Grand Rapids Public Museum to Open AMERICAN SPIRITS: THE RISE AND FALL OF PROHIBITION This Weekend

Opening September 26, AMERICAN SPIRITS: THE RISE AND FALL OF PROHIBITION will grace the galleries of the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) through January 17, 2016. This exhibit explores America's most colorful and complex constitutional hiccup, spanning from the inception of the temperance movement, through the Roaring '20s, to the unprecedented repeal of the constitutional amendment.

The GRPM will offer a variety of engaging community and educational programs to complement the exhibition. Programs vary from free with admission to an additional cost to participants.

Admission to American Spirits; The Rise and Fall of Prohibition will be included with general admission to the GRPM. This exhibit is free to Museum members.

Programming Schedule:

Member Preview
Members are invited Friday, September 25 for the first viewing of the exhibit. The preview will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and include a variety of activities including 1920s era games and activities, live performance by the B-Side Growlers from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., making root beer floats with Hudsonville Ice Cream, and featuring New Holland Brewing Company beers and spirits. Each guest 21 and over will receive a free drink ticket, cash bar open as well. There will be a special presentation by Amy Kenny from New Holland Brewing Company called "A Spirited Life" about the craft brewing industry at 6 p.m., tickets are first come first serve. Members can RSVP at grpm.org/SpiritsPreview. For more information on becoming a member, visit grpm.org/membership.

Opening Weekend
Gear up for a fun filled weekend opening weekend of American Spirits! The Great Gatsby cast from the Grand Rapids Civic Theater will be interacting with guests and activities like building oversized Lincoln Log cabins and interactive dance lessons taking place on the Galleria floor. It is an exciting weekend to be the first in the community to see American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.

Cocktail Classes
For the first three Tuesdays in October (October 6, 13, and 20), join the GRPM and New Holland Brewing for hands on cocktail classes in the Museum. Each class will be themed around a different Prohibition era spirit. Tickets are $10 and include general admission. Members receive discounted price. Tickets will go on sale Friday, September 25. Visit grpm.org for more information.

Legacy Awards Gala
Join the GRPM for the 7th Annual Jay & Betty Van Andel Legacy Awards Gala on Thursday, November 12 starting at 5:30 p.m. In celebration of the exhibition "American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition" this event will be set in the era of flappers, bootleggers, temperance lobbyists, and organized crime legends. As the GRPM's annual fundraiser, the community comes together to recognize three individuals for their dedication and commitment to bettering the quality of life in the region. Attire is roaring 20s fashion. Co-chaired by Dave & Carol Van Andel and Jim & Sue Williams. Tickets may be purchased by calling 616.929.1754 or at grpm.org/legacyawardsgala.

Family Workshops
Make your own marbles at the Grand Rapids Public Museum on November 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn how to make your own marbles out of clay, and while they bake play some of the original marble games that were popular in the 1920s! This workshop will take place in the demo lab at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and can accommodate up to 20 people. Pre-registration is required, all ages welcome, recommended for ages 6-12. The workshop is $12 per person and includes general admission to the Museum. For more information visit grpm.org.

"Spirited Women" a Presentation by the Grand Rapids Women's History Council
On November 17 at 6 p.m. join the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council at the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a presentation, "Spirited Women: Grand Rapids and the Push for Temperance." Presented by council members Ruth Van Steele and Julie Tabberer, this program will take a look at the local scene during thirteen years of speakeasys and bathtub gin, reviewing the role the area women during the massive national temperance movement and the long push for women's rights.

Repeal Day
December 5, 2015 marks the 82nd anniversary of the 21st Amendment, repealing the laws of Prohibition. Visit the Museum to take part in special Repeal Day activities including meeting characters who were important in passing the first and only amendment to repeal another amendment ever. The Museum's Galleria will be filled with adult and children hands on activities to both celebrate and learn about our country's history.

Join the Museum for a special soda making workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for a special Repeal Day activity, also on December 5. This workshop will take place in the demo lab at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and can accommodate up to 20 people. Pre-registration is required, all ages welcome, recommended for ages 6-12. The workshop is $12 per person and includes general admission to the Museum. For more information visit grpm.org.

Snowflake Break
This holiday season, visit the Grand Rapids Public Museum for a variety of family friendly crafts and events. Make your own themed snowflakes and punch tins, play a variety of board games, dress paper dolls in the Museum's 1920's fashion straight from our Collections. Activities are free with general admission. Visit the Museum on December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 and enjoy late nights in The Discovery of King Tut and American Spirits! Visit grpm.org for more information on activity dates and times.

Last Call! Closing Weekend
Join us first the last call and last chance to see the exhibit on January 16 & 17, 2016! January 17 marks the 95th anniversary of the 18th amendment. On this weekend meet historic figures such as Wayne Wheeler and Carry Nation who helped bring about this constitutional amendment. As you journey through the history of Prohibition in American Spirits, hear in depth talks about the era, the culture and the changes that were seen in 1920. Saturday, January 16, join Speak EZ Lounge in the Meijer Theater at 3 p.m. for an exclusive mixology presentation.

Extra Events!

"Party Like it's 1933" Repeal Day party at SpeakEZ
Step back in time to the first legal drinks after Prohibition at the Speak EZ Lounge on Saturday, December 5! Starting at 9 p.m. the Lounge will turn into 1933 with guests and staff partying to celebrate the 21st amendment. The event will include a live band, as well as ticket giveaways to the GRPM's American Spirits exhibition! No advanced tickets necessary.

Prohibition style beer and food pairing dinner - exclusive tickets!
On January 12, 2016 in conjunction with the GRPM's American Spirits exhibit, join Brewery Vivant for an exclusive prohibition beer and food pairing dinner. Tickets are limited and will go on sale later this year.

For a full schedule of events, visit grpm.org.

About American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition - The world of flappers, bootleggers, temperance lobbyists, and organized crime legends comes to life in the American Spirits exhibition. This extensive collection will showcase over 100 rare artifacts, including: temperance propaganda, flapper dresses from the Roaring '20s, Carry Nation's hatchet used during her barroom-smashing raids, and authentic items used for making moonshine and other illegal potent liquors. Interactive elements and immersive environments will bring to life the sights, sounds, and experiences of the time period. Visitors have the chance to take a quiz to find out if they are a "wet" or a "dry," learn the Charleston in a re-created speakeasy and play the role of a federal Prohibition agent chasing rumrunners in a custom-built video game. At the end of the exhibition visitors will explore the legacy of Prohibition in today's regulatory landscape. Displays will show why and how laws differ from state to state and how the idea of drinking responsibly evolved. American Spirits is a national touring exhibition created by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and curated by Daniel Okrent, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. The exhibition includes 17 artifacts on loan from the Collection of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is the Museum of We the People, America's Town Hall, and a Headquarters for Civic Education. As the Museum of We the People, the National Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life for visitors of all ages and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition. The museum features interactive exhibitions, engaging theatrical performances, and original documents of freedom. As the only institution established by Congress to "disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis," the National Constitution Center serves as a Headquarters for Civic Education-offering cutting-edge learning resources including the premier online Interactive Constitution. As America's Town Hall, the National Constitution Center hosts timely constitutional conversations uniting distinguished leaders, scholars, authors, and journalists from across the political spectrum. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is located in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl Street, NW. The mission of the museum is to be a living monument of artifacts, ideas and stories told through exhibitions, events and educational programming designed to inspire, motivate and celebrate our human bond. We enrich the life of our community through experiences of the wider world in a uniquely Grand Rapids context. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees and exhibit/event listings, visit www.grpm.org.

Since 1917, the West Michigan Tourist Association (WMTA) has worked to market the very best of West Michigan to travelers. Covering the entire west side of Michigan from the Indiana border to Mackinac Island, WMTA presents information on the best attractions, lodging, events, and activities in West Michigan. For more information on this non-profit organization, visit WMTA.org.