Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Presidential museum in Grand Rapids, United States
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is a presidential museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, located along the Grand River in the city center. The building covers roughly 4,100 square meters (44,000 square feet) in a triangular shape and offers views of the river and surrounding streets.
Construction started in 1976 and was funded through donations from roughly 14,000 individuals, including contributions through the Gerald Ford Commemorative Committee. The opening took place in 1981, a few years after the end of the president's term.
The institution honors the 38th President of the United States, who grew up in Grand Rapids and started his political career from this region. Visitors today see rooms that show how American foreign policy worked during the mid-1970s, with recreated workspaces from the White House.
The building opens Monday through Saturday in the morning and Sunday in the early afternoon, with access until late afternoon on all days. Educational programs run throughout the year, so it's worth asking ahead about special events.
The collection is separated from its related archive, which sits roughly 130 miles (210 kilometers) away in Ann Arbor. This division makes the institution the only one under National Archives management where museum and library stand at different locations.
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