The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will be part of the 18th annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day on Saturday, Sept. 17. The initiative invites museums across the United States to open their doors for free to those who download an official Museum Day ticket.
The annual event allows museums, zoos, and cultural centers from all 50 states to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day. This year’s event is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Participants must download free Museum Day tickets to receive free general admission to the GRPM. Museum Day tickets are available for download at Smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present a Museum Day ticket will gain free entrance for two at participating venues on Sept. 17 only. One ticket is permitted per email address.
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day goes beyond getting visitors through museum doors across the country—it acts as a springboard to empower and help advance the hopes and ambitions of the public, particularly school-aged children and those in underrepresented communities. It represents a national commitment to access, equity and inclusion. This year’s theme, The American Experience, shines a spotlight on wonderful arts, culture, sciences, innovation, and history exhibits throughout the nation.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, Museum goers to the GRPM can explore three floors of core exhibits focused on history, science, and culture, along with the GRPM’s newest traveling exhibit, A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico, as part of their admission.
Other Michigan museums that will be participating in the Smithsonian Museum Day are Little Traverse Historical Museum in Petoskey; Michigan Maritime Museum in South Haven; Midwest Miniatures Museum in Grand Haven; Plymouth Historical Museum in Plymouth; and Rochester Hills Museum in Van Hoosen Farm in Rochester.
One of the Kent District Library’s beloved buddies, Curi, has decided to tour the local parks this summer. If you want to catch up to where he is, then you need to find him. KDL will provide clues to those participating in the Summer Wonder program a partnership between KDL and Kent County Parks Department. For more information about the Summer Wonder program, visit kdl.org.
Pollinators and POPnology
If the temperatures get too hot, then cool off at the Grand Rapids Public Museum which is featuring two new exhibits this summer, “POPnology” and “Amazing Pollinators.” “POPnology” combines pop culture and technology, showcasing how science fiction has become science fact. “Amazing Pollinators” is a maze that visitors follow taking 48 survival missions from eight different pollinator groups, including bats, bees, beetles, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps. For more on the exhibits, visit grpm.org.
Big and Small
OR wander through the John Ball Zoo to visit the animals and check out the zoo’s latest BRICKLIVE exhibit, “Supersized!” featuring some of the word’s smallest creatures in large-than-life proportions. Or put it on the calendar to check out the next Adult Night Out series on Thursday which features brews from Wyoming’s own Two Guys Brewing. For more on the zoo, visit, jbzoo.org.
Fun Fact: Hey, Little Sister
We know that sometimes it can take a while to have family join you in the United States after immigrating here. For the Statute of Liberty, it took 136 years for her sister to finally make the trip. Wishing to emphasize the importance of the bonds between the United States and France, a group of French craft people created the nine-foot replica of the 181-foot one on Ellis Island. The statue is set to board a ship on June 19 to come to the United States. It will be on display for a short-time next to her ‘big sister’ in New York before heading to Washington D.C., where it will be on display for the next 10 years at the French embassy.
If you think you know about turtles, you’ve got plenty to learn when Lakeshore Museum Center opens Turtle Travels, a fun-filled, interactive exhibit that gives visitors a turtle’s-eye view of life in the “slow lane.”
Research shows turtles actually live in and travel through a surprising diversity of habitats. Their journeys are filled with challenges! These findings— and many other turtle studies—come from the use of radio telemetry that tracks how animals move around their habitats. You’ll have a chance to check out this science and see how it works.
You’ll start your journey at the exhibition entrance, where kids can pose as a turtle in front of a marsh habitat backdrop. There’s a child’s bench to sit on and take a photo. After all, you’ll need to rest up for your journey! Once you step onto the giant board game, follow the instructions and you’ll be detoured to interactive games. Find out what it’s like for a turtle trying to cross a road or traverse changing habitats. Be a turtle tracker and see how real field biologists track animals in the wild. The lively setting has plenty to keep children busy as they play the game. For example, an underwater video shows how a sea turtle swims. Trek along this turtle terrain and you’ll find out that slow and steady not only wins the race, but takes turtles on some amazing journeys!
You’ll also discover cool turtle and tortoise facts— how their bodies and shells have adapted to many different habitats, why they need shells, the hazards they encounter in the wild, how they are important to many different cultures, and more. Turtle Travels provides unusual perspectives on these amazing reptiles.
Does your child want a pet turtle? Wait! First find out what kind of care they need— and how the pet trade isn’t always the best deal for the turtle.
The exhibition has a variety of family-friendly components, including:
● A Swiss Army turtle with moveable feet illustrating how turtles’ limbs are adapted to fit their environment ● A station to build the arch of a turtle’s shell ● A restful spot to lounge on a turtle and discover the many turtles that star in children’s tales
Admission for the Turtle Travels exhibit is free for Muskegon County residents and Museum members. Non-residents ages 3 and up admission is $5.
You can visit the Turtle Travels exhibit starting May 21 through September 4 at the Lakeshore Museum Center at 430 W. Clay Ave in Muskegon.
In spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside 24 hours.
Author and humorist Mark Twain
Wyoming’s annual Spring Carnival will open this weekend at Lamar Park. (Supplied)
Carnival Days
Wyoming’s Spring Carnival is taking place through May 2 at Lamar Park, 2561 Porter St. SW. The carnival, which is operated by TJ Schmidt & Company, features a host of games and rides. Health and safety measures are in place for guests, employees, and vendors. Masks must be worn at the carnival. Hours of operation are 4 – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 2 – 8:30 p.m. Friday; and noon – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“Bee” in “Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGOs” at the Grand Rapids Public Museum through May 2. (Supplied)
Last Call
Visitors have a limited time left to explore the popularUnder the Arctic and Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks exhibitions at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM). Under the Arctic’s last date to visit will be Sunday, April 25 and the last date to visit Wild Connections is Sunday, May 2. Explore larger-than-life sculptures made with more than 2 million LEGO® bricks in Sean Kenney’s Wild Connections Made with LEGO® Bricks! The sculptures teach about animal endangerment, ecosystems, and mankind’s relationship with nature. Included with GRPM admission tickets, Under the Arctic addresses climate change through the lens of a thawing Arctic environment to educate visitors about permafrost’s fascinating characteristics and its greater implications. For more information, visit grpm.org.
Head for the Trees
The popular high ropes course TreeRunner Grand Rapids is now open. Located behind Celebration! Cinema north, the adventure park features six trails of various skill, ranging from easy to hardest. If you go, remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Safety precautions are being taken at the course with limited tickets available. For more information, visit www,treerunnerspark.com/grandraids/.
Tulips are actually from China
We often associate the tulip with the Netherlands. however the unique flower’s origins come from Central Asia. The Turks cultivated the flowers as early as 10,000 A.D. and they named the flowers “tulip” which comes from the Turkish word turban. The tulip was introduced to the Netherlands in the late 16th century. According to the legend, a famous biologist Carolus Clusius, was working in the oldest botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus in Leiden. A friend from Turkey, sent Clusius tulip flowers for his garden in Leiden and thus started the Tulipmania craze. Check out the tulips at this year’s Holland Tulip Time festival taking place May 1 – 9.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced that its Camp Curious summer programs are now open for registration. The Museum will offer in-person, small group camps, as well as virtual Digital Discovery sessions for kids to explore the wonders of science, history, culture and more.
Kids pre-K through 12th grade will use the Museum as a learning lab through a variety of camp offerings, beginning June 14 and are available through mid-August, 2021.
“We’re excited to offer a mixture of in person camps as well as Digital Discovery sessions to the community this year,” said Rob Schuitema, the GRPM’s Director of Public Programs. “Both opportunities will provide students with the tools and guidance they need to have fun while learning and making genuine connections to the curriculum and the Museum. As always, our team is thrilled to share their expertise and enthusiasm for science, history and culture with the next cohort of curious minds this summer.”
Camp Curious offers single day or multiple day camps and are available by the grade level students will be entering in the fall. Popular camps include Slimy Science, Fossil Hunters, Dream it, Build it with LEGO® Bricks and Young Wizards Academy. New, in-person camps this year include River Critters, Adaptations & Pollinators, Fun Tech and River Explorers.
Digital Discovery Sessions encourage campers to explore and investigate through hands-on experiments and activities, while using common items in their homes as well as artifacts and specimens in the GRPM’s digital Collections. New this year, Stargazers gives students the opportunity to explore the wonders of the universe by learning how to navigate Stellarium, an open-source software that will bring the power of the planetarium to their home. Other virtual offerings include Slimy Science, Time Travelers, Dream it, Build it with LEGO® Bricks, Wizards Academy and the Grand Photo Project.
Digital Discovery sessions will require access to the internet and the use of a device to watch presentations and receive daily instructions. These sessions will utilize the virtual platform SeeSaw, with most activities taking place off-line. Digital Discovery sessions are designed for campers to do projects independently; the Museum recommends that parents of young children (1st – 3rd grade) be present. Digital Discovery session supplies include common items from around your home, and can be interchangeable based on what campers have access to. Recommended lists can be found at grpm.org/EduClasses.
Pricing for camps vary, starting as low as $35 for single day, in person camps and $40 for multi-day Digital Discovery sessions, with discounts available for Museum members. For more information on Camp Curious and Digital Discovery Sessions and to register today, visit grpm.org/Educlasses. Early registration is highly recommended, as camps will sell out.
The Lakeshore Museum Center located in Muskegon has added Saturday hours for the winter months. (Supplied)
Lakeshore Museum Center to introduce Second Saturdays, additional open hours at the main museum at 430 W. Clay Ave starting in January 2021. These open hours have free admission for Muskegon County residents and take place on the second Saturday of each month. Second Saturdays showcase museum exhibits including the new Who is Rosie Lee Wilkins: Piecing Together Her History exhibit, the STEM Center, and Science Center with scavenger hunts for kids.
“It’s a new year and we’re trying something new,” said Museum Experiences Director, Jacquelyn Huss. “These Saturday hours offer families a chance to visit us during the weekend.”
Second Saturdays take place from noon-4 pm on the following dates: ● January 9, 2021 ● February 13, 2021 ● March 13, 2021 ● April 10, 2021
Each Second Saturday includes an exhibit-related take-and-make activity for kids to complete at home. Adults can also take a look at how the Rosie Lee Wilkins exhibit was constructed and the research process that pieced together her history.
The new hours kick off in January 2021 and will continue through April. No reservation is needed to attend, but be sure to check in with the LMC website for any additional updates.
Call 231-722-0278 for more information. Masks are required to enter the museum.
Mr. Kjillstrom (grandfather), Oscar Kjillstrom (son), and Clifford Kjillstrom (grandson), all cabinetmakers at Union Furniture Company. The Union Furniture Company was destroyed by fire in 1886. (Grand Rapids Public Museum)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) announced today that it recently published all of its Collections records and the vast majority of its 150,000+ digital images under a Creative Commons Zero License. This license denotes that the GRPM has dedicated the images – photographs of artifacts, specimens, scans of photographs, catalogs, etc. – to the Public Domain so that they can be downloaded directly and used freely by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
“This is part of GRPM’s vision of broad accessibility, including accessible Collections and sharing knowledge for all,” said the Museum’s President and CEO Dale Robertson. “Through this Creative Commons licensing, anyone who finds one of our resources can download and use it for no charge, without having to get special permission. This is especially nice for our educational K-12 partners, students, teachers, researchers, authors, media creators and anyone with interest.”
The GRPM’s Collections can be explored at grpmcollections.org. Images can be downloaded for educational and personal use by using the “Download Media” button associated with that image on the GRPM’s Collections Database.
Rectangular iron, tin and wood case has stepped sides. Four rubber-covered wheels. Friction rotation. Two hinged dustpans; one lever. Single brush. Plain brackets; nickel and enamel trim. Handpainted floral motif in orange, green, yellow and gold. Stencil: ‘Bissell’s Grand Rapids.’ Previous # X120.;Collected by Bissell in or before February 1894..;Collected by Bissell in or before February 1894.. Collected by Bissell in or before February 1894. (Grand Rapids Public Museum)
“It is our belief that as a public institution, dedicated to the stewardship of these Collections, we have a duty to make them as accessible as possible,” said the Museum’s Chief Curator Alex Forist. “Publishing our Collections data and images under a Creative Commons Zero license removes so many barriers like fees, permissions, and citation requirements. We have been working hard for years to create this content, and we want to make it as simple as possible for anyone to find and use.”
There are a few exceptions to the new policy and a small number of images are classified as either “Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommericial-NoDerivitaves” or “Restricted” when the GRPM does not have the rights to place the image in the Public Domain. Full rights information can be found at: https://www.grpmcollections.org/About/Terms
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that helps overcome legal obstacles to the sharing of knowledge and creativity. In order to fulfill their mission, Creative Commons provides Creative Commons licenses and public domain tools that give every person and organization in the world a free, simple, and standardized way to grant copyright permissions for creative and academic works; ensure proper attribution; and allow others to copy, distribute, and make use of those works. Creative Commons works closely with major institutions and governments to create, adopt and implement open licensing and ensure the correct use of CC licenses and CC-licensed content. Additional information can be found at
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is excited to host a new exhibition, Under the Arctic: Digging into Permafrost, beginning Sept. 26. Under the Arctic addresses the subject of climate change through the lens of a thawing Arctic environment. The exhibit features interactive components including a 30-foot-long Alaskan permafrost tunnel replica, fossil research stations and interactive games.
“Under the Arctic provides an educational and engaging space for all ages to learn more about climate change research, how it affects the environment, and what people can do to help preserve the planet’s health,” said Kate Kocienski, the GRPM’s Vice President of Marketing & PR. “We look forward to adding this exhibit to the Museum experience, included with the cost of general admission.”
Under the Arctic is a collaborative effort between the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) that transports visitors to the Arctic using the sights and smells of the nation’s only permafrost research tunnel. Visitors step into the boots of climate science researchers to explore real Ice Age fossils, ancient ice cores and engineering challenges posed by thawing permafrost.
“Climate change can be hard to wrap your head around. For a lot of people who don’t experience its effects, it feels abstract or distant – like something in the future,” said Allyson Woodard, an exhibit developer with OMSI. “This exhibit is an opportunity to make the impacts of climate change tangible – you can see it, touch it and even smell it.”
The permafrost tunnel in the “Under the Arctic” exhibit coming to the Grand Rapids Public Museum Sept. 26. (Supplied)
This exhibit strives to educate visitors about permafrost’s fascinating characteristics and its greater implications. Permafrost is soil that has been frozen for at least two years, and it traps an enormous amount of carbon dioxide. As it thaws, carbon is released into the atmosphere, which in turn has drastic repercussions for the planet.
“We all know about melting ice caps and rising seas, but I don’t think it’s widely known that permafrost is thawing and releasing these carbon emissions,” said Catherine Diaz, Business Development Manager at OMSI. “It’s having a big impact, and it’s not really something that’s talked about.”
Under the Arctic will be located on the second floor of the GRPM, and is free with general admission. The exhibit will be on display from Saturday, Sept. 26 through Spring 2021. All hands-on components of the exhibition will be under a rigorous cleaning schedule, given the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about Under the Arctic, visit grpm.org/arctic.
The GRPM is currently open and welcoming visitors to explore the three floors of core exhibitions, along with Bodies Revealed – extended through September 27. Limited capacity; advance ticketing is required. For additional details about the updated GRPM visitor experience, visit grpm.org.
About University of Fairbanks Geophysical Institute The Geophysical Institute is part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, America’s Arctic research university. Scientists at the Geophysical Institute study geophysical processes in action from the center of the Earth to the surface of the sun and beyond. Since its creation by an act of Congress in 1946, the institute has been turning data and observations into information useful for state and national needs. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, the institute works and maintains facilities from Antarctica to Pacific islands to far northern Alaska. For more information about the Geophysical Institute and UAF, go to gi.alaska.edu.
About OMSI Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI operates the largest museum-based outdoor science education program in the country and provides traveling and community outreach programs that bring science learning opportunities to schools and community organizations in nearly every county in Oregon. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, Oregon. For general information, call 503-797-4000 or visit omsi.edu.
Grand Rapids Public Museum The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a publicly-owned institution that is home to more than 250,000 unique artifacts that tell the history of Kent County and beyond, houses the only planetarium in the region, and is responsible for protecting The Mounds, a national historic landmark. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, with its main location in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl St. NW. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees and exhibit/event listings, please visit www.grpm.org.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum will feature the Smithsonian exhibit “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” Aug. 1 – Sept. 27. (Supplied)
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is thrilled to announce a new exhibition is coming to the Museum from the Smithsonian, Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World, beginning Saturday, Aug. 1. The exhibit highlights how pathogens can spread to people from wildlife and livestock, why some outbreaks become epidemics and how human, animal and environmental health are all connected.
“As an educational institution, it’s important for the Museum to host an exhibit that’s relevant to today’s events,” said Dr. Cory Redman, the GRPM’s Science Curator. “Through an informative and immersive exhibit experience, information related to the COVID-19 pandemic will be shared, along with stories submitted from the West Michigan community about how this current health crisis has affected daily lives.”
Outbreak features informative panels and videos that cover outbreaks such as Zika, Ebola, Influenza and new information pertaining to COVID-19. Visitors will learn about the vaccination process, stigmas associated with certain infectious diseases, different roles community members and international partnerships assume to help stop outbreaks from becoming epidemics and more. The Museum also is including a section related to its community documentation project of daily life during COVID-19.
Detail of a MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus. (Supplied)
“We want people in all countries and settings to have effective communication tools about infectious diseases and health,” said Sabrina Sholts, lead curator of the exhibition and curator in the Department of Anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History. “We see this as an extraordinary opportunity to raise awareness about pandemic risks and make everyone safer in our connected world.”
Outbreak will be located on the second floor of the GRPM, and is free with general admission to the Museum. The exhibition is presented in English and Spanish. Outbreak will be on display Aug. 1 through Oct. 18.
The GRPM is open and welcoming visitors to explore the three floors of core exhibitions, along with Bodies Revealed – extended through Sept. 27. Limited capacity; advance ticketing is required. For additional details about the new GRPM visitor experience, visit grpm.org.
