Van Andel Museum Center-Public Museum

When you walk in , you are greeted by a giant skeleton (and I mean GIANT) of a whale hanging from the two or three story high ceiling. There are vintage automobiles, ancient artifacts and the list goes on. Your mind can just keep wandering right along with you. There are a lot of little displays throughout and you constantly have something to look at and learn about. The museum also houses laser light shows in their planetarium and carousel rides on their REAL carousel (it was restored and is truly amazing to see!) Definitely a place both parents and children will enjoy. They always have fun travelling shows going on as well. (Great gift shop too!) more

The VanAndel Museum is a great place for the entire family to enjoy. It is a beautiful museum with a view that overlooks the Grand River. There is an antique carousel that offers rides for the entire family. Attending a special event at the Museum also doubles the fun as they frequently offer wine-tasting, fundraising and special holiday events that include the tour of the museum. more

While I miss the old museum, the one you could get lost in, the new one isn't bad. The carousel is fun, and they always seem to have activities for kids. The dedicated space for traveling exhibits is a welcome addition over the old one. more

This is the musuem that I grew up going to. The one where all the public schools had their yearly field trip. The carousel especially inside the building is noteworthy. All of the horses were handcarved so I hear. It's simply beautiful. If you have any children; definitely let them ride this (although I do believe it costs $1 fee). I can remember oohing & ahhing over it when I was younger. more

If you are looking for a museum that has it all, look no further than the vanandel museum. This is a great museum, it has so many displays of all different things. You can even have a wedding reception there, very nice views. Best of all you can ride a carousel and look at the grand river. more

The Van Andel Museum is a great place to go and find out a little history about Grand Rapids. It has a huge furniture exhibit which this city was once known for. This museum has a great variety of exhibits and a wonderful place to take children to learn while having fun! There is also a carousel o ride on that overlooks the river. more

The Van Andel Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon! There are a variety of cool exhibits, including much local history. The exhibits are interesting and well maintained. Each year there are rotating exhibits, recently the Dead Sea Scrolls were on display. I've also been to numerous wedding receptions at the museum. This is a great venue with a beautiful view of the city. more

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a great place to spend and afternoon. While not as big as the museums in some bigger cities, this museum is packed full of cool things to see. There is a giant steam engine, a full size bi-plane and a full size whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling more

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a quaint but very elegant museum. This museum is another aspect of Grand Rapids, Michigan, that most any one of any age can enjoy. Admission is cheap, and it is easy to spend a good long afternoon browsing through the many elaborate exhibits. Definitely worth the time to stop by and check it out if you have the time some afternoon. more

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is more of a general museum than anything else. It chronicles much of the history of the Grand Rapids area and its rise as one of the leading furniture manufacturers in the world, but also has a number of scientific exhibits, including the Chaffee Planetarium. The museum also plays host to some national touring exhibits, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Since moving into their new facilities on Pearl St. on the west side of the river, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has become a top notch museum. It offers engaging exhibits and information for young and old alike. Admission is a bit steep, but you can literally spend several hours, so it can be a good value if you take your time and view all the museum has to offer. more