Grand Rapids, also known as Furniture City, is the second largest city in the US state of Michigan. It is the seat of the county administration (County Seat) of Kent County in the southwestern part of the state.
Van Andel Arena
The Van Andel Arena is a multi-purpose arena in
the US city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The hall was named after
entrepreneur couple Jay Van Andel and his wife Betty. They donated $11.5
million to construct the building. The primary user of the Van Andel
Arena is the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team of the American Hockey
League (AHL), who have played in the arena since it opened.
A
good one and a half years after the start of construction on February 8,
1995, the Van Andel Arena was opened on October 6, 1996. The $76 million
arena will seat 11,000 hockey spectators, 10,618 arena football seats,
11,500 basketball seats and up to 13,184 concert seats. Other athletic
users were the Grand Rapids Rampage arena football team of the Arena
Football League (AFL) from 1998 until its dissolution in 2008. The Grand
Rapids Hoops basketball team from the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) also played their home games here from 1996 to 2001.
In
addition to sports, the hall is also often used as a concert arena.
Country musicians like Kenny Chesney, Kacey Musgraves, Garth Brooks with
Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw with Faith Hill often perform
there. But artists and bands from other musical genres such as the
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Prince, The Beach Boys, Josh Groban, Kid Rock,
Aerosmith, ZZ Top, The Pretenders, KISS, Snoop Dogg and Marilyn Manson
were guests in the Van Andel Arena. On May 15, 2008, the future 44th
President of the United States, Barack Obama, held a campaign event as
part of the Democratic presidential primary in the packed multi-purpose
arena. Beginning in the 2022-23 season, the Grand Rapids Gold basketball
team from the NBA G-League will play games at the Van Andel Arena.
Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is an
art museum in Grand Rapids with collections ranging from Renaissance to
modern art, as well as special collections of 19th and 20th century
European and American art. The museum has 5,000 works of art in its
collection, including over 3,500 prints, drawings and photographs. The
museum was founded in 1910 under the name Grand Rapids Art Gallery.
Originally housed in a former residence at 230 Fulton Street, it moved
to the historic Federal Building at Pearl Street in 1981.
In
2004, construction began on a new green museum building that would be
the world's first LEED-certified art museum. The 11,600 square meter
building with 1,900 square meters of gallery and exhibition space is
LEED Gold certified. In 2002, the London office of Munkenbeck+Marshall
Architects was appointed architect for the new building and developed
the design from the first concept to the construction documentation. In
the summer of 2004, the museum board ended Munkenbeck+Marshall's
commitment and commissioned the architect Kulapat Yantrasast from wHY
Architecture with the realization of the project.
Exhibitions
(selection)
2017-2018: Andy Warhol's American Icons
2017: Black
Waves: The Tattoo Art of Leo Zulueta
2016: Maureen Nollette:
Honorable Ordinaries
2015-2016: Reynold Weidenaar: A Retrospective
Michigan Artist Series
During its 100-year history, the Grand
Rapids Art Museum has featured the work of Michigan artists in its
exhibition program. This tradition is now presented in the Michigan
Artist Series in galleries throughout the museum. It will highlight the
work of living artists or designers working in a variety of media and
residing in the state.
John Ball Park
Calvin College
Devos Place Convention Center
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
John Ball Zoo
Grand
Rapids Art Museum
Grand Rapids has a rich history of paranormal activity, with many
sites tied to tragic events, historical figures, and urban legends. The
area was once referred to by Native Americans as the "Haunted Valley of
the Grand" due to its eerie reputation. Below are in-depth descriptions
of some of the most notable haunted locations, drawing from local lore,
historical records, and reported encounters.
Amway Grand Plaza
Hotel (Formerly Pantlind Hotel)
Built in 1913 as the Pantlind Hotel,
this luxurious landmark on Monroe Avenue was renowned for its opulent
architecture and ranked among the nation's top hotels. Acquired by the
Amway Corporation in 1979, it has hosted countless guests, some of whom
never left. The hotel is said to be haunted by mischievous spirits who
create a perpetual party atmosphere. Reports include ghosts cleaning
ashtrays, tugging blankets off beds during the night, and a little boy
wandering the hallways. One prominent legend involves Mary Monko, a
young girl reportedly decapitated in a 1914 elevator accident—her spirit
is believed to linger near the elevators. Other sightings feature a
ghostly couple waltzing on the dance floor, as if reliving grand balls
from the hotel's heyday. Paranormal investigators have captured EVPs
(electronic voice phenomena) and felt sudden cold spots in the ballrooms
and guest rooms. Many deaths occurred naturally in the hotel over the
decades, contributing to its haunted reputation.
Michigan Bell
Telephone Company Building (Former Judd-White Rooming House)
Located
at 82 Ionia Avenue SW, this building has one of Grand Rapids' most
infamous ghost stories. Originally the Judd-White Rooming House, it was
the site of a gruesome 1910 murder-suicide: Warren Randall, driven mad
by jealousy, clubbed his wife Virginia to death with his wooden leg
before taking his own life. The property was later purchased in 1924 by
the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, which demolished the old structure
but couldn't erase the spirits. Employees reported prank calls from
non-existent lines, flickering lights, and apparitions of the couple
arguing. The ghosts are thought to be restless, with Warren's spirit
possibly seeking to clear his name from the accusations. The building is
among Michigan's most famous haunted sites, featured in ghost tours and
paranormal TV shows. Visitors today report hearing disembodied voices
and feeling an oppressive presence in the basement.
Peck Building
At 40 Monroe Center Street NW, the Peck Building was once a pharmacy
owned by the Peck brothers but now houses condos and shops. It's haunted
by the spirit of Hannah Peck, who was fatally poisoned in 1916 by her
son-in-law, Arthur Waite, in a scheme to inherit the family
fortune—Waite also killed her husband, John Peck. Hannah's ghost is said
to manifest as cold drafts, unexplained footsteps on the upper floors,
and objects moving on their own. Residents have reported seeing a woman
in period clothing peering from windows, and paranormal teams have
detected high EMF readings in the former pharmacy area. The building's
dark history has made it a staple on local ghost tours.
Aquinas
College (Holmdene Manor)
Part of the Aquinas College campus, Holmdene
Manor was built in 1906 as part of the Lowe Estate and donated to the
college. The manor and its surrounding Lowe Garden are haunted by the
spirit of the original owner's adolescent son, who drowned in the garden
pool. Reports include children's laughter echoing through empty halls,
lights turning on by themselves, faucets running with no water, and
apparitions of a child in the windows. In 2005, a demonologist confirmed
multiple spirits on the property. The college is considered a "hotbed of
hauntings," with additional stories of phantom elevator riders, slamming
doors, and rattling knobs—possibly linked to past murders on the
grounds. Skeptics among faculty dismiss some tales, but students often
share experiences of unease in the dorms.
Heritage Hill
Neighborhood
As Grand Rapids' oldest neighborhood near Fulton Street,
Heritage Hill is rife with supernatural activity. This historic district
has been investigated by TV shows, paranormal experts, and even
exorcists. Residents report nightmares, nocturnal sounds, doors opening
unaided, beds shaking, and objects relocating. Specific homes (addresses
often withheld for privacy) have documented poltergeist activity tied to
Victorian-era tragedies, such as untimely deaths from illness or
accidents. The neighborhood's secrets include buried indigenous history
and Civil War connections, amplifying its eerie vibe.
Other
Notable Haunted Sites
Grand Rapids Public Library: A basement specter
resembling Samuel Ranck, a WWI veteran and former director, is seen
cataloging books in a dark green military uniform. Visitors are reminded
to stay quiet, as disturbances seem to agitate the spirit.
St.
Cecilia Music Center: Founded in 1883, it's haunted by music lovers who
lingered after death, causing unexplained performances and apparitions
during rehearsals.
Fulton Street Cemetery: Ghostly encounters include
apparitions near graves, tied to the city's early settlers.
Masonic
Temple: The spirit of Mason Lou B. Winsor haunts stairwells, with tours
reporting EVPs and shadows.
Veterans Memorial Park and Monument Park:
Spirits of veterans, including WWI ghosts and Civil War soldiers, appear
near monuments, offering seats before vanishing.
LaMar Hotel and
Horseshoe Bar: A former prohibition hideout turned blues club, it's
haunted by scents of perfume, moving objects, and spirits of a male and
playful female child. A secret room discovery amplified activity.
Civic Theatre: Reported hauntings include stage lights flickering and
props moving, linked to performers who died tragically.
Abandoned
Places in Grand Rapids, Michigan
While Grand Rapids is a thriving
city, it harbors several abandoned or derelict sites shrouded in
mystery, often overlapping with urban exploration (urbex) culture and
local legends. These spots attract adventurers but come with risks like
trespassing laws and structural hazards.
Underground Tunnel
Systems
Beneath downtown Grand Rapids lies a network of abandoned
tunnels, rumored to connect old buildings, utilities, and even
Prohibition-era speakeasies. Urban legends describe them as labyrinthine
passages used for smuggling or escapes, with some access points known to
locals. Explorers report eerie echoes, graffiti-covered walls, and a
sense of being watched, though much is mythologized online. These
systems are largely sealed off for safety, but tales persist of hidden
entrances near the Grand River.
Abandoned TGI Fridays (28th
Street and East Beltline)
This former chain restaurant on the
bustling 28th Street corridor sits vacant, a relic of commercial
decline. Boarded up with overgrown lots nearby, it's a modern ruin where
urban explorers find faded signage, shattered glass, and remnants of
kitchen equipment. Local videos document its creepy, time-capsule
interior, evoking post-apocalyptic vibes amid the surrounding malls.
Rosie Diner (Rockford, Near Grand Rapids)
Located off 14 Mile
Road in Rockford (part of the Grand Rapids metro area), this classic
1950s diner was abandoned after its owner, an auto dealer, closed it.
Plans to relocate it to Missouri fell through, leaving the
chrome-and-neon structure to decay. Visitors describe peeling paint,
broken windows, and vintage booths intact, with legends of it being a
haunted roadside stop due to its isolation. It's under occasional watch
to prevent vandalism.
Old School in the Black Hills
In the
Black Hills neighborhood, an abandoned school building stands as a
forgotten educational relic. Details are sparse, but locals mention it
as a spot for urbex, with crumbling classrooms, old chalkboards, and
overgrown playgrounds. It's tied to stories of past community life, now
silent and eerie.
Abandoned House at the End of Coate Street
This derelict residence at the end of Coate Street is a classic
abandoned home, with boarded windows and sagging roofs. Explorers note
it as a simple but atmospheric site, potentially linked to foreclosure
or urban decay, evoking tales of forgotten families.
Division
Avenue Abandoned Shops (North of Wealthy Street)
Along Division
Avenue north of Wealthy Street, several vacant storefronts and would-be
businesses sit empty, remnants of economic shifts. These include old
shops with faded signs and graffiti, creating a strip of urban blight
amid revitalizing areas. Urbex enthusiasts explore for artifacts like
old merchandise or signage, but safety concerns abound due to
instability.
These sites highlight Grand Rapids' blend of history
and modernity, where the past lingers in spectral and structural forms.
For safety, always respect private property and consider guided tours
for haunted explorations.
Indigenous Peoples and Pre-Columbian Era
The history of Grand
Rapids, Michigan, begins long before European arrival, with the area
inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Over 2,000 years
ago, the Hopewell culture, often referred to as the Mound Builders,
occupied the Grand River Valley. These ancient inhabitants are known for
constructing elaborate burial mounds and engaging in extensive trade
networks across North America. Succeeding cultures included various
tribes, but by the late 1600s, the Ottawa (Odawa), part of the
Anishinaabe peoples (which also include the Ojibwe and Bodéwadmi, or
People of the Three Fires), established villages along the Grand River,
which they called O-wash-ta-nong, meaning "far-away-water" due to its
extensive length. The Ottawa lived in communities of 50 to 60 huts,
cultivating crops like corn, melons, pumpkins, and beans, while
supplementing their diet with hunting and fishing. By the end of the
1700s, an estimated 1,000 Ottawa resided in the Kent County area. Key
figures included Chief Noonday (born around 1740), who played a
significant role in regional interactions, and Kewkishkam, a village
chief. The area saw conflicts, such as battles between the Ottawa and
Prairie Indians in the early 1700s, and later involvement in Pontiac's
War (1763), where Chief Pontiac rallied natives against British forces.
European Contact and Early Settlement
European exploration began
in the 17th century with French Jesuit missionaries and fur traders
traveling down Lake Michigan and its tributaries. By the early 1800s,
French-Canadian and Métis traders established posts among the Ottawa,
trading metal and textile goods for fur pelts in a generally peaceful
coexistence. In 1806, Joseph La Framboise and his wife Madeline (of
mixed Ottawa and French heritage) founded the first trading post on the
banks of the Grand River near present-day Ada Township. After Joseph's
murder in 1809, Madeline successfully expanded the business, merging it
with the American Fur Company and earning a strong reputation before
retiring in 1821. By 1810, Chief Noonday had a village of about 500
Ottawa on the west side of the river.
The Treaty of Chicago in 1821,
signed by leaders of the People of the Three Fires, ceded much of West
Michigan to the U.S. government, accelerating displacement of indigenous
populations and opening the area to colonization. Baptist minister Isaac
McCoy arrived in 1823 to establish a mission for the Ottawa, followed by
Rev. L. Slater in 1824, who built the first settler structures—a log
cabin and schoolhouse.
American Settlement and Founding
The
first permanent European-American settler is often credited to Isaac
McCoy in 1825, but Detroit-born Louis Campau is recognized as the
official founder. In 1826, Campau established a trading post, blacksmith
shop, and cabin on the east bank near the rapids, trading with the
Ottawa and Ojibwa using fur as currency. By 1831, a federal survey
reached the area, establishing Kent County, and Campau purchased 72
acres for $90, naming it Grand Rapids—this tract became the core of the
downtown business district. Rivals like Lucius Lyon bought adjacent
land, leading to brief tensions resolved with indigenous assistance.
Settlement grew rapidly in the 1830s, with arrivals from New York, Ohio,
and New England (Yankee migrants). By 1833, the population was around
50, with the first frame structure built by Joel Guild. The first
newspaper, The Grand River Times, was published in 1837, noting a
population surge to about 1,200. However, economic hardships followed
the Panic of 1837, causing some settlers to leave.
19th Century
Growth and Incorporation
Grand Rapids incorporated as a village in
1838, covering about three-quarters of a mile, and became a city on
April 2, 1850, with a population of 2,686 and an area of four square
miles (expanding to 10.5 by 1857). Waves of immigration fueled growth:
Europeans arrived first, including about 120 Swedes in 1870, followed by
global migrants after indigenous displacement. The population reached
82,565 by the early 1900s.
Industry boomed with gypsum mining
starting in 1841, exporting plaster worldwide (mines later repurposed
for storage and recreation sites like Millennium Park). By the late 19th
century, lumbering dominated as logs were floated down the Grand River
for processing, making Grand Rapids a key hub with access to Great Lakes
shipping. This transitioned into the furniture industry, with 44
companies at its peak, earning the nickname "Furniture City." Grand
Rapids furniture gained international acclaim at the 1876 Centennial
Exposition in Philadelphia, sparking the Colonial Revival style.
Companies like William A. Berkey, Baker Furniture, and Widdicomb led the
way, employing many immigrants, including Poles who formed a west-side
neighborhood.
Railroads emerged with the Grand Rapids and Indiana
Railroad in 1854, the longest north-south line at the time, later
converted to trails like the White Pine Trail. Brewing began in 1836
with John Pannell's operation, thriving until Prohibition in 1919. In
1881, the nation's first hydroelectric plant was built on the west side.
20th Century Innovations and Changes
The early 20th century saw
continued industrial leadership. The Austin Automobile Company operated
from 1901 to 1921, marking an early foray into autos. Furniture
production shifted to office furnishings, with ergonomic designs
incorporating steel; national markets lasted until the 1960s, though the
industry persists today at a smaller scale. A furniture-makers' guild
formed in 1931 to enhance quality.
Post-World War II, suburbanization
impacted downtown, with department stores like Herpolsheimer's and
Steketee's declining due to highways and changing habits. Innovations
included becoming the first U.S. city to fluoridate drinking water in
1945, reducing tooth decay. Other firsts: regularly scheduled air
service (1926), superstore (Meijer, 1962), megaplex theater (1965), and
NEA-funded art installation (Alexander Calder's La Grande Vitesse,
1969). Government reformed in 1916 with a commission-manager system, one
of the earliest, still in use.
Brewing revived in 1997 with Founders
Brewing Company, leading to over 40 craft breweries and the "Beer City
USA" title. Health care grew into a major sector, with advancements in
rehabilitative care, joint implants, and generic drugs, forming a
life-sciences cluster.
Modern Grand Rapids
By the 2010 census,
the city had 188,040 residents, with the metro area exceeding 1 million.
Today, Grand Rapids is a hub for health care, manufacturing (especially
office furniture), and tourism, with events like ArtPrize (started 2009)
and LaughFest (2011, the first community-wide laughter festival). The
city preserves its heritage through sites like Heritage Hill (Victorian
mansions from lumber barons) and the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Economic shifts have emphasized sustainability, with former industrial
sites repurposed, and a focus on cultural diversity from ongoing
immigration. As of 2025, Grand Rapids continues to grow as a vibrant
Midwestern city, blending its industrial past with innovation in arts,
brewing, and life sciences.
Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan and serves as the seat of Kent County. It is situated in the western part of the Lower Peninsula, in west-central Michigan, approximately 25-30 miles (40-48 km) east of Lake Michigan's eastern shore. The city lies along the banks of the Grand River, Michigan's longest river, which bisects it from southeast to northwest. Geographically, Grand Rapids is positioned at coordinates around 42°57′40″N 85°39′20″W, and it acts as the economic, cultural, and transportation hub of West Michigan. The city is about 70 miles east-southeast of Lansing (the state capital), 50 miles south of Kalamazoo, and roughly 160 miles west of Detroit. Its total area spans 45.27 square miles (117.25 km²), with 44.40 square miles (115.00 km²) of land and 0.87 square miles (2.25 km²) of water, accounting for about 1.92% water coverage. The broader Grand Rapids metropolitan area extends further, encompassing mixed forests, farmlands, and orchards, and is known for its proximity to Lake Michigan's beaches, making it a popular vacation destination.
Grand Rapids is nestled in the Grand River valley, a relatively flat and narrow floodplain surrounded by steeper hills and bluffs. The terrain within the city is gently undulating, with low hills and valleys shaped primarily by glacial activity during the last Ice Age. Elevations vary significantly: the city center sits at about 610-640 feet (186-195 meters) above sea level, but overall, the area ranges from a minimum of 584 feet (178 meters) to a maximum of 843 feet (257 meters), with an average elevation of around 709 feet (216 meters). Away from the river, the landscape transitions to more rolling hills, interspersed with pockets of woodlands and open spaces. The city's layout is divided into four quadrants—Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW)—by the intersection of Fulton Street (dividing north-south) and Division Avenue (dividing east-west). This topography has historically influenced urban development, with the river valley providing fertile ground for early settlement and industry, while the surrounding hills offer scenic overlooks and residential areas. The region features remnants of prehistoric earthwork burial mounds from the Hopewell tribe along the riverbanks, adding cultural layers to the physical geography.
The Grand River is the dominant hydrological feature, flowing through the heart of the city and historically named for its rapids (now largely subdued by dams). This 252-mile-long river drains into Lake Michigan and has shaped the city's identity, providing water resources, recreational opportunities like riverwalks and fish ladders, and challenges such as flooding. Notable floods include the 1904 event, where the river crested at 19.6 feet (6.0 meters), inundating over 2,500 homes, and the 2013 flood at 21.85 feet (6.66 meters), causing $10 million in damage and evacuations. Modern flood control measures, including walls and dams, mitigate these risks. Proximity to Lake Michigan influences local water tables and ecology, though the city itself has limited other natural water bodies; small creeks and man-made features like retention ponds supplement the river. The surrounding metropolitan area includes numerous lakes and wetlands, contributing to biodiversity and outdoor activities.
Grand Rapids experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa),
characterized by warm, humid summers, cold, snowy winters, and mild,
variable transitional seasons. Lake Michigan exerts a strong moderating
influence, tempering cold winter air masses, delaying spring warming and
fall cooling, and generating lake-effect snow. The annual average
temperature is around 47.4-49°F (8.6-9.4°C), with January averages at
21.8°F (-5.7°C) and July at 71.6°F (22°C). Record highs reach 108°F
(42°C) in July 1936, and lows drop to -24°F (-31°C) in February 1899.
Summers can include heat waves and severe thunderstorms, while winters
are cloudy with persistent snow cover.
Precipitation averages
37.13-39.40 inches (943-1,001 mm) annually, distributed fairly evenly
but peaking in spring and early summer (April-June: 3.99-4.00 inches or
101-102 mm monthly). Snowfall is substantial, averaging 71.9-77.6 inches
(183-197 cm) per year, with December and January seeing the heaviest
(20.8-22.6 inches or 53-57 cm). This makes Grand Rapids one of the
snowiest major U.S. cities, often hit by rapid lake-effect snowstorms.
The growing season lasts about 162 days, from May 1 to October 11, in
USDA plant hardiness zone 6a (with some areas in 5b or 6b due to lake
moderation). Relative humidity averages 72.7%, and sunshine occurs about
46-49% of possible hours, with 2,188.6 annual sunshine hours. Extreme
weather is rare, but short droughts or humid spells occur.
The Greater Grand Rapids region, with over 1.5 million residents, features a mix of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. To the northwest lie extensive orchards and farmlands, while the Lake Michigan shoreline (25-40 minutes away) offers beaches in communities like Grand Haven, Holland, and Muskegon. The area's glacial legacy contributes to fertile soils and diverse ecosystems, supporting agriculture and tourism. Parks along the Grand River enhance recreational geography, blending natural and urban elements. Overall, Grand Rapids' geography fosters a balance of natural beauty, accessibility to water resources, and resilience to climatic variations, underpinning its growth as a vibrant Midwestern city.
The citizens of Grand Rapids introduced the council manager system in
1916. Since then, political responsibility has been shared between the
mayor and the employed city manager, who is appointed by the council.
The Council only has a legislative function.
Former US President
Gerald Ford lived in Grand Rapids for a long time, which is why the
Gerald Ford Presidential Museum is dedicated to him here. In Grand
Rapids on May 14, 2008, former Democratic presidential nominee John
Edwards announced his support for Barack Obama's presidential
nomination.
Business
The Grand Rapids metro area had a gross
domestic product of $58.5 billion in 2016, ranking 53rd among the
metropolitan areas of the United States. The unemployment rate in the
metro area was 2.9 percent, below the national average of 3.8 percent.
(Status: March 2018).
Grand Rapids has long been a center of the
American furniture industry. At the latest with the world exhibition in
Philadelphia in 1876, it became known internationally as a furniture
city. Although the importance of the furniture industry has declined
since the 1960s, Grand Rapids is still the world leader in the
production of office furniture. Among others, the Kindel Furniture
Company, the Grand Rapids Chair Company and Steelcase are resident. More
recently, several biotechnology companies have joined, in addition to
the Van Andel Medical Institute and the new Cook-Devos Medical Training
Facility, part of Grand Valley State University, and the new Michigan
State University Medical Training Facility.
Gerald R. Ford
International Airport is located near Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids
is the venue for ArtPrize, a biennial art exhibition that is
decentralized throughout downtown. Altogether prizes with a total value
of more than 500,000 US dollars will be awarded. The event claims to
bring half a million tourists and several million US dollars to the
local economy.
Since 2014, the city has been home to the NBA Development League Team
Grand Rapids Drive. The team plays its home games in the DeltaPlex
Arena. The city also has an American Hockey League team, the Grand
Rapids Griffins, who play their home games at Van Andel Arena. The River
Bank Run, which has been taking place since 1977, is one of the most
important 25 km road races in the world.
The West Michigan
Whitecaps baseball team, a farm team of the Detroit Tigers, has played
in neighboring Comstock Park since 1994.
In 2015, the amateur
football club Grand Rapids FC started. The first season was played in
the Great Lakes Premier League, in 2016 "Die Blauen" switched to the
National Premier Soccer League. In the first season at the local
Houseman Field, more than 4,500 spectators attended on average.
sons and daughters of the town
Harry Spanjer (1873–1958), boxer,
Olympic champion
Charles Daniel White (1879–1955), Roman Catholic
Bishop of Spokane
Arthur H. Vandenberg (1884–1951), politician
Stanley Ketchel (1886–1910), boxer
Ford Beebe (1888–1978), director,
screenwriter and producer
Stephen Goosson (1889-1973), Oscar-winning
set designer
Frederick Henry Mueller (1893–1976), US Secretary of
Commerce
Jack Rice (1893–1968), actor
Leo Sowerby (1895–1968),
composer
John Herman Randall, Jr. (1899–1980), historian and
philosopher
Ward Silloway (1909–1965), jazz musician
Lew Douglas
(1912–1997), arranger, record producer and songwriter
T. L. Sherred
(1915–1985), science fiction writer
Lorna Gray, actually Virginia
Pound (1917-2017), actress
Richard DeVos (1926–2018), founder and
owner of Amway
Frank McCabe (1927–2021), basketball player
Edmund
Casimir Szoka (1927–2014), Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit
Arno Marsh (1928–2019), jazz tenor saxophonist
Joseph Crescent
McKinney (1928–2010), Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of Grand Rapids
Frederic N. Andre (1933–2014), lawyer and government official
Del
Shannon (1934–1990), singer
Roger B. Chaffee (1935–1967), astronaut
(Apollo 1)
Jack R. Lousma (born 1936), astronaut (Skylab 3, STS-3)
Stephen W. Bosworth (1939–2016), university dean and diplomat
Kurt
Luedtke (1939-2020), screenwriter and Oscar winner
George Andrie
(1940–2018), American football player
Max Apple (born 1941), novelist
and screenwriter
Ken Medema (born 1943), composer and singer
Leonard Schrader (1943–2006), author, film director and producer
Henry F. Schaefer (born 1944), chemist and university lecturer
Paul
Schrader (born 1946), screenwriter and film director
Marvin Wayne
Meyer (1948–2012), Coptic scientist
Chris Van Allsburg (born 1949),
illustrator and author (Jumanji, The Polar Express)
Jim Maki (born
1950), ski jumper
Fergie Frederiksen (1951–2014), singer, a.o. the
band Toto
Gregg F. Gunnell (1954–2017), primatologist and
paleontologist
Kim Zimmer (born 1955), actress
Scott Steed
(1957–2020), jazz musician
Tony Tucker (born 1958), boxer
Antonia
Franceschi (born 1960), ballet dancer, choreographer and actress
Carl
Paganelli (born 1960), NFL umpire
Roger Mayweather (1961–2020),
professional boxer and world boxing champion
Jon Casey (born 1962),
ice hockey goaltender
Anthony Kiedis (born 1962), co-founder,
lyricist and vocalist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Eric Allan Kramer
(born 1962), actor
Andy Richter (born 1966), entertainer
Stacy
Haiduk (born 1968), actress
James Toney (born 1968), boxer
Matt
Keeslar (born 1972), actor
Adina Howard (born 1974), singer
Marc
Miller (born 1975), racing driver
Floyd Mayweather Jr (b. 1977),
boxer
Justin Amash (born 1980), politician
Brian Mast (born 1980),
politician
Jason Hartmann (born 1981), long-distance runner
Chris
Kaman (born 1982), German basketball player
Dathan Ritzenhein (born
1982), long-distance runner
Kyle Visser (born 1985), basketball
player
Paul Walter Hauser (born 1986), film actor
Luke Glendening
(born 1989), ice hockey player
Taylor Lautner (born 1992), actor
Morgan Tuck (born 1994), basketball player
Devin Booker (born 1996),
basketball player
Gabriela Leon (born 1999), pole vaulter