visit grpm

    Hours
    Monday – Friday
    9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Saturday & Sunday
    10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Curiosity Shop Hours
    Monday – Sunday
    10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

    Please note that on some Fridays and Saturdays, the Museum often has set up in its main galleria space for private evening events beginning at 4 p.m.

    CLOSED: New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving & Christmas Day

    We are located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, on the west bank of the Grand River.

    Grand Rapids Public Museum
    272 Pearl Street NW
    Grand Rapids, MI 49504

    Directions

    From US 131, take exit 85B, Pearl Street. The Museum is one block east at the corner of Pearl & Front Street.

    From I-196, take exit 77C (Ottawa Ave/Downtown) proceed south to Pearl St. and turn right. The Museum is located across the bridge on the left side.

    Public Transportation

    The GRPM is conveniently located on the DASH Stops.

    The DASH (Downtown Area Shuttle) offers visitors a seamless way to explore downtown. With late hours, weekend rides, and two primary routes (DASH West and DASH North), your journey becomes even more comfortable. Plus, pickups are scheduled every eight minutes during its operational hours, and it’s entirely free – no ticket or pass required! Check out the DASH routes here: DASH Routes.

    Alternatively, consider using The Rapid, our city’s broad bus transit system. It connects downtown to locations like East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Wyoming, Walker, and even the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

    For more on The Rapid, visit ridetherapid.org or download the myStop or Transit app from your app store.

    Remember: Both The Rapid and DASH are committed to accessibility, catering to wheelchairs, scooters, and service animals.

    Reach GRPM with ease using these fantastic transportation options!

    Parking

    Covered parking is available in a ramp located off Front St., just south of the Museum’s main entrance. Handicap parking is available under the Museum’s overhang, with additional handicap parking in the ramp. Museum members receive validated parking in the Museum’s parking ramp. 

    Parking Pricing:

    • Daily Max $24
    • Lost Ticket $28
    • $2 per ½ hour

    Additional parking is available through the City of Grand Rapids parking garages and lots.

    KENT COUNTY RESIDENTS: Parking in the Museum’s ramp is now FREE with paid admission to the Museum. Bring your parking ticket to the front desk and when you purchase your discounted admission, we will validate your parking. State-issued ID is required.

    Accessibility

    The Museum is accessible for all visitors. The Museum includes an elevator allowing guests to access all floors of the facility. Wheelchairs and strollers are available, free of charge, on a first come, first serve basis. Doors at the Museum’s entrance and on all bathrooms are equipped with electronic door openers. Throughout the exhibitions and visitor service spaces, including the Museum’s Cafe and Curiosity Shop, access is maintained for all visitors. The Museum also includes label copy in English and in a growing number of areas also in Spanish and Braille.

    Accessible parking spaces are available both near the main entrance of the Museum and within the Museum’s parking ramp.

    The GRPM reasonably accommodates visitors who have disabilities unless doing so would provide undue hardship for the GRPM. Visitors may appeal or request additional consideration of a request for accommodations by contacting the Museum at info@grpm.org or at 616.929.1700. 

    Aira for blind and low vision

    The Museum provides Aira, an app-based service that connects people who are blind or have low vision to highly trained, remotely-located agents in real time to guide them through exploration of the Museum at no cost to the visitor. 

    Through the app on the user’s smartphone, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button. Visitors to the GRPM can download the app and begin using the service during their visit for free. Through visual interpretation, this guided service provides access for visitors who are blind or low vision to engage with exhibits, label text, interactives and more while they explore the Museum on their terms. 

    Once connected to an Aira agent, the  visitor, will decide where and when they would like additional access to information.  The Aira agent will customize the experience to what the visitor is interested in seeing and learning, reading labels and explaining the details of the artifacts and information around them. 

    The Quiet Room

    The GRPM offers The Quiet Room as a family friendly, low sensory space for anyone who needs a private area to be away from crowds. This space is a great resource for breastfeeding mothers, individuals or families with special sensory needs, those in need of an adult changing area and more. During your visit, ask any GRPM staff member if you need to use The Quiet Room.

    Sensory Bags

    The GRPM has partnered with KultureCity to improve our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs. Our objective is to provide and inclusive and seamless experience for all guests for all events including those with sensory needs. We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing disorders by supplying our team members with continuous training and by offering the resources and accommodations below to our guests. Sensory bags containing special KCVIP badges, fidget tools, noise canceling headphones and other resources are available for checkout (at no cost by leaving an ID) at our front desk.

    Museum Photo Policy

    Museum visitors may take personal photographs or video for private/noncommercial use throughout most areas of the Museum.

    Personal photography or video is not allowed:

    • In some special exhibitions, areas designated as “No Photography,” or of works of art on loan from private collections or other institutions
    • If interfering with other guests’ museum experience (No lamps, cords, flashes, tripods, professional cameras or recording equipment).
    • Photographs taken for personal use may not be published, sold, reproduced, transferred, or otherwise commercially exploited in any manner.  The Grand Rapids Public Museum reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withhold and/or withdraw permission to photograph on its premises.  

    For requests for media/promotional photography/filming contact Delany Lemke in our Marketing Department at dlemke@grpm.org

    For information and rates for commercial photography or filming, please contact the Hospitality Department at hospitality@grpm.org