The museum is largely aimed at families, and focuses on science, technology, and history.

The museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and admission to the facility is free.

[1] The museum's collection dates to an 1881 gift to the Kalamazoo School Board of corals, shells, and rocks from Horace M. Peck, a local banker.

In its early years, the museum acquired natural history specimens, ethnographic materials, and antiquities.

The museum has a state-of-the-art, 109-seat planetarium that screens a variety of presentations and programs for school groups and other public audiences.