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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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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ArtifactGR on Fox17+

Thanks to Emily Richett for coming down and talking with us about the project. She will be back through after...

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Kim Buchholz: China+

There it was – same pattern, same color, same china! On a recent tour of the Community Archives & Research...

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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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Tess Dornan: The Queen’s Watch+

In the abandoned streets of London, young Eliot ran in the shadows. It was the year 1912.  Thieves were about...

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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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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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Toni Bal: Wheelchair+

This photo is of a wooden wheelchair from the early part of the 20th century. What do you see? Oak...

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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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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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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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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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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...

Read More+ 54 days ago

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...

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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+ 240 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...

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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...

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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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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. ...

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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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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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Rapid Growth Media Feature on ArtifactGR+

A special thank you to Tommy Allen for coming through  and writing up this great feature in Rapid Growth his...

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