Location: Muskegon
Top Things to do in Muskegon
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Things to do in Muskegon, Michigan (MI): The Best Museums
Muskegon, Michigan, built on the fur and lumber trade, is now a calm vacation spot on Lake Michigan, calling itself "The Riviera of the Midwest." Sunbathe on several beautiful beaches along Lake Michigan, including Pere Marquette Beach, a certified Great Lakes "clean beach." Muskegon State Park provides hiking and camping opportunities in the summer, and ice skating, cross-country skiing and even a luge track in the winter. The city is also home to Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park.
Restaurants in Muskegon
1. Muskegon Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 39 reviews
The Muskegon Heritage Museum exhibits the history of the industries of the Muskegon area. We have a working bowling alley. An 18 ton Corliss valve steam engine powering our machine shop with leather belts. Engines on display from Continental motors, including aircraft, marine and a tank engine. The first 75,000 Raggedy Ann's were made here, we have one from 1918 on display. There over 12,000 square feet of display space on the museums three floors. Open Mid May to Mid October except for prearranged tours and school groups.
Reviewed By georgeanddebc
This museum is amazing! It contains the industrial history of greater Muskegon and has working engines and machines from many businesses from the past. The Snurf Board, original Raggedy Ann Doll (yes, made in a toy company from Muskegon), a Brunswick pin setter, and exhibits too numerous to mention in a review. The displays are beautiful and extremely well-done. What a treat to see for ourselves and for our grandkids. Rotary phones, Occidental hotel switchboard, Kemperman's grocery store, sample Hathaway House boarding room, etc. etc.
2. Art Cats Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Art Cats Gallery, A West Michigan Gallery: All Hand Made All the Time! We love West Michigan and our location in the Historic and Eclectic Lakeside District of Muskegon on the shore of Muskegon Lake! Art Cats Gallery carries a fabulous selection of original paintings, prints, pottery, glass, and an amazing array of artist made jewelry. Adjacent to the studio of owner Louise Hopson.
3. Muskegon Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By MidwestKathM - Detroit, United States
This art museum drew us to Muskegon on a day visit! The art collection and the glass gallery are superb for a town of its size. We were so happy to see the works of Hopper, Bellows, Pissarro, Sisley, Bonnard, Winslow Homer, John Steuart Curry, Henry Ossawa Tanner, and Deborah Butterfield, plus the beautiful glass gallery with Tiffany and Steuben glass and works by Littleton, Chihuly, Lipofsky, and Toots Zinsky! The museum was safeguarded for COVID, requiring masks to be work and social distancing to be practiced, with plexiglas shields in place at the ticket desk and the info desks. Friendly staff! We enjoyed chatting with them several times as we strolled through the galleries. Thank you!!
4. Lakeshore Museum Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
The Lakeshore Museum offers exhibits which explore the natural and cultural history of the area. Exhibits include a look at 400 years of Michigan in the making and a life sized mastodon. Several galleries offer hands-on opportunities.
Reviewed By croker10 - Saint Louis, United States
First things first, this is free for Muskegon residents and residents of the county. All others, there is a $4 entrance charge. This was not clear from the reviews and even from the signage. That said, we really enjoyed it and were happy to have stopped by. The museum is a bit of everything science center, art museum (a special exhibit from a local artist's work during WWII, excellently done), history center and children's museum. We spent more time than we thought we would, learned more than we ever expected and had a great time. Definitely worth the money!
5. USS Silversides Submarine Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 315 reviews
Reviewed By momofnks - Ann Arbor, United States
This museum was a great part of our trip. We were traveling with our 20 something age sons. The museum itself has strong exhibits of all branches, genders, and races of WWll service people. The submarine itself was impactful for even my veteran husband to witness, even after we have toured other subs in the past. Definitely a worthwhile activity for a Muskegon stay.
6. Fire Barn Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By MidwestKathM - Detroit, United States
Nestled into the surrounding historic neighborhood, this fire museum in a reproduction fire hall building is quite the place. I roamed around the first floor enjoying the exhibits and the fire truck. My husband looked at all the exhibits, watched the videos, talked with the staffer, and went upstairs to see where the fireman "lived" while on duty. Totally enjoyed it!! And it was free as part of our admission to the Hackley-Hume House tour. Admission limited to 6 people at a time; masks required.
7. Muskegon Railroad Historical Society
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
