Visit the Holland Museum

The best way to get acquainted with Holland is to take a crash course in its fascinating history-and there's no better place for this than the Holland Museum. Here you'll learn about the arrival of the Dutch in 1847, their struggle for access to Lake Michigan, the devastating fire of 1871, and the amazing story of Holland's rise from the ashes.  Also featured are Holland's ties to the furniture industry, the birth of Tulip Time, the war years, and the burgeoning economic growth that continues today.  For nearly three-quarters of a century, the Holland Museum has received impressive gifts of Dutch culture from donors here and around the world!  With an extensive collection of Dutch fine and decorative arts, there are over 55 seventeenth to twentieth century Dutch paintings, and more than 170 cultural objects such as: Delftware, silver, Dutch costumes and fine furniture. These artifacts tell the story of over 400 years of Dutch History.  

The main level hosts both the permanent exhibitions (Permanent Gallery/Holland History) and the temporary exhibitions ( Wichers Gallery and Focus Gallery), as well as the gift shop.  The second floor contains only Dutch Galleries.  Located on the lower level are the museum's collection of books, papers, and photographs in the Archives and Reserach Library.  

For information on the Spark!Lab Smithsonian exhibit, click here!

A few blocks to the West are The Cappon and Settlers Houses, which tell the authentic stories of Holland's earliest settlers.  Built in 1874, The Capppon House is a beautifully restored Italianate Victorian and was home to the local tannery proprietor and first mayor of Holland, Isaac Cappon and his 16 children.  A few doors down is the Settlers House, a quaint cottage and example of the everyday working-class settler. The Settlers House offers a stark contrast to the granduer of the Victorian styled Cappon House and gives historical perspective to the economic class of the early 1900's.