What's Shakin in Grand Rapids, MI...Voigt House/why we're glad the Voigts were packrats!

When Ralph, the last Voigt child, died in 1971 he left a precious gift to the City of Grand Rapids. It was his family's home, built in 1896 by his father as a retirement home and packed to the attic with possessions of the senior Voigts and four of their five children. Only one child never lived in the house.

Household records, photographs, baby clothes from the children who had grown old and died. Wedding clothes. Skating outfits. Mourning clothes. Christmas ornaments. Furniture. Books. Artwork. It was all there.

Now owned by the Public Museum, it's one of my favorite places to visit. It was last remodeled in 1907 and the silk wall coverings that were installed are still on the walls. Docents take you through rooms and their contents that preserve a snapshot of life in the late 1800s for a prosperous merchant's family. You can contrast it with the spartan servants' quarters.

There are seasonal programs, too. Victorian Christmas. Victorian wedding customs. Victorian mourning. I learn something new every time I'm there. It's possible to schedule a luncheon or tea in the beautiful dining room.

In addition to the house, there's a carriage house and a historic garden to see. It's just another thing that's cool about Grand Rapids.

image from the public museum's link above