Hours of Operation
| Monday - Saturday: | 10 AM - 5 PM |
| Sunday: | 12 PM - 5 PM |
The Museum is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Admission
| Adults: | $13.00 |
| Seniors & Military: | $11.00 |
| College Students: | $10.00 |
| Ages 6-18: | $7.00 |
| Children under 5: | Free |
Free Parking is available for all Museum Patrons.
Location
303 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5353
616-254-0400
All areas of the Museum and Library are ADA compliant , and are accessible to people in wheelchairs via ramps and elevators. All Museum and Library exhibits are wheelchair accessible.
Parking
Parking at both facilities is free, and accessible parking spaces are located in both the main and over-flow parking lots.
Wheelchairs
Standard wheelchairs are available at both locations at no charge. Strollers are also available at the Museum.
Restrooms
All public restrooms include accessible facilities, and are ADA compliant. All restrooms have baby-changing stations.
Hearing Impaired
To help visitors who are hearing impaired, a number of exhibits include closed captioning or text panels. The Museum Auditorium is equipped with a T-coil assisted listening loop, and hand-held units are available upon request. The Library Auditorium is equipped with a T-coil loop.
Sign Language Interpreters
With a minimum of two weeks notice, the Museum is able to provide Sign Language Interpreters at no charge. Sign Language Interpreters who are accompanying school groups or the public and assisting visitors who are hearing impaired are admitted to the Museum at no charge.
Assistive Animals
Visitors, who require Service Animals, such as guide-dogs, are welcome to bring them into the Museum.
Visually Impaired
With a minimum of two weeks notice, the Museum will provide an interpretive guide to groups or individuals at no charge.
Single visitors, adult groups or school groups with special needs can be accommodated at both the Museum and Library with guided tours. Please call (616) 254-0374 (Museum) and (734) 205-0540 (Library) for more information.
Please continue reading for instructions on how to make a donation offer. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below for a list of materials we generally do not accept.
If you are interested in donating materials, we ask that you please email Ford.Donations@nara.gov and provide pictures and a detailed description of the material you wish to donate, the quantity of the material, and your contact information. Please note that the Library and Museum do not acquire very small donations (e.g., a single document or several photographs) unless they are truly unique or of a singular historical value.
All donation offers are handled during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and must be reviewed by Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum staff before they can be accepted. A member of the team will respond to your offer within thirty business days if the material you wish to donate meets our collection development guidelines.
Unsolicited donations will be disposed of without notice. Potential donors receive approval from Library and Museum staff before sending any items to the Library or Museum.
Q: How do I donate to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum and Library?
A: Do not bring unsolicited donations to the museum. Please email photos of the items you would like to donate to ford.donations@nara.gov. Once the photos are reviewed, staff will contact you.
Q: What don’t you accept?
A: We generally do not accept the following categories of materials:
- Newspapers, journals, magazines, books, or personal libraries;
- Tributes, poems, songs, or other personal reminiscences;
- Mass-produced materials such as inauguration invitations and campaign buttons;
- Photocopies or digital facsimiles of original materials (including those from other archives);
- Personal scrapbooks (including news clipping scrapbooks);
- Materials that are too fragile to service to researchers or require extensive conservation; materials that have mold, mildew, pest, or other potentially harmful infestations; or organic materials.
Q: How much is my material worth? Is it authentic?
A: As a federal institution, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum cannot purchase materials, provide monetary appraisals or assessments, or recommend individual appraisers. If you would like to have your materials appraised, you must do so prior to donating them. The following websites provide the names of certified appraisers throughout the country:
http://www.appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser
http://www.appraisersassoc.org/
Q: Do I need to sign anything?
A: We may ask you to complete a formal deed of gift or to provide a written statement confirming your intent to donate the materials. We do not accept materials for temporary loan or deposit, and materials donated to the Ford Library and Museum become the physical property of the United States. Donors are also expected to transfer to the United States all copyrights they hold in the materials, making them public domain.
Q: How will I know you received my donation?
A: All pre-approved donations will be acknowledged formally upon receipt, usually by letter or email. Please note that unsolicited donations will not be acknowledged.
Q: Will my donation be exhibited?
A: We cannot guarantee that donations will be placed on display, and we are unable to accept donations requiring that stipulation.
Q: Still have questions?
A: Email Ford.Donations@nara.gov.
At the Museum
Explore the Museum
At the core of the Museum is the permanent exhibit, which allows visitors to experience highlights from President and Mrs. Ford's lives. The exhibit teaches democratic citizenship and allows for quiet reflection. In addition to the permanent exhibits, changing temporary exhibits draw artifacts from Museums all over the country.
Exhibits
Upcoming Programs and Events
May
22
2025
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
"On Healing Land, Birds Perch" is a short documentary that tells the remarkable stories behind one of the most iconic photos in history, while acting as a portal into the “varied carols,” to borrow from Walt Whitman, of trauma and the American journey. This is…
Group Visits and Coach Tours
Group admission discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All adult groups are self-guided. We suggest approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to view and enjoy the 15,000 square feet of permanent and temporary exhibit space.
Tour buses are encouraged to use the circle drive to safely drop off their passengers on the Museum plaza.
Email: Group Visits
Information
- Parking is free in the south lot (located off Pearl Street NW).
- Several handicap spaces are available.
- If you bring a motor coach, bus, or an RV, parking will be on Scribner Avenue, located directly west of the Museum. It is a one-way street and runs north/south.
- The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is the final resting place for President and Mrs. Ford. Their memorial gravesites can be viewed daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Plan an Event
The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum is a 54,000 square foot educational and cultural facility, located on the bank of the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. This setting provides a prestigious venue for a meeting, reception, and/or dinner. The Museum offers a 15,000 square foot permanent exhibit, and a 3,500 square foot changing exhibit gallery. Convenient parking.
Museum Main Lobby
The expansive main lobby of the Museum is an exceptional setting for dinners, special addresses, and receptions. Visitors can also browse the Museum store which offers a variety of unique gifts and books.
Capacity:
Sit-down dinner - 100
Standing reception - 250
Auditorium
The 250-seat auditorium, complete with stage and audio/visual equipment, has the versatility to accommodate symposiums, educational presentations, cultural events, award ceremonies, and musical performances, among others.
Capacity: 254
Museum Grounds
Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Betty Ford Garden and the reflecting pool and fountain. The Museum grounds are also home to President Ford’s distinguished burial site.
General Availability for all spaces
Monday - Friday: 10 AM - 9 PM
Contact the Museum for information about scheduling an event, rental fee structure, or to review regulations on the use of the facility and the application process. Events must be consistent with the public perception of the Museum as an educational, research, or cultural institution (no weddings, proms, or similar events).
Resources
Call: (616)254-0400 / E-mail: ford.museum@nara.gov
Volunteers
The Gerald R. Ford Museum is always seeking volunteers to assist with tours, educational programs, and public events. If you enjoy history, join us! For more information about volunteer opportunities at the Museum.
For more on volunteer opportunities, contact:
Richard Weld at (616) 254-0373.
Internships
The Museum accepts a limited number of college interns each year to assist with processing, preservation, and digitization of museum holdings. The Padnos Museum Internship Program provides the necessary skills students need to attain a certain level of marketability in the field. For its nearly twenty years in operation, the program has provided lasting experiences for students from around the country.