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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New Images Search+

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

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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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Jeff Hill: Fox Typewriter+

qwerty Clack…clack…clack…clack…clack…clack…clack…clack came the sound from Mr. Shipman’s class on the first day of school. Or maybe it was Mr....

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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...

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Video: Stephen Hendee on working in museums+

The Ice Next Time: Textiles and Artifacts of Dark Age North America (2026-2280ce)

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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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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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Sara Herscher: Hamilton Beach Milk Shake Maker+

Walking through row after row of machines, kid’s toys, furniture, and tools, I was inspired by so many beautiful artifacts....

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Tommy Allen: Simplex Clock+

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

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What is ArtifactGR?+

What if you could easily access artifacts of the past, learn from them, and allow them to influence the future?...

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Steve Frazee: Red Shoes+

“You will make our family proud,” father said. “You must, if you are to earn a wealthy husband,” mother said....

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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+ 278 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...

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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...

Read More+ 382 days ago

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+ 528 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+ 535 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+ 535 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...

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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...

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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....

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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+ 535 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+ 535 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+ 535 days ago