Brain: The World Inside Your Head

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The Grand Rapids Public Museum is once again hosting family-friendly fun over this year’s holiday break! From Dec. 23 through Jan. 7, the GRPM will celebrate Snowflake Break with additional hands on activities, all included with admission.

Offerings will include a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around history, science and culture, and the exhibits “Dragon, Unicorns & Mermaids and Brain: The World Inside Your Head.” Visitors can make their own take home crafts including: unique paper snowflakes, punched tin crafts and ornaments. Snowflake Break crafts will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.

New for 2017, a feature during the holidays at the GRPM is LEGOs! See historic Grand Rapids like never before, all built from LEGOs. The 1925-era display, complete with operating trams showcases what Grand Rapids looked like during the early 20th century, including a section of the Grand River, the Morton Hotel, and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation building – the former ice house for Anheuser Busch.

Visitors to the Museum will be able to view this special holiday LEGO recreation now through January 26, 2018. It is on display in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids and included with general admission. “Built by the West Michigan Lego Train Club.”

In addition to the free with admission activities, the GRPM is hosting a holiday themed planetarium show “Let it Snow,” with additional shows daily during Snowflake Break. Visitors are also invited to go on a Santa & Elf Hunt, to find 15 historic Santas from around the World in the “Streets of Old Grand Rapids” exhibit, and 12 elves hidden throughout the 3 floors of the Museum. The Santa & Elf Hunt is included with general admission.

Join the Museum for late nights to see “Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” until 8 p.m. on Dec. 26, 28, 29, and Jan. 2. The GRPM will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Santa finds a new ride at the Grand Rapids Public Museum

Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

Explore the various mythical creatures of the world. Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids features models and replicas of preserved specimens as well as cast fossils of prehistoric animals to investigate how they could have, through misidentification, speculation, fear, or imagination, inspired the development of some legendary creatures.

“Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” offers many interactive stations throughout the exhibition, including building your dragon in a virtual environment. Touch casts of a narwhal tusk to discover how they lent credence to the centuries-old belief in the unicorn. Hands-on stations include the lower jaw of Gigantopithecus (extinct group of apes) and a life-size reproduction of the talon of a Haast’s eagle.

The exhibition includes imaginative models, paintings, and textiles, along with other cultural objects from around the world. The exhibit will bring to light surprising similarities and differences in the ways people around the world have been inspired by nature to envision and depict these strange and wonderful creatures.

Admission to “Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” is $12 for adults, $7 for children, $9 for Kent County resident adults, $4 for Kent County resident children, and $2 for all Museum members! Tickets include general admission to the Museum, and can be purchased online at grpm.org.

“Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org), in collaboration with the Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau-Quebec; Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta; and The Field Museum, Chicago.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Streets of Old Grand Rapids are decked out for the holidays.

Brain: The World Inside Your Head

“Brain” literally takes you inside the head to probe the geography of a giant brain and stand in the midst of the brain’s constant electrical brainstorm as thoughts and sensations are generated.

Upon entry into the exhibit, walk through a shimmering tunnel of flashing fiber-optics that illuminates networks of neurons firing and communicating. From this dynamic beginning, “Brain” invites guests deeper into the brain to discover its basic workings. Trace this brain’s development from infancy through old age, learn the evolution of scientists’ understanding of the brain’s physiology and study the re-created skull of Phineas Gage — a man who survived after his brain was pierced by a metal rod.

Admission to “Brain: The World Inside Your Head” will be free with general admission. “Brain”is open now through Jan. 7, 2018.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is opening a new exhibit, Brain: The World Inside Your Head, on September 16! Brain literally takes you inside the head to probe the geography of a giant brain and stand in the midst of the brain’s constant electrical brainstorm as thoughts and sensations are generated.

This fascinating exhibit for all ages provides a hands‑on and up‑close look at the human body’s most essential and fascinating organ by exploring its development, geography and function.

Upon entry into the exhibit, visitors walk through a shimmering tunnel of flashing fiber-optics that illuminates networks of neurons firing and communicating. From this dynamic beginning, Brain invites guests deeper into the brain to discover its basic workings. Trace this brain’s development from infancy through old age, learn the evolution of scientists’ understanding of the brain’s physiology and study the re-created skull of Phineas Gage — a man who survived after his brain was pierced by a metal rod.

This traveling exhibit employs innovative special effects, 3-D reproductions, virtual reality, hands-on learning activities and interactive technology to delve into the inner workings of the brain, including its processes, potentials and mysteries.

“Brain: World Inside Your Head is a great way for all ages to be hands-on in learning about our brains!” said Kate Moore, Vice President of Marketing & PR at the GRPM. “As the hub of science for West Michigan, we are offering an inside look at the anatomy of our heads and information on brain health.”

Admission to Brain: The World Inside Your Head will be FREE with general admission. Brain will be located on the Museum’s second floor and run from September 16 to January 7, 2018.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, Grand Valley State University will be hosting their Brain STEM event at the GRPM from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. BrainSTEM is a free community event to display the interactive, innovative, and creative activities relating to science, technology, engineering, and math.

Media is invited for a special preview of Brain: The World Inside Your Head on Friday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please RSVP to Christie Bender at cbender@grpm.org.