GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Clapp Family Mastodon exhibit will open to the public at the Grand Rapids Public Museum on September 11.
This comes three years after a construction crew discovered the 13-thousand-year-old bones in Kent City on the Clapps' property. The fossils were then donated to the museum.
Visitors on the main floor of the museum will be able to watch the exhibit being assembled ahead of the grand opening.
Here are more details from the GRPM news release:
Visitors will be able to see the exhibit progress in real time. A fully articulated 3D-printed model will soon stand on the Museum’s first floor beside select real bones for West Michigan to enjoy.
The exhibit will open to the public on September 11. Those who attend the Museum from now to the grand opening will be able to witness the progress on the main floor firsthand, getting a unique glimpse into the exhibit construction process, from the installation of graphics to the assembly of the skeleton.
“It’s gratifying to have this specimen right here in Grand Rapids for research, education, and enjoyment,” said Dale Robertson, President and CEO of the GRPM. “We’re honored that the Clapp family entrusted us to preserve and share this unique specimen with the community for generations to come.”
On August 11, 2022, the Busscher Construction crew uncovered bones while working on a large drainage project. They contacted the GRPM and the University of Michigan for confirmation of the find. Shortly thereafter, the mastodon bones were excavated by a team of GRPM and University of Michigan staff led by the GRPM’s Science Curator, Dr. Cory Redman.
The mastodon was named after the family who owned the land where the bones were found. Michael and Courtney Clapp generously donated the bones to the Grand Rapids Public Museum to ensure they stayed close to home and that many West Michiganders would be able to view and study this fascinating find.
For a year and a half after the bones were extracted from their muddy resting place, they dried in the Museum's Collections. With partners at the University of Michigan, the Museum has studied and conserved the bones. They discovered the mastodon was a remarkably complete specimen with around 130 bones, or 70% recovered. It was a juvenile, around 10 years old, when it died 13,210 years ago.
A team from Research Casting International was brought in to scan each bone individually with incredible detail for 3-D printing. The 3-D printed bones will be arranged into a complete, articulated skeleton. Mounting would damage the real bones, so this highly accurate model leaves them protected for further study. Select original bones will be on display beside the model.
Through the exhibit, visitors will discover details in the skeleton that helped researchers determine the mastodon’s age and environment. Plaques will educate guests on the differences between mastodons and mammoths, two species that are often confused for one another, but bear striking differences. Guests can also discover species that lived in the same time and place, giving them a better picture of ancient Michigan.
Just after the Mastodon exhibit opens, a traveling exhibit featuring something even bigger will be stomping into the Museum on October 11. Follow our socials to see the official announcement on September 2, 2025.
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Grand Rapids Public Museum
The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a 170-year-old, publicly-owned institution home to more than 250,000 unique artifacts that tell the history of Kent County and beyond. Funded in part by Kent County taxpayers through a 10-year millage (2016), the Grand Rapids Public Museum offers three floors of exhibits, the region’s only planetarium, extensive educational offerings, and protection of The Mounds, a National Historic Landmark. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, with its primary location in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees including Kent County discounts, and exhibit/event listings, visit grpm.org.