Kalamazoo Valley Museum

“The Kalamazoo Valley Museum preserves and interprets the heritage of Southwest Michigan and provides life-long learning opportunities to engage children and adults in history, science, and technology.”

The Museum seeks to develop cultural, historical and scientific literacy through innovative exhibits, special exhibitions, planetarium programs, educational programs and weekend family events. Find out for yourself – browse the website, and come for a visit where you’re sure to find lots to see and do!

The Museum’s collection dates to an 1881 gift to the Kalamazoo School Board of corals, shells, and rocks from Horace M. Peck, a local banker. In its early years, the Museum acquired natural history specimens, ethnographic materials, and antiquities. Today, the collection has grown to over 50,000 items, but the focus has changed to historical artifacts, photographs, and documents that reflect the family, social, and work lives of the people of Kalamazoo County and southwest Michigan during the past two centuries.

Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of the past…Experiment with science and make surprising things happen…Explore the mysteries of weather, the human body, and an Egyptian mummy…Investigate the stories behind artifacts in the collection, and discover a treasure that brings back memories or reveals a new way of looking at history.

In addition to hands-on exhibits for visitors of all ages, the KVM features a full schedule of seasonal special exhibitions that are sure to keep you coming back for more.