Attractions

It appears that I’ve begun a series on museums that combine history and nostalgia with a separately-themed children’s exhibit in the same building.  In Easton, PA, there’s the combination of the Crayola Factory and the National Canal Museum; in Grand Rapids, MN, you’ll find the Judy Garland Museum and the Children’s Discovery Museum.

Like the Easton setup, Grand Rapids’ museums share an admission fee but are two distinct parts of the same building.  The Children’s Discovery Museum, in a modern building, houses exhibits that appeal to children, including a pretend-play “town,” a water table, a toddler maze, and my kids’ favorite, a talking tree.  A collection of dollmaker Faith Wick also finds its home in this part of the museum.

Children's Discovery Museum. Photo by minnemom.

Down a different hallway, the Judy Garland Museum includes Garland’s childhood home, as well as an extensive collection of Judy Garland memorabilia.  If you’re trying to find the museum (which is on the main road, across from the big-box shopping area), the first thing you’ll likely notice is the sign asking who stole the ruby slippers.  A famed pair of ruby slippers, worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, was stolen from the museum in 2005, and has not yet been found.

Other things to see in the Grand Rapids area include the Forest History Center logging camp, and the Minnesota Discovery Center, formerly known as Ironworld, a few miles down the road in Chisholm.

Linda (minnemom) writes about things to do in Minnesota and beyond at Travels with Children.