Grand Rapids Public Museum’s ‘TOYS!’ exhibit expands for summer

A giant version of the Battleship game will be available for visitors to play. (Supplied)

By Christie Bender
Grand Rapids Public Museum

Grand Rapids Public MuseumThe Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that the TOYS! exhibit is taking over the Museum. Museum visitors can experience TOYS! like never before with additional interactive experiences and games available throughout the Museum beginning Saturday, June 15.

More than 15 new interactives will fill the first floor galleria, into the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibit and on the Museum’s second floor, overflowing from the TOYS! exhibit. Visitors will enjoy playing giant versions of their favorite games including: Battleship, Lincoln Logs, Chess, Connect Four, UNO, Kerplunk, Tic Tac Toe, Lite Brite and more!

TOYS! is an interactive, multi-generational exhibition of toys and games to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones. This GRPM original exhibit features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from the community, allowing visitors to imagine, compete and create, while going on a journey of toys through generations.

The exhibit, designed and curated by the GRPM staff, features toys and games from the Museum’s Collections and on loan from community members. Visitors imagine, compete and create, while going on a journey of toys through generations.

Through the design process of the exhibition, the Museum worked with several experts from the community making sure the design was as inclusive as possible so everyone visiting can enjoy it. The exhibition is presented in both English and Spanish, and also includes Braille.

TOYS! and the expanded games and activities are free with general admission to the Museum. Kent County residents receive reduced admission as a benefit of the 2016 voter approved millage, including free general admission for Kent County children 17 and younger.