Chest opened
+${chestReward.xp} XP
Explorer
NOUVEAU ×${chestReward.collectible.quantity}
tapez pour fermer

See the monuments around you in AR Open chests in the app

Around Us is built for your phone — point your camera at the streets and discover the monuments and places around you in augmented reality. Around Us is built for your phone — chests unlock when you walk, explore and capture nearby places.

•

Enable Location

We need your location to show you interesting places around you

Discover nearby places

Find interesting locations and hidden gems around you

Precise directions

Get accurate directions and distances to places

Your location is never shared with other users. It's only used when you tap the location button.

McKay Tower

Log in to your account

Start exploring — it's free

Trusted by 92,660 travelers worldwide

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
or

We will send you a code to connect

By continuing, you accept our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy

Check your inbox

We've sent a pincode in your inbox. Please enter the code below.

McKay Tower, High-rise building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan.

McKay Tower is a high-rise building in downtown Grand Rapids with 18 floors rising approximately 259 feet. The structure combines retail spaces, offices, apartments, and event venues into a mixed-use building.

The first non-Native American marriage in Grand Rapids took place on this site in 1834, in a cabin owned by pioneer Joel Guild, where his daughter Harriet married Barney Burton; the first town meeting, with nine voters, was also held there. The Wonderly Building was built on the spot in 1890. The first two floors of the present tower were built in 1915 as the Grand Rapids National Bank, and 11 more floors were added between 1921 and 1927. Frank D. McKay bought the tower in 1942, and two mechanical floors were added in the early 1940s.

The tower's name honours Frank D. McKay, the businessman and politician who bought it from the Grand Rapids National Bank in 1942. Its mixed use continues a downtown tradition: the site hosted Grand Rapids' first non-Native American wedding in 1834, in pioneer Joel Guild's cabin, and the first town meeting, attended by nine voters.

McKay Tower stands on Monroe Center in downtown Grand Rapids, the fifth tallest building in the city. Its lower floors hold retail space, and the upper floors are offices and apartments, so visitors pass through a working building rather than a dedicated attraction. The tower is a short walk from other downtown Grand Rapids destinations along Monroe Center.

The 2020 buyers were the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan and the Huron Band of the Potawatomi, who paid $17.5 million to Steadfast Property Holdings. The tower stands on the spot of Joel Guild's cabin, where Grand Rapids' first non-Native American marriage, between Harriet Guild and Barney Burton, was held in 1834.

The community of curious travelers

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,660 contributors worldwide.

Start exploring
Inception
1927
Floors above the ground
18
GPS coordinates
42.96620,-85.67140
Latest update
October 24, 2026 16:14
Around this place
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
United States of America

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

0.3 mi
La Grande Vitesse
United States of America

La Grande Vitesse

0.2 mi
River House Condominiums
United States of America

River House Condominiums

0.4 mi
Public Museum of Grand Rapids
United States of America

Public Museum of Grand Rapids

0.3 mi
Grand Rapids Art Museum
United States of America

Grand Rapids Art Museum

450 ft
Bridgewater Place, Grand Rapids
United States of America

Bridgewater Place, Grand Rapids

0.4 mi
Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
United States of America

Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium

0.3 mi
Ryerson Library
United States of America

Ryerson Library

0.3 mi
Kent County Civil War Monument
United States of America

Kent County Civil War Monument

0.3 mi
Beckering Family Carillon Tower
United States of America

Beckering Family Carillon Tower

0.5 mi
Ledyard Block Historic District
United States of America

Ledyard Block Historic District

260 ft
Abram W. Pike House
United States of America

Abram W. Pike House

0.5 mi
Ladies' Literary Club
United States of America

Ladies' Literary Club

0.3 mi
Keeler Building
United States of America

Keeler Building

0.2 mi
Michigan Trust Company Building
United States of America

Michigan Trust Company Building

370 ft
The Lofts Apartments
United States of America

The Lofts Apartments

0.4 mi
Grand Rapids Savings Bank Building
United States of America

Grand Rapids Savings Bank Building

0.2 mi
Loraine Building
United States of America

Loraine Building

0.4 mi
Grand Rapids Masonic Temple
United States of America

Grand Rapids Masonic Temple

0.5 mi
Vandenberg Center Historical Marker
United States of America

Vandenberg Center Historical Marker

500 ft
First (Park) Congregational Church Historical Marker
United States of America

First (Park) Congregational Church Historical Marker

0.3 mi
Valley City Milling Company Historical Marker
United States of America

Valley City Milling Company Historical Marker

0.3 mi
Ladies Literary Club Historical Marker
United States of America

Ladies Literary Club Historical Marker

0.4 mi
Furniture Industry Historical Marker
United States of America

Furniture Industry Historical Marker

0.3 mi
McCabe-Marlowe House Historical Marker
United States of America

McCabe-Marlowe House Historical Marker

0.5 mi
Swift Printing historical brick building
United States of America

Swift Printing historical brick building

0.5 mi
Grand Rapids Blue Bridge
United States of America

Grand Rapids Blue Bridge

0.2 mi
Baw-wa-ting Historical Marker
United States of America

Baw-wa-ting Historical Marker

0.4 mi
Show the full map
Reviews
Share your experience

No review yet

Discussions
Start a discussion...

No discussion yet

« McKay Tower - High-rise building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!

From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.

Around Us App Screenshot
❝

A unique approach to discovering new places❞

— Le Figaro

❝

All the places worth exploring❞

— France Info

❝

A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞

— 20 Minutes

Around Us
Travel Guide & Maps
Download

Send to your phone

QR Code
1

Open the camera app on your mobile.

2

Point at the QR code with your camera. A notification will appear.

3

Tap the notification to open the link.