Grand Fish, Grand River

    With LIVE Lake Sturgeon!

    Grand River, Grand Fish explores how the Great Lakes region’s largest and oldest fish, the Lake Sturgeon, once found in great abundance, is now a threatened species in our watersheds. The exhibit takes visitors through the connections to Native Americans, fishing history in the region and current science. Using artifacts from the GRPM Collections, along with the two live sturgeon, it will tie together the cultural, historical and scientific connections and explore rehabilitation efforts for this species in the Grand River and throughout the Great Lakes region.

    Lake Sturgeon live along the rocky bottoms of our lakes and rivers, and are an important environmental indicator for the health of our ecosystem. These fish have fossil ancestors that from the Early Jurassic Period – the age of the dinosaurs. Lake Sturgeon have affected the region historically and culturally and still do today.

    Grand River, Grand Fish is free with general admission to the Museum. 

    This exhibit was made possible by partnership with:

    Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
    Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Tribal Coordination Unit
    Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division, Oden State Fish Hatchery
    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

    Sponsored by:

    Aqua Blue Aquarium Solutions
    Blue Fish Aquarium
    Grand Rapids Steelheaders Foundation,
    Great Lakes Fishery Trust
    Schrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited

    Learn about Sturgeon Research and Grand River Initiatives at the Museum

    State Senator Mark Huizenga visited the Museum and spoke with Dr. Stephanie Ogren, the Museum’s Vice President of Science and Education. Watch to learn more about our lake sturgeon population, research by the Museum team and community partners, and riverbank habitat improvements.

    Sturgeon Excursion

    Animated adult Lake Sturgeon as part of the Sturgeon Excursion digital game

    Sturgeon Excursion is a digital game that allows users meet the mighty Lake Sturgeon, learn the indigenous history of the region and discover ways to care for the quality of the Grand River watershed. By answering questions and gathering food for their virtual Lake Sturgeon, users allow it to grow and travel down the Grand River on its journey to Lake Michigan. 

     Sturgeon Excursion is a web-based experience that can be played asynchronously in any browser

    Free Game Link

    This educational game was made possible In partnership with YETi CGI and supported by the Wege Foundation. Â