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Exhibits Building a Better Mousetrap: Inventing in Grand Rapids - a look at some of the more interesting Grand Rapids inventors and inventions including Wright Coffinberry and the Compensating Pendulum, Arthur Rosenthal and the Label, Herbert Reynolds and the Asphalt Shingle, and J.B. Roche and the Electric Hygienic Machine. Exhibit located on the 4th floor, History & Special Collections Department through December. Main Street Grand Rapids - The Changing Face of Monroe Avenue - The newest exhibit is available for the public to view on the 4th floor of the Grand Rapids Public Library in the History and Special Collections Department. This exhibit, with its many photographs from the library's collection, will bring special memories to those who remember the dimestore block, the department store windows, and the parade of cars and buses up and down Monroe Avenue - Grand Rapids' Main Street. Take a stroll, block by block, through the heart of the city. What started as a retail district now encompasses entertainment, restaurants, condos, government offices, and commercial establishments. From its rustic beginnings at Grab Corners to the glamour of DeVos Place, the changing face of Monroe Avenue mirrors the growth and vitality of our city. This exhibit was developed with a grant from the Ryerson Foundation Thomas R. and Debra C. Dilley Fund. From The Dugout - The Robinson Photographic Studio, a large commercial photographic company based in Grand Rapids, was commissioned to document the Detroit Tigers annual spring training trips to Lakeland, Florida from 1947 to 1959. The photographers documented both on-field action as well as behind the scenes activities of the players early lives. The images chosen for this exhibit are just a small sampling of the many baseball photographs contained in the archival collection. Enjoy these unseen photos of George Kell, Dizzy Trout, Harvey Kuenn, Hoot Evers, Virgil Trucks and many others. Some of the photographs are highlighted in Dr. William M. Anderson's new book on the Tigers, "The View From the Dugout: The Journals of Red Rolfe." Go Tigers! Online Exhibits Take a virtual tour of the The Grand Rapids History & Special Collections Department exhibits Fannie Boylon - Grand Rapids' First Woman Home Designer. This exhibit features important photos and historical documents of Fannie's life. Grand Rapids Remembers Gerald R. Ford - Grand Rapids' favorite son, President Gerald R. Ford, born in 1913, passed away on December 26, 2006. He spent most of his childhood in Grand Rapids, and always considered this his hometown. This exhibit is funded by a grant from the Ryerson Library Foundation. From The Dugout - This exhibit features photographs taken during the spring training sessions of 1949 through 1953 in Lakeland, Florida. Enjoy these unseen photos of George Kell, Dizzy Trout, Harvey Kuenn, Hoot Evers, Virgil Trucks and many others. Our Voices Our Liberty: Grand Rapids Area Civil Rights Leaders - An Exhibit funded by a grant from the Titche Family Fund of the Ryerson Library Foundation. Covering over 100 years of civil rights activities and featuring more than 40 local leaders, this exhibit explores the history of civil rights through the accomplishments of the local citizens who led the way. It highlights individuals who fought for basic rights regardless of physical disability, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or gender. This exhibit is in honor of all those who have spoken out in the past, and of those in our community who continue to advocate for the protection of our rights today. The Archives: A Sampling of the Past - Various Material Types Collected by the Grand Rapids Public Library - Highlights from various collections located i n the Library Archives including Photographs, Diaries & Letters, Postcards, Maps, Trade Catalogs, Furniture Catalogs, Yearbooks, Sheet Music, Ephemera, Ads, Programs, Booklets & Brochures, Oral History, Serials, and Art The Grand Rapids Symphony 75th Anniversary - 1930 - 2005 The Ryerson Library Building 100th Anniversary - 1904 to 2004, then and now A Grand Century - Showcases 100 years of Grand Rapids history Who Said Girls Can't Play Baseball - Online version of an exhibit featuring images of the professional women's baseball league in Grand Rapids The 1904 Flood: 100 Year Anniversary - Photographic views illustrate the greatest and most destructive flood ever experienced in Grand Rapids The Calder 35th Anniversary - Celebrating the work of Nancy Mulnix and many others who brought La Grande Vitesse to Grand Rapids |