[2][3] The museum includes a cafe, a gift shop, and a 1928 Spillman carousel, which is situated in a pavilion over the Grand River.

; that building now serves as a high school and is connected to the GRPM Collections and the City of Grand Rapids Archives.

The GRPM brings in a variety of traveling exhibitions annually ranging among topics related to science, history and culture.

The museum also maintains the Voigt House Victorian Home, located at 115 College Ave.

Donated to the Grand Rapids Foundation upon the death of the youngest child Ralph Voigt in 1971, the property came into the eventual possession of the museum in 1974.