By Micah Cho
WKTV Intern
Chances are you or a loved one has boarded “Santa’s Rocket Express,” the three car monorail that used to soar above the heads of shoppers at Herpolsheimer’s Department Store in Downtown Grand Rapids.
In 1949, Herpolsheimer’s introduced the train to compete in the “department store wars.” While you could go to the Wurzburgs Department Store and see Santa Claus, Herpolsheimer’s allowed visitors to ride around their store and see what their parents were buying them for Christmas.
The newly renovated train comes from a fundraising event on behalf of the Grand Rapids Public Museum called “Collections and Cocktails” in the Spring of 2018.
Christie Bender, director of marketing and communications for the museum, said the museum wanted to offer the community a chance to see a piece of history that’s close to the story of Grand Rapids.
“Many people that did grew up here will remember this (Santa’s Rocket Express) from their childhood, but people who are coming here now will get to learn the story,” Bender said.
For Patrick Ziegler, of Fubble Entertainment, the newly refurbished train brings back childhood memories of boarding Santa’s Rocket Express with other excited Grand Rapids children.
“It just seemed that you were so far up there and that you were talking to so many different people,” said Ziegler. “That’s everyone’s universal memory.”
While you’re visiting the museum, be sure to check out “Streets of Old Grand Rapids.” From decorated window displays to representations of old store fronts, the walk-through exhibit allows you to see what Christmas in old Grand Rapids used to look like.
Santa’s Rocket Express will be on display on the first floor of the Grand Rapids Public Museum until Jan. 17. There is no extra cost to view Santa’s Rocket Express or Streets of Old Grand Rapids.
