Sara Olson, Author at Grand Rapids Public Museum

The Renaissance of the Grand River

By: Guest author, Jonah Strayer, Grand Rapids Public Museum High School, Grade 11

In a city full of never-ending noise, there is one sound missing — the rapids. The lack of this sound has created a stifling silence that is covering up the missing feature our city used to pride itself upon. Our city is grand indeed, but we are a city with no rapids. It is evident the rapids are gone, which leaves only one question — Why?

What Happened to the Rapids?

The need to transport logs and utilize the river for resources led the founders and entrepreneurs of Grand Rapids to install a series of dams and remove the large slabs of limestone from the Grand River. The limestone was used in the construction of the city; you can find it all over in the forms of walls, floors and steps. In some locations, you can even see the remnants of fossils and indents of long-dead vegetation. The river also has a series of dams that control the water flow and level, as well as affect fish migration. Although Grand Rapids became a thriving tourist destination, its namesake feature is absent — the rapids are a lost legend. Having the rapids would provide many environmental, social, and economic benefits, all of which our city could benefit from if we were to restore the rapids.

How Do We Restore the Rapids?

The only way to give Grand Rapids its namesake back and to reclaim the benefits of the rapids is to reinstall the rapids and remove the numerous dams throughout the length of the river. This is the sole mission of the Grand Rapids Whitewater; they started a project to reinstall the rapids and restore our river to its previous glory. This project is being designed and run by a combination of civic leaders, outdoor enthusiasts, environmentalists and the general public. There is also a large focus on encouraging anyone who is interested in helping, to do so.

Restoration of the rapids will begin with dam removal and the introduction of substrate. GRWW explains the need for dam removal,

“Removing the dams facilitates the restoration of the namesake rapids currently submerged in the area between Sixth Street Dam and Ann Street.”

Additionally, the dam removal will restore river connectivity for fish and other creatures and improve the river’s ability to transport sediment. Rivers, like arteries, need to be open to remain healthy. Once the dams are removed, fish and other creatures will be allowed to travel freely and access an additional 88 acres of historic habitat.”

Substrates introduced will include limestone, boulders and gravel. When inquiries of why this is necessary were asked, GRWW responded,

“Over the past 160 years, rocks and boulders were removed from the river bottom and used as fill for construction along the river or in the foundations of many buildings within the city. Installing boulders, rock and gravel would contribute to the aquatic diversity of the Grand River. Pocket water, eddies, seams, fast water and slow water all contribute to the oxygenation and overall health of a river. These features also provide healthy structure and habitat for fish and wildlife.”

The introduction of natural elements will help to restore the river to the state before the industry prevailed.

What is the Impact of this Project?

One of the opportunities this restoration will offer the community is to provide Grand Rapids with new, fun activities. With the addition of the rapids, there will be various activities available including white water rafting, recreational swimming and kayaking, as well as cleaner water.

GRWW’s statement on the usage of the river post-restoration,

“WhiteWater and adventure sports originally gave our project its name, but thousands of residents will enjoy the new waterfront even if they never get into a canoe or raft.”

The environment is undoubtedly the second most important thing to think about when considering the results and goals of this project. Reintroducing gravel and limestone into the ecosystem allows for better oxygenation of the water.

“River water, richer in oxygen thanks to the turbulent rapids, will see increased microbial activity that will keep it cleaner and more hospitable to all.”

Improvements in the environment will also allow other threatened species to thrive and make a comeback against the race of extinction.

“The 27 species of mussels (nine state-threatened and one federally-endangered) that have been discovered in the project area will find their habitat much improved”

One extremely large concern of the general public has been Lake Sturgeon. These fish are a core part of our community’s ecosystem and a large feature at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Grand Rapids WhiteWater reassures the community that these changes will only benefit the beloved fish and will not have any negative effects on them, as shown when they said,

“When the Sixth Street Dam is removed, Lake Sturgeon will regain access to the bedrock beneath, which is their historic spawning ground.” “Fish and other living things in the river will thrive after decades of marginalization, and the river itself will be healthier for it.”

This shows that the community is not only engaged in the project but is working to make sure that it is done right.

Looking Ahead.

The effect the WhiteWater Restoration will have on Grand Rapids and the local community is tremendously positive. It appears as if the pros and cons of all aspects of this project’s triple bottom line are being taken into consideration and thought through. Arguably, the most impressive thing about this project is the thoughtfulness and careful planning that has been done and will continue to happen.

Dr. Stephanie Ogren, VP of Science and Education at the Grand Rapids Public Museum shares,

“It has to be done right as others will be looking at it for best practices as well as potential failures.”

It is this social pressure that continues to push the planners, builders and community to ensure that this project is done right and has a positive impact and results in the betterment of our community.

Source: Grand Rapids WhiteWater: Restore The Rapids In The Grand River 2022, grandrapidswhitewater.org.

Documenting Grand Rapids History Through Art

Why the GRPM Collects from the Community.

The Museum believes in the importance of building a diverse collection so we can share stories that reflect our entire community. It’s important the GRPM tells stories as accurately and completely as possible so that a wide variety of perspectives are included and difficult topics can be addressed.

New Pieces to the GRPM Collections.

In 2020, the GRPM purchased three pieces of art for its Collections that were part of the Windows GR public art activation project. Recently, the GRPM recently purchased two more pieces entitled Black Lives Matter and Marsha P. Johnson Trans Flag created by local artists Edwin Anderson and April Bowen.

Learn more about the pieces from the artists’ perspectives and what it means to them to have their work be a part of the GRPM’s Permanent Collection.

Meet the Artists! Tell Us About Yourself.

Edwin: I am Edwin Anderson and I am from the southeast side of town in Grand Rapids, MI. I’m an artist and entrepreneur, and I sometimes like to go by an “artpreneur.” Being a part of my community is a big deal to me and I put in the effort to help create a better space where I’m from. I’ve been an artist since the beginning of my life. I believe the genius before me, my mother, passed down some of her talents along to me and I later found a way to make it my own. With art, I’m able to help share the stories of the ones who have been unheard or forgotten about, making a visual representation for people to see with their own eyes the stories that were left out of the picture. I use my art to help bring a connection among the community that it is located. I want the piece to start conversations and lead to people connecting. I look at it as in art activism and that’s what I’m doing.

April: My name is April Bowen, originally from Plymouth, IN, I moved to Grand Rapids in 2018. I received my degree in visual communication design, and have been self-identifying as an artist for just about all of my life. I love to center my work around activism and social justice, as visual art can sometimes be the most attention grabbing form of media.

Tell Us About Your Piece.

Edwin: The piece that was created here was a Black Lives Matter artwork that I wanted to create with my younger siblings. The name of this painting is called Say It Loud and it took about 2-3 days to finish. Although my youngins may not fully understand the impact and magnitude of their efforts of helping to be a part of this event, this will be a historical moment for the city of Grand Rapids and something to greatly remember.

The purpose for me to create this piece was to leave a message to those who didn’t understand the pain that many people of the Black community have been feeling. The feeling of not being heard, noticing that we’re not being seen, and that big final hurt of not receiving justice thus created emotional distress that was later felt throughout the whole country.

April: This mural was inspired by the trans icon Marsha P. Johnson and prompted in response to the murder of so many trans individuals throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Johnson’s famous quote, “No Pride For Some Of Us, Without Liberation For All Of Us” reflects this sentiment every June as the LGBTQIA+ community gathers to participate in Pride. Not only do we demand an end to police brutality amongst our trans peers, but we will continue to fight for their rights until all members of our community achieve liberation. Although the LGBTQIA+ community still has strides to make in terms of protecting and accepting our trans members, Johnson started a movement of queer solidarity that will remain a timeless example of social change.

This mural proudly displays the colors of the trans flag; blue stripe representation for boys, pink stripe representation for girls, and the white stripe representing individuals who are still transitioning, identify as gender non-conforming, or identify as intersex. I chose to symbolize the lives lost with the icon of the butterfly because I felt this image truly captured the beauty behind a life of complete transformation and authenticity.

What Motivated You to Create Something for the Windows GR Project?

Edwin: With this painting I wanted the message to come across that it’s time for us to be heard and it’s going to take the collective of all our brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, nationalities and background so come together and move forward so that we all can achieve equal rights to a fair justice system and to know that our lives are all equal. With that, I wanted my siblings to help me paint this so they too have a stamp of contribution connected with this historical moment.

April: I wanted to take a stand against police brutality in my community and country. I was actively taking initiatives as a white person to work towards becoming an anti-racist. Allyship is often lip service for white people, and I knew that my participation was necessary if I wanted to truly help. Most of the time the best solution is just using your talents to amplify the message.

What Does it Feel Like Knowing Your Work is a Part of the Museum’s Permanent Collections?

Edwin: I feel very honored to be able to have my painting in the Museum’s Collections. It’s because it’s a confirmed stamp of history that took place and when looking back, you’ll be able to see my contribution to a successful artist’s call for art activism here in Grand Rapids. If I can be remembered for something here, this is what many people can remember me and my siblings by.

April: I’m beyond excited to be a small part of extending Marsha P. Johnson’s legacy into this community. She was a spark that initiated queer solidarity, and I’m thankful that the museum has recognized her life story assomething worth preserving. Her life and death is a beacon of education when it comes to the timeline of extreme violence that the trans community has and continues to experience.

Connect with the Artists!

Edwin Anderson.
Instagram: @StudioSmoov
Facebook: Edwin D. Anderson

April Bowen.
Instagram: @betelboxdesign

Explore these pieces and the Museum’s Collections online at grpmcollections.org.

Pterosaurs are NOT Dinosaurs!

Illustration of a Pterosaur called Thalassodromeus

Did you know? Pterosaurs were the FIRST vertebrates that evolved the ability to fly!

Pterosaurs are an extinct group of flying reptiles that lived 220 to 66 million years ago, a period of time called the Mesozoic era. The first pterosaur described in the scientific literature was in 1784. The fossil was a well-preserved, complete skeleton found in the Solnhofen Limestone beds of Germany, which would also yield the first Archaeopteryx skeleton in 1861.

Pterosaurs are reptiles, not dinosaurs. They lived during the time of the dinosaurs and went extinct at the same time.

Over 150 species of pterosaurs have been identified, with the greatest diversity occurring around 125 million years ago. Pterosaur fossils have been found on every continent, except Antarctica.

Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve the power of flight — the only other vertebrates to accomplish this are birds and bats. Pterosaurs did not have feathers; their wings are formed from a skin membrane. A bat’s wing is also formed by a skin membrane, but that is where the similarities between the two groups end. Rare, well-preserved pterosaur fossils show that their wing membrane is composed of distinct layers and far more complex than a bat’s wing.

Pterosaur Darkwing cast — In this remarkable Rhamphorhynchus muensteri fossil, discovered in Germany in 2001, the wing tissues are so well preserved that scientists have been able to see fine details in their structure. Under ultraviolet light, researchers detected layers of skin threaded with blood vessels, muscles and long fibers that stiffened the wing. Because of the shadowy color of the wing membrane, paleontologists call this fossil Dark Wing. Credit: ©AMNH/D. Finnin

When pterosaurs were not flying in the air, they walked on all four limbs. Their wings folded up and tucked behind their front limbs — similar to folding up an umbrella and tucking it under your arm, while still holding onto the handle.

Pterosaurs were not covered with scales as one might expect for being reptiles. The majority of their body was covered with a hair-like fuzz, called pycnofibers, which has only been documented on pterosaurs. Pterosaurs did have some scales, but they were restricted to their feet and ankles.

Pterosaurs ranged from the size of a sparrow to a two-seater airplane. For example, Nemicolopterus crypticus had a wingspan of 10 inches (25 cm) and Quetzalcoatlus northropi had a wingspan of over 33 feet (10 m). Quetzalcoatlus stood as tall as a giraffe (18 ft, 5.5 m) when standing on the ground.

Almost all pterosaurs had some type of crest on top of their head. These crest structures came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and were composed of bone and soft tissue, though soft tissue made up the majority of the structure.

Pterosaurs laid thin, soft-shelled eggs more similar to modern reptiles than the hard-shelled eggs of dinosaurs or birds.

A Pterosaur’s diet varied by species and this is reflected in their tooth shape. Some pterosaurs had hundreds of fine, needle-like teeth, suggesting that they were filter feeders. Other species had larger, tusk-like teeth that curved outward for capturing animals. Many pterosaurs did not have any teeth and only bird-like beaks.

Learn more about these ancient reptiles in the GRPM’s Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs exhibit!

By: Dr. Cory Redman, GRPM’s Science Curator

Acts of the Love in the GRPMs Collections

Roses are red, violets are blue, join us on the search for “love” in the GRPM’s Collections to uncover stories that will surprise you! In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, discover unique artifacts that are related to the concept of love, pertaining to love for a partner, a friend or family member.

Civil War Letter: August 17, 1865

Sergeant Slayton wrote to his wife in Grant, Michigan:

“ I remain yours as ever, Chester M. Slayton”

Slayton served in the 25th Michigan from August 1862 at age 25, until muster out at Salisbury N.C. June 24, 1865. Further in this letter, Slayton speaks of a surrender, President Lincoln’s assassination and the anticipated surrender of Johnston’s army.

Wedding Photo: June 25, 1944

Rev. Lyman Parks was the first, and as of 2022, only African-American to be elected Mayor of Grand Rapids. Parks came to Grand Rapids in 1965 as pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at 500 James Ave. He became involved in community affairs and in 1968, one year after the race riots in Grand Rapids, Parks was elected as the first black city commissioner.

In 1971 he was elected mayor and held the post until 1975. He then retired from the Grand Rapids church in 1986 and moved to African Methodist Church in the Chicago area until 2000. Afterwards, he and his wife returned to Grand Rapids to be close to his children and grandchildren.

Henna Stencils, circa 2000

Many countries including India, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco and Sudan practice the process of henna body decoration. In India, this is called “Mehndi” and is traditionally associated with wedding ceremonies. The hands and feet of Indian brides are usually decorated by the women of her family, and sometimes the entire wedding party will participate.

Promotional Photograph of Estela and Julio, circa 1936

This promotional photo was for dancers Estela and Julio who performed with Mexican musician and actor Tito Guízar and the American Pan Ensemble. The married couple, Julio and Estela formed a dance team and toured all over America with Tito Guízar who had a remarkable career in the early years of Hollywood.

Wedding Tray, circa 1910-1925

This Hopi wedding tray served as an important social and ceremonial object. Very often the trays were a gift, given as repayment for a bride’s wedding robe that had been woven by the men of the groom’s family. Gift exchange was, and continues to be, an integral part of Hopi culture.

Tapa Cloth, circa 1900

For centuries, women of the Oceanic regions have labored by hand to create a unique material called “tapa cloth” from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. The bark is beaten into a flat fiber using a tapa beater, then pasted together to create large sheets of paper-like cloth.

The makers express their creativity by painting the tapa by hand with bold and imaginative designs. Tapa cloth is usually gifted for births and weddings and is worn as clothing or used for bedding.

Photography of 1996 Grand Rapids Pride Celebration

This photograph was taken at the ninth annual Pride Celebration, called the West Michigan Lesbian and Gay Life Celebration, that took place at Ah-Nab-Awen Park.

Ohanesian Family Story, 1900-2011

This collection documents the life of an Armenian family working in the popcorn/concession business in Grand Rapids for four generations. The husband, Joe Ohanesian, came to Grand Rapids in 1909-1910. He began work as a bricklayer in the U.S. but returned to Armenia in 1912 to marry. Although, the woman he intended to marry would only agree to marry him if he stayed in Armenia. Since he desired to return to Grand Rapids, he asked Arexi, the daughter of a landowner and silversmith, to be his wife. The couple traveled to the U.S. in February of 1914.

By: GRPM’s Collections Curator, Andrea Melvin

The Life and Legacy of Roger B Chaffee

What Does it Take to be an Astronaut?

On April 9, 1959, NASA formally announced the “Mercury 7” astronauts. These men were an elite group of military test pilots selected to be the first American astronauts. It was a pivotal moment in the history of space exploration, and at the time, NASA had only existed as an agency for six months. Overnight, names like John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, and Alan Shepherd became world-famous.

President Eisenhower assumed the best candidates would be military test pilots who excelled in a high-risk profession. These men were subjected to cutting-edge physical and psychological tests to select the best candidates. An astronaut isn’t just someone who would risk their life to fly a rocket to space, but also someone who could take the rocket apart and put it back together.

In the 60 years since that historic announcement, hundreds of people have achieved the title of astronaut. Included among their ranks are not just military men, but also doctors, scientists, school teachers and engineers. All people who bravely risked their lives to pursue the dream of space exploration.

Roger B. Chaffee’s Story.

There are two sides needed to make a great astronaut: one side is the audacity of a “throttle-jockey” pilot and the other side is the careful inquiry of an engineer. Roger B. Chaffee summed up those two sides perfectly. Young Roger Chaffee had a role model in his father, who was a “barnstorming” pilot that astonished Americans with death-defying barrel rolls and loop-de-loops. At home, the father and son duo carefully constructed model airplanes and like many science-minded children of his day, Roger was an avid amateur radio enthusiast. Hands-on tinkering with electronics led him along to pursue a major in aeronautical engineering.

After graduating from Central High School in Grand Rapids, MI, Roger B. Chaffee served his country as a Navy pilot. Long before Chaffee became an astronaut, those “two sides” were appreciated by his fellow aviators in the Navy. One of his first jobs was repairing an A3D jet engine photo reconnaissance plane. Chaffee became so familiar with the cutting edge aircraft from working on it that he was given special permission to fly it.

Then in 1959, NASA announced the “Mercury Seven” astronauts and Chaffee knew that he needed to join their numbers. In the decades that followed the announcement, millions of people have been inspired by the adventure of space travel but only a few hundred people would ever travel beyond Earth. In 1959, Chaffee was one of those millions but he also knew he had the skills and the drive to reach heights beyond Earth. Every year afterward, he would request to be assigned as an astronaut test pilot. In 1963, his dream came true and he was selected to be one of the nation’s very few astronauts. His training began the next year, and he lived in a world of astronaut training which included engineering exams, physical exercise, psychological testing, desert island survival training, and everything else that could be imagined for this project of spaceflight, unprecedented in human history.

Astronauts would train for several years for a single flight to space. The flight date for Chaffee’s was scheduled for February 21, 1967. Unfortunately, less than a month before the scheduled flight, a fire broke out in the cabin during a routine test, tragically killing the astronauts onboard. Roger B. Chaffee, along with Gus Grisson and Ed White died on January 27, 1967, during that routine test mission, which we now call “Apollo 1.” This group was chosen to be the first Apollo flight crew because they were the best. At the time, Chaffee was the youngest person to be selected for a NASA mission. He was only 31.

It was after this tragedy that the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s planetarium was renamed the “Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium.”

Inspiring The Next Generation of Astronauts.

The GRPM’s Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium continues to keep Chaffe’s legacy alive. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children experience the wonder and adventure of space exploration. They also have opportunities to develop their own interest in science with hands-on exhibits and programs. In the lobby of the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium, you can see a commemorative exhibit including Chaffee’s flight jacket, school report card (not straight “A”s) and other artifacts that represent his early life through adulthood, and how his legacy continues to remain relevant.

The planetarium keeps Roger B. Chaffee’s name alive in another important way, too.

Roger That! Annual Celebration.

Every year, GRPM works in partnership with Grand Valley State University and NASA’s Michigan Space Grant Consortium to host Roger That!, a conference dedicated to space exploration. The event always includes public outreach events to inspire people in the ongoing accomplishments of space travel.

On February 18 and 19, the Museum will host a full day of hands-on STEM activities, demonstrations and more. Students are encouraged to take part in the Design That! challenge for the opportunity to win prizes including a pizza party for their class and display their work at the Museum on Saturday, February 19. The Design That! The conference this year will be a hybrid event. If you are interested in Roger That!, please visit gvsu.edu/RogerThat to learn more.

Celebrating Women in Space.

The keynote speaker on Saturday, February 19 will be astronaut Colonel Eileen Collins. Eileen Collins was the first woman to pilot a space shuttle in 1995. She was also entrusted as commander of the 2005 Discovery mission, the momentous return to flight following the Columbia disaster.

Eileen Collins is one of 65 women to visit space since Valentina Tereshkova first made history in 1963. Included among their number are Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark, who lost their lives in the Columbia disaster, and Christa McAuliffe and Judith Resnik who sacrificed their lives during Challenger. Human space travel has always been a dangerous mission and brave women have made the ultimate sacrifice. But, women have devoted their lives to space exploration in other ways as well. Roger That! also celebrates the women behind the astronauts such as Katherine Johnson and Margaret Hamilton. Without such women the great accomplishments of space travel would be impossible.

When we look to the challenges and promises of the new space age, we need to make sure that we give future astronauts the tools they need, just like young Roger B. Chaffee and Eileen Collins had the chance to explore their passions. It is incredibly exciting to have such a historically important figure as Eileen Collins here in Grand Rapids to share her story and inspire a new generation of astronauts.

By: Jack Daleske, the GRPM’s Planetarium Manager

Grand Rapids’ Firsts

From Pop-Tarts to Power Sources.

By: Andrea Melvin, Collections Curator

Grand Rapids and its surrounding areas have a long history of inventiveness. Did you know there have been important medical advancements, innovative entertainment, food and manufacturing processes developed here? These ideas have come about in different ways — some were created to solve a problem, others improved an already existing invention and some were just “happy accidents” that turned into something useful.

Take time to explore some fascinating “firsts” from the Grand Rapids Public Museum’s Collections!

Bissell Carpet Sweeper.

An improved modern carpet sweeper with brushes was first invented by Melville Bissell in 1876. Carpet sweepers were precursors to vacuum cleaners. Bissell also claims to have had the first female CEO in America, Anna Bissell.

Hydroelectric Power.

The first industrial use of hydroelectric power in the United States was on July 24, 1880 in Grand Rapids.

Stannous Fluoride.

The first industrial use of hydroelectric power in the United States was on July 24, 1880. The Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company generated electricity by a dynamo belted to a water turbine at the Wolverine Chair Factory which provided street and theater lighting.

Megaplex Movie Theater.

Studio 28, located in Wyoming, Michigan, was the first megaplex movie theater. It was opened in 1965 by Jack Loeks and operated 20 theaters.

Joint Replacements.

Dr. Alfred Swanson and his orthopedic research staff at Blodgett Memorial Hospital Center developed many of the joint replacements commonly used today.

Revolutionary Vaccines.

The whooping cough vaccine followed by a vaccine called DTP that combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) were invented in Grand Rapids by Dr. Pearl Kendrick, Dr. Grace Eldering and chemist Loney Clinton Gordon in the 1930s.

Wishbone Hanger.

In 1906, Meyer May, a men’s clothing store in Grand Rapids, became the first retailer to display clothing on hangers named ‘Wishbone’ created by John Thomas Batts Co. of Zeeland, Michigan.

Innovative Automotive Parts.

Bill Lear, was a prolific American inventor of radios and aircrafts. He based most of his company’s production in Grand Rapids. Some of Lear’s inventions include the first practical car radio, the first automatic station selector for radios, 8-track tape music cartridge and many aircraft systems.

Touch Typing.

Frank Edward McGurrin of Grand Rapids was credited as the inventor of touch typing. This form of typing involves not looking at the keyboard but relying on muscle memory as a way to increase typing speed. After winning a typing contest he described having first used the method while working at a law firm in Grand Rapids in 1878.

Two-speed Axel.

Walter Austin, founder of Austin Automobile Company in Grand Rapids, invented the two-speed axle for automobiles around 1913. The axle was a unique feature of the vehicle and was operated by a lever next to the transmission, giving cars gear ratios for both city and country driving.

External Cardiac Compressor.

Born from a collaboration of doctors at Butterworth Hospital and engineers at Lear Siegler during the early 1960s, the External Cardiac Compressor or “Thumper” is a mechanical CPR device designed to deliver continuous chest compressions to a patient in a state of acute cardiac arrest.

Furniture Design.

David W. Kendall was an early furniture designer and inventor in Grand Rapids employed by Berkey & Gay and the Phoenix Furniture Company. He is credited as inventing several furniture finishes including antique oak, the sixteenth century, the canary, the cremona and the malachite finishes.

Telephone.

The first telephones used in West Michigan were given to a Grand Rapids business owner in 1877, who was friends with Alexander Graham Bell. Bell invented and patented the first practical telephone in 1876.

Goldfish Crackers.

Ralph Hauenstein of Grand Rapids first came up with the idea to mass produce Goldfish crackers and sold the equipment to make them to Pepperidge Farms.

Pop-Tarts.

The leader of the team who invented Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts in 1964, Bill Post, is from Grand Rapids.

Explore the GRPM’s Collections to discover more” Grand Rapids’ firsts” as well as over 250,000 artifacts and specimens.

Sources:

“Melville Reuben Bissell.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melville_Reuben_Bissell.
“History of Hydropower.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20100126001540/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/hydro_history.html.
“The Story of Fluoridation.” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation#:~:text=In%201945%2C%20Grand%20Rapids%20became,the%20Institute%27s%20inception%20in%201948.
“Studio 28.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_28.
“In Memoriam: Dr. Alfred Swanson.” American Society of Hand Therapists. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://asht.org/about/blog/memoriam-dr-alfred-swanson.
Thoms, Sue. “How 2 women scientists, helped by Grand Rapids, created whooping cough vaccine.” Mlive. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2015/01/how_grand_rapids_led_by_two_wo.html.
“What difference did hangers make?” National Museum of American History. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://americanhistory.si.edu/object-project/ready-wear/wishbone-hanger
“Inventor, Bill Lear.” HistoryGrandRapids.org by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Accessed December 9 2021. http://www.historygrandrapids.org/audio/4413/inventor-bill-lear.
“Frank Edward McGurrin.” Wikipedia. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Edward_McGurrin.
“Patent Model, Austin Axel.” Grand Rapids Public Museums Online Collections. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://grpmcollections.org/Detail/objects/179966.
“Mechanical CPR Machine.” Grand Rapids Public Museums Online Collections. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://www.grpmcollections.org/Detail/objects/161327.
“David W. Kendall.” Furniture City History by Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Accessed December 9, 2021. http://www.furniturecityhistory.org/person/4668/david-w-kendall/collection/4700.
“The Telephone.” HistoryGrandRapids.org by the Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Accessed December 9, 2021. http://www.historygrandrapids.org/audio/2418/the-telephone.
Bundt, Matt Vande. “How Michigan man made Goldfish Crackers a snack phenomenon.” Mlive. https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2016/01/ralph_hauenstein_goldfish.html.
Petrovic, Lexi. “Mr. Pop-Tart: Grand Rapids man reflects on the snack he created 57 years later.” News Channel 3. Accessed December 9, 2021. https://wwmt.com/news/local/mr-pop-tart-grand-rapids-man-reflects-on-the-snack-he-created-57-years-later.

Teacher Story: Using the GRPM Collections in Curriculum

Filling the Gaps in our Students’ Local History Knowledge

By: Matt Vriesman, AP U.S. History Teacher at East Kentwood High School

Just about every student I’ve taught knows the name Rosa Parks, as they should. They can all articulate that she refused to give up a bus seat and that this played a major role in the fight against Jim Crow. However, I have yet to talk with a student who knows about the people who fought to end racial segregation in our own community decades before the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

As a high school history teacher, I have made it my goal for each of my students to understand that Jim Crow was not just a southern problem; our own city was culpable in the nation-wide crimes against Black human rights.

In 1925, Emmett Bolden — the first Black dentist in Grand Rapids — went to the Keith’s Theater downtown to see a show with friends and was denied a ticket to the main floor because of his race. According to the Michigan Civil Rights Act of 1885, discrimination in public accommodations in any form was unconstitutional, but many business owners in the state continued to practice unjust segregation. To fight this discrimination, a local lawyer, Oliver Green, filed a lawsuit against the theater. Green even recruited the NAACP and the famous W.E.B. Du Bois to help with this case. Green and Bolden eventually won their case in the Michigan Supreme Court, setting a precedent that helped end segregation by private business in Michigan!

Emmett Bolden and Oliver Green are local legends who, like Rosa Parks, made a huge impact on history. This school year, I wanted to develop a lesson to highlight their wisdom and courage, and I thought the GRPM would be an excellent partner. It can be difficult to find quality materials to teach local history, but I knew that the Museum had the resources to tell this story in their Archives and Digital Collections.

While developing this curriculum, I collaborated with curatorial and education staff at the Museum. They were so helpful in providing feedback at every step of the process and recommending primary sources that could help tell this story and set the historical context. I also pulled in the expertise and work of authors Dr. Randall Jelks and Dr. Todd Robinson as my guiding light through the narrative. As a history nerd, my favorite day of the summer was going to meet with the GRPM’s Chief Curator, Alex Forist, and Director of Education, Erin Koren, at the Community Archives and Research Center. We were able to pull together photographs, newspaper articles and records from old city directories to bring the story to life.

My students crave lessons that are relevant to their lives, involve personal inquiry and choice, and conclude with a powerful discussion. We tried to do just that with this curriculum. We situated many of the primary sources into a virtual ‘tour’ on an old city map so that students could explore how American history played out right here on our own streets. I hope that the materials we developed are beneficial for other teachers in the community.

After all the support I got from the Museum staff, I would tell any teacher, if you have an idea to make history more relevant and local, reach out to the Museum. They have the resources we need and the expertise to help make the idea come to fruition!

These lessons are available to the public and can be found on the GRPM’s website, grpm.org/Schools or on the Collections website.

Collecting from the Community.

A Look Inside the GRPM’s Acquisition Process.

By: Holly Waldenmeyer (Registrar and Collections Manager) and Sarah Humes (Associate Registrar)

Founded in 1854 as the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History, the Grand Rapids Public Museum has amassed a collection of over 250,000 artifacts and specimens over the past 167 years. The Museum collects objects to help preserve and tell the stories of our community, the places of West Michigan and the wider world around us. While the Museum started with just a few “Cabinets of Curiosities,” now 98% of the Collection has been donated by members of the community and folks like you.

The process for an object to become an artifact in the Museum Collection involves many steps and people but it starts with you!

Donations.

The Museum’s Curators receive artifact donation offers from the general public, companies and other institutions almost on a daily basis. The Curator’s job is to shape and define the Museum’s Collection; they determine if the artifact has research value, fills in gaps within the Collections, helps further the mission of the Museum or helps tell the ongoing story of our community.

Temporary Deposit.

If accepted by the Curator, the artifacts are taken onsite as a temporary deposit, and inspected for unwanted hitchhikers – pests! Pests can include insects, rodents, birds and mold. Natural fibers are susceptible to pests such as webbing moths. Webbing moths and other pests can be very harmful to the Collection and precautions must be taken to preserve the integrity of the artifacts and specimens. The Collections Manager, who is responsible for the care and preservation of all the artifacts, puts appropriate artifacts into a freezer set to -30° for 2 weeks. This will kill any lingering pests!

Registering Artifacts.

Next is the registrar! The registrar is responsible for tracking the artifacts throughout the acquisition process and creates records in the Museum’s online Collections database called Collective Access. Each artifact receives its own unique record in the database along with an assigned accession number. An accession number is a unique identifying number that helps the Collections department track artifacts. Then, the artifact is then cataloged by a Curator. The Curator will include information about the object’s history such as who made it and why it is significant.

Organizing Artifacts into the Database.

The Curator will also determine the tier designation for each of the artifacts. The tier system was created by the GRPM as a way to strike the balance between hands-on accessibility and long-term preservation. The Collection is divided into three designations: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

Tier 1 artifacts are considered restricted access and can only be handled by trained Museum staff wearing gloves. These artifacts are often the most significant, rare and/or fragile.
Tier 2 is facilitated access which means Museum staff and authorized handlers wearing gloves can handle the artifacts. These artifacts are still significant but other examples also exist in the Collection.
Tier 3 can be used in hand-ons activities with or without gloves, are more common and can be replaced. These artifacts are regularly used for primary-source learning programs, such as Discovery Kits, available for loan to school groups.

Artifacts are then photographed in great detail, including various angles, in a high resolution format. Having images in the database helps with identification, tracking different components, and monitoring the condition of the artifact. Detailed images in the database also allows for researchers from around the world to study the artifacts without having to step foot in the Museum.

Approval Process.

All donations and purchases must now go through an approval process. Various times throughout the year, artifacts are presented to the Collections Committee first, and if approved, reviewed by the Board of Directors for final approval into the Collection. These committees are composed of individuals from the community to represent all facets of the community, allowing for a checks and balances system

Once fully approved, the registrar creates a gift agreement that will be sent to the donor. A gift agreement is a legally binding agreement between the donor and the Museum that finalizes the transfer of ownership of the artifacts to the Museum.

Once the artifacts are approved for the Collection, it is now time for the Collection Tech to integrate the new acquisitions into the Collection!

The Collection Tech is responsible for preparing the artifacts for storage. Using gloves and proper artifact handling techniques, the Collection Tech will carefully measure each artifact and take detailed condition notes. Using the artifact’s accession number, the Collection Tech will physically apply the accession number onto the artifact for tracking purposes. How the accession number is applied to the artifact is determined on a case-by-case scenario based on what type of material the artifact is made from. For example, clothing will have a label made of cotton twill tape with the accession number written on it with an archival pen. The twill tape will then be stitched carefully onto the textile. Plastic, metal and wood artifacts will have the accession number adhered to them with an acrylic resin and a paper label.

Storing Artifacts.

Once the accession numbers have been applied, the artifacts are ready for storage at the Community Archives and Research Center (CARC). The CARC is a secure, climate controlled building that houses artifacts when they are not on exhibit or being used for educational programs. Artifacts are stored in archival material such as acid-free boxes or folders. Other artifacts are stored on open shelves or hung on screens. The Collection Tech ensures that the artifacts are stable and safe from any potential harm such as light damage or water leaks.

Typically artifacts are stored with similar pieces from the Collection. Factors such as material, size, fragility and theme are also considered. Some are very straight forward such as a cotton dress being hung on a padded hanger with the other dresses in the clothing Collection. The location of the dress is recorded in the database for easy access. Since the location for artifacts are being tracked in the database, some objects that do not fit neatly into a single collection, have more flexibility in where they can be stored as long as they can be safely retrieved.

There’s never a dull moment while being a part of the Collections team at the GRPM. New artifacts and specimens are continually being donated to the Museum. This allows us to continue telling the stories of West Michigan and the world around us, as well as preserve them. We’ve discovered that even simple objects can tell extraordinary stories.

Please help us continue preserving history and instilling curiosity for generations to come by donating to the GRPM’s Collection.

Pop Culture Takeover

A Glimpse into the GRPM’s Collections.

The GRPM collects objects related to history, science, and culture, and today we are going to be talking about POPULAR culture. American pop culture can be traced back to the first daily newspapers in the late 1700s, through dime novels and vaudeville, to the popular musicians, athletes, toys and movies we are all familiar with today.

Here is my TOP 10 LIST of pop culture artifacts in the GRPM’s Collections!

Alex Forist, GRPM's Chief Curator

Newspaper, 1790s
Affordable daily newspapers were the earliest way a distinctly American popular culture began to develop. They allowed large numbers of people to all consume the same information at the same time.

Davy Crockett Raccoon Skin Cap, c. 1950
The romance and fantasy of the frontier has been a part of American popular culture for centuries. Racoon skin caps were originally worn by some American Indians as a traditional article of clothing; however, European pioneers that settled in the Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina regions in the 18th and 19th centuries adopted it as their own and wore them as hunting caps. Even Benjamin Franklin, in his trip to Paris as Ambassador to France, wore a cap as a symbol of patriotism. Its rough-hewn look has become an iconic part of the American frontiersman’s image.

Mickey Mouse Pull Toy, 1953
Created by Walt Disney in 1928, Mickey Mouse is one of the most well-known, and well-loved, cartoon characters the world has ever known. Serving as a mascot for the Disney brand, Mickey’s likeness has been plastered on just about every imaginable product including popular children’s toys.

Coca-Cola Advertisement, 1955
It is hard to think of a more iconic duo than Santa Claus and Coca-Cola. Coke has been using images of Santa to sell their bubbly beverages since the 1930s and is often credited with creating the modern image of the red and white, fur-clad, Santa Claus.

Nike Sneakers, c. 1970
Nike was one of the first brands to produce shoes specifically for the growing sports of running and aerobics during the early 1970s. These shoes used lighter weight materials like nylon and polyesters in place of the heavier, old-fashioned canvas and rubber. Wearing popular sneaker brands quickly became a fashion statement endorsed by celebrities and sports stars, ensuring their place in pop culture.

Pet Rock, 1975
Some popular culture fads burn out quickly. This was the case for the infamous “pet rock” toy invented by Gary Ross Dahl in 1975. Although Dahl sold millions of the novelties for $3.95 each, most were quickly forgotten.

Superman Lunch Box, 1978
Every American school kid wanted a lunch box with their favorite cartoon character, sports star, or superhero on the front. One of the ways popular culture spreads is when characters from popular films and television shows appear on products that we interact with every day.

Millennium Falcon Toy, 1979
Instantly recognizable to “nerds” everywhere, Star Wars was one of the first science fiction movies to cross over into widespread popularity. New toy releases accompanied each new film so that children, and adults, all over the world could re-enact the adventures of their intergalactic heroes.

Nintendo Game Boy, 1989
The Game Boy was neither the first, nor the most advanced handheld gaming system available during the 1990s, but it was far and away the most successful. Its low retail price (about $90) and the ability to play for many hours using only four AA batteries gave the Nintendo unit a heads up against its competition. Nintendo’s system appealed to millions of casual gamers who played it during long car trips, in bed at night, or clandestinely at work or school. Nintendo’s ability to market to a wide audience ensured the Game Boy’s success and its place as an iconic piece of technology history.

Apple iPod, 2003
The iPod is perhaps the most iconic technological device of the early twenty-first century. With hundreds of millions sold worldwide, the pocket-sized music players with their trademark white cord and earbuds have become a symbol of musical, technological, marketing and cultural change.

Want to Learn More about Pop Culture?

Experience the evolution of pop culture and technology throughout history in the GRPM’s “must-see” POPnology exhibit! Great for all ages, immerse yourself in over a dozen interactives including taking a picture near the DeLorean Time Machine, coming face-to-face with icons from popular sci-fi movies such as E.T. and R2D2, launch a rocket to Mars and more.

You have to see it to believe it.

By: Alex Forist, the GRPM’s Chief Curator

Fun Facts about Bats!

Renewers of Rainforests, Lifegivers to Deserts.

Check out these 18 fascinating facts about bats to help you appreciate this unique mammal and get excited about the GRPM’s newest traveling exhibit Bats: Masters of the Night.

Bats are the only mammal capable of true flight.

Flying squirrels do not actually fly, but glide through the air, allowing them to travel large distances (over 150 ft) between trees.

Bats are the second largest group or order of mammals with over 1,200 species; all bats belong to the order Chiroptera, which means ‘hand wing’ in Greek.

There are 47 species of bats in the U.Ss and nine species in Michigan. Some of these species are represented through intricate facial carvings in the GRPM’s Bats exhibit. See below!

Wrinkle-faced Bat Face Sculpture — Wrinkle-faced Bat

Bats have a global distribution and are only absent from Antarctica.

The greatest diversity of bats is found along the equator.

Currently, the oldest known fossil bat is 50 million years old.

The fossil record for mammals goes back over 180 million years and bats are still the only known mammal to achieve true flight.

Insect-eating bats can consume 600 – 1,100 mosquitos-sized insects per hour.

Under normal feeding conditions, bats can eat half of their body weight in insects (moths, flies, beetles, mosquitos, etc.) per night, while pregnant or nursing females can consume their entire body weight of insects in a single night. This makes bats one of the best forms of natural pest control. Bats are estimated to save U.S. farmers billions of dollars a year by reducing crop damage and having to purchase additional pesticides.

Nectar and fruit-eating bats are essential pollinators and seed dispersers for a wide variety of plants including agave (tequila), cloves, balsa wood, figs, cacao (chocolate), bananas, and guavas — just to name a few!

Without bats, many plants important to humans and to maintaining a stable and healthy ecosystem would go extinct.

There are only three bat species that feed on blood and they are found in Central and South America. Their prey of choice are large mammals (cows, pigs, horses, or similar mammals) and birds, NOT humans.

Vampire bats have an anticoagulant in their saliva to help keep the blood flowing while they feed. By studying these bats, scientists have been able to develop drugs for blood-clotting related issues and other cardiovascular diseases in humans.

The world’s smallest bats are the Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), also called the bumblebee bat, which is found in Thailand.

A full-grown adult is only 1.1-1.3 inches (29-33 mm) long and weighs 1.7-2 grams. This is about the size of a bumblebee and weighs less than a dime, making it one of the smallest mammals in the world.

The world’s largest bats are the Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus) which is found in the Philippines. A full-grown adult can have a wingspan of 5.5 feet (167.6 cm) and weigh up to 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg).

Bats can fly at speeds of 60 mph (96.6 kph) and Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) have been clocked at flying 100 (161 kph) mph for short bursts, making them the fastest known mammal on the planet. For reference, A cheetah’s top speed has been recorded at 59.4-64 mph (95-103 kph).

Smaller mammals typically have shorter lifespans, but bats break that rule and have been documented to live 22-41 years in the wild.

Bats are among the slowest-reproducing mammals for their small size, with most species only giving birth to one pup per year. This makes their populations extremely susceptible to human disturbances, like habitat lost, climate change, and disease (white-nose syndrome).

Baby bats are called pups!

Bats are NOT blind; their eyes are attuned to low-light conditions and some species can see color.

Nectar- and fruit-eating bats use their eyesight to find food and some species can see ultraviolet light emitted by some plants. Insect-eating bats use their sight, hearing and echolocation to hunt.

Bats’ over-sized ears and nostrils help with echolocation.

Bats emit a high-frequency sound (20-130 kHz) that bounces off objects 10-20 meters away and use the echoes to determine an object’s distance, size, and shape.

Most but not all species of bats are nocturnal (active at night).

Bats are believed to hunt at night to avoid predation and competition with other animals, like birds.

Some bats live solitary lives, getting together only to mate, but a majority of species gather together in colonies of hundreds to thousands of individuals.

Bracken Cave, outside of San Antonio, Texas, is home to the world’s largest bat colony, with 15-20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis).

Bats do NOT spend any energy hanging upside down by their feet. In the relaxed position, the toes and claws on a bat’s foot are curled closed and muscles have to be used to open them.

Humans work in the opposite way. A relaxed hand sits in the open position and muscles have to be used to close it into a fist.

Bats also roost upside down, because they are difficult to reach by predators, there is no competition from other animals for space, and they need the vertical drop to generate enough speed to fly.

The wings of a bat are formed by a thin membrane that runs along the length of their arm, is stretched between their long, thin fingers, attached to their hind legs, and often a tail.

Because a bat’s entire hand is part of their wing, they can easily change its shape allowing for incredible agility and maneuverability in the air. Tiny muscles in the wing membrane also allows bats to change the membrane’s stiffness and generate lift, even if they are slowing down.

In comparison, a bird’s wing is a relatively stiff airfoil with its entire arm forming a leading ridge that supports multiple feathers.

By: Dr. Cory Redman, the GRPM’s Science Curator