Welcome to Spring Into the Past 

May 2nd and 3rd 2026!

Spring Into the Past is our signature annual event, held the first weekend in May, when member museums open their doors free to the public.

For 2025 - 2026 we tried something different. Because we have such a vast territory, we have split our regions to North and South. Odd years North, even years South.

Come explore our participating museums, where local stories come alive through engaging exhibits, artifacts, and community pride. See you in 2026 at our South museums!

Our 2025-2026 theme, Tracing Our Routes: The Roads, Rivers, Rails, and Trails That Shaped Our Communities, celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by asking:

• Who was here before us?

• How did we get to where we are today?

• Who built the pathways that became our roads and highways?

• Why did early pioneers choose to settle here?

• How did the Flat, Grand, and Thornapple Rivers influence travel and commerce over time?

• What impact did the coming — and going — of the railroads have?

Spring 2026 Museums