: Museum Guitars+

There she stands, sleek and sexy, like a John Glenn-era rocket ready to launch: the Gibson Flying V. I am...

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Video: Paul Propst: Herman Miller CoStruc cart+

CoStruc cart and drawers comments by Paul Propst, son of Robert Propst The rolling cart with the bright colored drawers...

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Tom Newhouse: The Herman Miller Ottoman+

The Alexander Girard Round Ottoman has special design meaning for me. Upon graduation from the University of Michigan School of...

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Video: Mayor George Heartwell My Museum+

Mayor George Heartwell visits the old Public Museum at 54 Jefferson and shares his memories of the exciting, entertaining and...

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Pam Ralston-Hunt: Santa Express+

I love the Public Museum and have visited many times, but I never expected to find an artifact with a...

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New Images Search+

Many new images are being added daily to the online database. These are searchable and available to everyone, just enter...

Read More+ 184 days ago

Eric Kuhn: 1913 Indian Motorcycle+

Motorcycles terrify me. Well, not motorcycles themselves, but its the idea of riding one out on the open road, surrounded...

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Andrea Melvin: Blue Wedding Dress / Bridesmaid Dress+

Artifact: Blue Wedding dress / bridesmaid dress Accession Numbers: Blue wedding dress – to follow tomorrow Bridesmaid Dress, c.1957 #147100...

Read More+ 288 days ago

Amy and Steve Ruis: Table+

Artifact: Table 82.1.3. Author: Amy and Steve Ruis Remember setting the table as a child? A chore, right? Most of...

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Bill Hill: Rudell Pharmacy objects+

Items from Rudell Drugstore, in the Grand Rapids Public Museum Archives You know how it is. Sometimes it’s a slant...

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Mayor George Heartwell: Birch Bark Canoe+

Come back with me. Way back. European settlers had discovered the New World but had only begun to push into...

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Rickey Ainsworth: Lumen Martin Winter’s Fra Mauro+

During my time as an eight-year-old supernerd, I never felt more in my element than during my frequent visits to...

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Pamela Patton: 1960′s Tablet Desk+

1960’s Tablet Desk Accession Number: 2009.2.5 Manufacturer: Irwin Seating I was thrilled and honored when Gayle DeBruyn asked me to...

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Tommy Fitzgerald: Roder stove and oven+

Old Fashioned Pot Roast 1 5lb Chuck 1 Large Red onion, wedged into 8s 2 Cups chopped (into 1 inch...

Read More+ 434 days ago

Wall Wasilewski: Detroit Jewel+

The Detroit Jewel captures an automotive guy’s heart Born and raised in Detroit in a very automotive-focused family, Wally is...

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Tom T. Simmons: A basket+

Way in the back of the third room in on the second floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum Archives,...

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Janice Propst: Paragon Cutter+

In our current world of brutally hard-edged, utilitarian machine design this Paragon Cutter captures one’s aesthetic sense and reminds us...

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Thank you Grand Rapids Public Museum and Staff!+

Our great thanks to the staff at the Public Museum Archive! Thank you Andrea Melvin, Alex Forist, Tim Priest and...

Read More+ 441 days ago

William DeBruyn: Steelcase Metal Office Furniture Co. , Victor Waste Baskets+

I love wood – from a walk in the woods under tree canopies – to the furniture and architecture they...

Read More+ 441 days ago

Evan Hunt: Are you the King of Pop?+

Are you the King of Pop? Hiya, ladies and gentlemen! King Kernel here with a “pop” quiz for ya. Let’s...

Read More+ 441 days ago

Sarah Nagy: Merchant Marine Uniform+

“The Merchant Marine has the largest ratio of casualties of any branch of the services….” stares back at me from...

Read More+ 441 days ago

Nancy Goodman: 54 Jefferson – The building+

A recent quick walk through the old public museum at 54 Jefferson Street was such an amazing and delightful tease....

Read More+ 441 days ago

Tommy Allen: Simplex Clock+

Give Pause. It has been many years since I was invited to the archives at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. ...

Read More+ 441 days ago

Collin Hunt: REO Speedwagon+

The band REO Speedwagon is one of my favorite bands, and I’ve always known it was named after a car....

Read More+ 441 days ago

Lisa Locke: Peace of Wild Things+

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear...

Read More+ 441 days ago