The Late Great President Ford

$14.00 Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Grand Rapids laid to rest one of our own last week and were in the national spotlight for it. Megan and I paid our tribute today by viewing the Presidential Museum, where his body was interred.

I'd been before as a kid and later as a student in a course titled "Museums: A Place to Work." This was the first time that I really appreciated the displays at the museum fully. If you've not been I highly recommend a visit.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum was the section chronicling Ford's youth in Grand Rapids. One placard reads that he attended South High School, a very diverse school at the time, rather than other more exclusive schools. It is interesting, as a person of Dutch heritage, to know that the Grand Rapids Christian School system (founded with the philosophy of "our schools for our children") was likely the elite schools referenced.

The legacy of South High School in Grand Rapids is one that I have heard many bits and pieces of, but have not learned fully. I'd like to learn more about that chapter of Grand Rapids history.

We're looking forward to returning later this spring to view the special exhibit titled "Slavery on Trial." We were too hungry to stick around for the whole museum!