Group Tours

Tour groups – and tour operators – love the Public Museum’s Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

With 80,000 square feet of exhibits on three floors, an entertaining exploration of the treasures and curiosities of West Michigan will delight all ages. Exhibits cover cultural and natural history of the area, with a vast array of rare and curious objects that pique every type of interest from age 8 to 80.

Motor coaches stop at the door, under cover from the weather. The modern facility is completely barrier free, with an elevator.

A delightful café overlooking the majestic Grand River and the city center offers homemade soups, snacks, salads, sandwiches, desserts and a Hot Special every day.

The gift shop is the favorite rendezvous for groups wrapping up a visit to the museum.

Van Andel Museum Center is centrally located in downtown Grand Rapids, across the street from the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Park the coach and it’s a short walk to both. Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park is only 15 minutes away. Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan, is only 30 expressway minutes away.

Adult Group Scheduling Information

Admission prices listed here apply to group tours of 20 persons or more.

  • Group Admission Pricing
    $7 per adult
    $6 per senior
    $3 per child
  • Guided Programs – additional $1.50 per person. Programs for special exhibits may have additional fees.
  • Daily Planetarium Shows - $3 per person with general admission.
    Daily Planetarium Only Shows are $4 per person without general admission.
  • One chaperone and bus driver are FREE with a group of 20 or more; additional chaperones pay general group rate admission fees
  • Each group receives complimentary carousel ride for all participants
  • Group catering is also available for an additional fee; advanced reservations are required.
  • To make reservations, call 616.456.3974 between 9 am and 3 pm Monday through Friday. In order to facilitate the scheduling, it would be helpful to have the following information ready before calling:
    • Date and time of visit
    • Number of adults and chaperones
    • Type of tour and additional options
    • Name of group, address, email, phone and fax number
    • Leader’s name

Special programs available for groups

Each of these programs is available by request.

General Museum Tour

Tour the Museum with a knowledgeable guide who will point out highlights. Tour can be tailored for groups with specific areas of interest. Offered year-round for adults, the tour lasts 45-60 minutes.

Fashion & Tea

View authentic fashions from the last 120 years with a special focus on clothing from the Victorian era. Included is a tour of the Streets of Old Grand Rapids exhibition, a recreation of the city as it was in the 1890s. Offered year-round for adults, this tour and demonstration lasts 75 minutes and includes tea and cookies served during the demonstration.

Walking Tour

Enjoy a guided walking tour of downtown Grand Rapids. Learn the history of the city and why it is laid out the way it is, view examples of period architecture and hear about the city’s founders. 45-60 minutes, offered mid-April through mid-October.

“Behind the Scenes” Tour

Experience this exclusive look at how the Museum stores, catalogs and preserves the collections at the Community Archives and Research Center. This incredible Museum facility houses nearly 90% of the Museum’s holdings, and is not open for public hours. Wear your walking shoes.

Step on Guide

An historic bus tour of Grand Rapids narrated by a Museum guide on your bus. Learn the history of the city and why it is laid out the way it is, view examples of period architecture and hear about the city’s founders. 60 minutes, offered year round

For more information, call the group scheduling office 616.456.3974 or email groupscheduling@grmuseum.org