How Many Official and Obscure Grand Rapids Landmarks Do You Know?

If Grand Rapids has one thing going for it, it's that there are quite a few memorable landmarks around the city. Some of them have been in the city for years, and some are new additions from previous ArtPrize competitions. I'm talking about La Grande Vitesse, or colloquially called "The Calder" or the Blue Bridge: the big ones.

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But there are plenty of smaller, less conventional things and places around the city that people use to indicate where they are, or just things downtown that are iconic, like the Superman Man of Steel poster that has been slowly fading in the window of a long-closed building on Division.

La Grande Vitesse or "The Calder"

It's the only thing in Calder Plaza, it's in our city logo, it's the first thing most people think of when they think of the city, and everyone has no idea what it is supposed to be. But that only makes it more iconic, and it remains an important part of the city. You can learn about its history here.

Calder Plaza has also been undergoing an overhaul for quite some time and could finally enter the construction phase this year.

Belknap Park Stairs

Sometimes referred to as the "Death Stairs" of Grand Rapids, the Belknap "Lookout" Park is as memorable as it is dangerous. The ~150ish stairs that connect the park to Division St. to the park above have fallen into major disrepair, and the city advises people not to use them.

But change is on the (far) horizon, and the city has plans for a major overhaul to the entire hill in the future.

John Ball Zoo Statue

While the animals at John Ball Zoo come and go, the John Ball Statue has remained a constant and beloved part of the zoo. It is a statue that has been at the park for over 100 years, with generations of visitors posing with it.

It is a statue many people feel sentimental about, as grandparents are now witnessing their grandkids pose with it, just as they did years earlier. John Ball, who left the land to the City of Grand Rapids upon his death, was commemorated with the statue and remains one of the most well-known names in town 142 years after his death.

Man of Steel Poster

Most people were led to believe Superman lives in Metropolis, but it turns out he's actually here in Grand Rapids, sitting in the window of a long-dormant business on Division Ave. Considering the movie itself came out in 2013, and the former business, GrandLAN Gaming Center, closed in 2015, the poster is now a sun-bleached guardian of Division.

We spoke to the former owner of GrandLAN about the infamy the poster has gained over the years, and here's what he had to say.

Rosa Parks Statue & Rosa Parks Circle

Rosa Parks Circle, with its statue of Rosa Parks, is a spot for community events and summer concerts, and the place to go ice skating with friends in the winter. It is situated in the heart of Downtown, making this one of the most recognizable (and convenient) places to be.

33 Sheldon - A Wooden Door and The GRap Map

For many years, this curious little wooden door outside Veterans' Memorial Park was a mystery to me. I never saw it open or people leaving. But I always liked it for its quirkiness, coupled with the other curiosity on the neighboring wall: an entire map of Grand Rapids painted there in 2013. As it turned out, the door was for the Apartment Lounge cocktail bar, and I never saw people there because it opens in the afternoon (oops).

Both on their own are worthy of landmark status, but together, 33 Sheldon becomes a unique spot.

Abraham Lincoln In Grand Rapids

Abraham Lincoln only made one trip to Michigan in his entire life (to deliver an anti-slavery speech in Kalamazoo), but he's made himself quite comfy here in Grand Rapids...in the form of a statue. Located in Lincoln Park next to Grand Rapids' oldest building, there is a seemingly random statue of the 16th president.

Due to its location just outside downtown, this landmark goes under the radar.

The Blue Bridge

Duh, we're including the fittingly named Blue Bridge because it looks cool and offers many things to do. Yoga at sunset, silent discos, wedding photos, graduation photos, and someone else with a camera because of the blue bridge are arguably the most photographed things in the city. But we still love you, BB.