Why There Are Metal Bugs Around Downtown Grand Rapids

Over the Labor Day holiday, I walked out of the parking garage and was caught off guard when I saw a massive dragonfly sitting on the navigation sign nearby. But it wasn't a normal dragonfly - this was a metal dragonfly, and it wasn't the first time I'd seen one.

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I realized I'd seen these metal dragonflies around the city before, but had never put the pieces together that they were actually part of something from years past.

Tommy McNeill, Townsquare Media

Bronze Dragonflies In Downtown Grand Rapids

It turns out the GR dragonflies were part of a scavenger hunt created in 2024 spanning the center of Grand Rapids. The City of Grand Rapids has run several scavenger hunts over the years, most recently for the FIFA World Cup, but this one is a bit different.

READ MORE: Why Fallout Shelter Signs Remain on Grand Rapids Buildings

Using a map and clues to find 25 bronze sculptures that take you from the Children's Museum to the Public Museum and plenty of places in between.

Tommy McNeill, Townsquare Media

Either this is a really good scavenger hunt, and I'm terrible at spotting these lil guys, or now that it's been two years, some of the dragonflies have been removed, so if you don't see one on your hunt, don't be too hard on yourself.

These dragonflies are fun to keep your eyes peeled for while you're walking around downtown.