Museum's New Exhibit Displays Two Centuries of History

'Off the Shelves' showcases its rarely seen furniture collection

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum's newest exhibit treats the public to a rare peek at its furniture collection that spans over 200 years of history, from one-of-a-kind items to mass-produced pieces made by local and international craftspeople and manufacturers. It runs Oct. 31 through Jan. 21.

"The 'Off the Shelves: Exploring the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's Furniture Collection' exhibit highlights artifacts few have seen at the museum at any point since its founding in 1881," said Julie Bunke, the museum's manager of exhibits and interactive experiences.

"On display, for instance, will be Dobbin the horse, which was used to train cavalry officers; a reproduction of King Tut's throne that was on display at Gilmore's department store for years; and the neon Hoekstra Hardware sign that graced the back entrance of the store for several decades."

Expect a range of objects, including trunks, chairs and other pieces that all tell stories. Bunke invites visitors to come learn some of those stories and get a glimpse of preserving the history of Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan.

The museum, which has a wide-ranging collection totaling around 60,000 items, is currently undergoing a large-scale reorganization in collections storage. As a result, many larger objects, which are often not in the exhibit limelight, are freed up for viewing.

Admission is free to the exhibit and the museum. Visit kalamazoomuseum.org for more information. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.