Upcoming Events › History & Genealogy
April 8, 2013 – December 31, 2013
Archives A to Z Exhibit
Come explore the unique treasures found in the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department of the Grand Rapids Public Library. Using letters, business documents, personal recollections, scrapbooks, photographs and other items, this exhibit explores unusual and little known stories of Grand Rapids history using the 390 processed collections and over one million photographs held in the department.
July 8, 2013
Michigan’s Roadside Attractions
If you have traveled on Michigan’s highways and byways, chances are that you’ve stopped at places like Castle Rock, seen Paul Bunyan, and defied gravity at the Mystery Spot. Tourist attractions like these sprang up on the roadside landscape as Michigan expanded its highway system from the 1930s through the 1970s. Pull off the road for some fun, interesting, and sometimes quirky experiences! Relive memories of visiting natural and man-made wonders—from deer parks to dinosaur gardens; from scenic sand dunes to the world’s largest Indian; from mine shafts to scenic towers. Stop for pie at the Cherry Hut, cross the Bridge for a pasty, and enjoy a Jones ice cream cone in Baldwin. Don’t forget to bring home some souvenir pennants and a pair of moccasins. Take a trip with authors M. Christine Byron and Thomas R. Wilson along Michigan’s roads and visit some of the state’s iconic roadside attractions. Some places are long gone; others still lure travelers off the road.
July 12, 2013
Genealogy Lock-In
Come to the Grand Rapids History and Special Collections department for a free after-hours program just for genealogists! Learn how to use the microfilm reader/scanner/printer, save images, and take advantage of free copying and printing during the event. Use the time to search databases—we will have plenty of computers available or bring your own laptop and use the library’s WiFi network. Bring your genealogy questions or Ancestry and Heritage Quest problems—volunteers will be on hand to assist. Network with other genealogists—you never know what you might find! Registration required: www.grpl.org/register or call 988-5400.
July 18, 2013
Grand Rapids’ Secret Societies
The Sons of Malta, Knights of the Golden Eagle, Knights Templar—all names that ring forth from medieval times, right? Wrong! These are just a few of the secret societies of Grand Rapids that have helped make our city what it is today! Tim Gleisner, Manager of GRPL’s Grand Rapids History and Special Collections Department, will explore the various secret societies that have been a part of Grand Rapids history from the beginning of the city to present day. Find out which mayors and local personalities might have been members of these secretive bodies. Discover where the hidden groups might have met and held their secret and “ancient” rites!
This library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government documents.