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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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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Thomas Consiglio: The Police Motorcycle+

“The Police Motorcycle” For over one-hundred-years Americans have obsessed over motorcycles. There is one name always associated with the powerful,...

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Miranda Curtiss: Voigt Cream Flakes Box+

Artifact: Voigt Cream Flakes Box It seems a bit silly to be writing a whole entry on an old box. ...

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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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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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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...

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Lee Davis: Oology+

Oology. A beautiful word, all full of circles and soft shapes as the letters come together. The oological collection is...

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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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Chris Knape: It pointed up+

The symbol at the bottom of the “Evacuation Route” sign contains the letters CD, for Civil Defense. I remember first...

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Dr. Gregory Crowell: The Harpsichord+

Unlocking a Voice from the Past Dr. Gregory Crowell Like cooks or gardeners, musicians depend on having the correct tools...

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Video: Phil Wilson: Memories of the museum+

Local artist Phil Wilson sat down to share one of his favorite Museum Memories of the old  Grand Public Museum...

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Dana Friis-Hansen: My Grand Rapids Bicycle Diary+

Ok, in comparison with others, I’m hardly a serious bicyclist; I often ride my commuter bike to work, to work...

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Grand Rapids Magazine article+

The latest issue issue of Grand Rapids magazine has an article about the project . Find them on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/grmag...

Read More+ 4 months ago

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+ 1 year 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+ 1 year 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...

Read More+ 1 year ago

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...

Read More+ 1 year ago

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+ 2 years 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...

Read More+ 2 years ago

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+ 2 years 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+ 2 years 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+ 2 years 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...

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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+ 2 years 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+ 2 years ago