Michigan museums are going to look different this winter as they welcome NEW exhibits you won’t want to miss. Check them out below and start making plans to visit.
Note: Museum memberships are a great investment – especially depending on your family size. You will often find that the membership pays for itself in two visits and provides you with a year of go-to activity.
Building Buddies @ Grand Rapids Public Museum (Jan. 20th – Sept. 1st)
Step into the vibrant world of Building Buddies! This captivating experience offers an educational adventure suitable for visitors of all ages, with a particular focus on our youngest learners, aged 2 to 8. Building Buddies takes you on an immersive journey through a charming neighborhood where creativity and learning opportunities abound at every turn. From painting walls to tending gardens, from fixing leaky pipes to crafting doghouses, this exhibit empowers visitors to explore, collaborate, and innovate. It’s not just about constructing structures; it’s about constructing knowledge and skills.
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is open Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
Above & Beyond @ Michigan Science Center (Jan. 30th – Sept. 8th)
The 6,000 square foot exhibition will offer an out-of-this-world experience and showcase everything from the first powered flights to the newest innovations on Earth and in space. After entering an immersive wraparound theater, visitors can venture into five galleries comprising dozens of interactive displays. Exhibit-goers can ride to the edge of space in a simulated space elevator or test their own supersonic fighter jet design in a virtual high-speed flying competition. A group flying experience with motion-sensing image capture helps visitors sense what it’s like to fly like a bird in a flock, while exploring the forces of flight.
The Michigan Science Center is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Scooby-Doo Mansion of Mayhem @ Impressions 5 (opens Jan. 27th)
Zoinks! Scooby-Doo Mansion Mayhem arrives to your Science Center on January 27! Visitors to Impression 5 are invited to join the members of Mystery Inc. to analyze clues and put their problem-solving skills to the test. Families and young detectives will work through the rooms of the mansion assisting different characters of the iconic TV show that has captivated fans for more than five decades!
Impressions 5 is open Tuesday – Friday from 9:30am to 4pm, Saturday 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday 11:30am to 5pm.
Mazes & Brain Games @ Sloan Museum of Discovery (Feb. 3rd – May 19th)
Mazes & Brain Games, is a mind-boggling collection of mazes, 3-D puzzles and full-body brain games. On your visit, you will engage in critical and creative thinking and learn what makes our own brains better at problem solving. The exhibit poses questions, creates empathy, dispels myths and challenges perceptions.
The Sloan Museum of Discovery is open Tuesday to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm.
Paw Patrol: Adventure Play @ The Henry Ford (Feb. 18th – Apr. 28th)
Step into the world of the hit children’s series PAW Patrol in this hands-on, play-based exhibit. Grab a Pup Pack and hop aboard the PAW Patroller as your family helps the pups solve problems big and small throughout Adventure Bay. Join Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Everest, Rocky, Zuma and Tracker as you explore your unique abilities, overcome challenges and help friends.
The Henry Ford Museum is open daily from 9:30am to 5pm.
Photo credit: Paw Patrol Adventure Play
