In 1897, immigrants who established Holland, MI, collected objects from the “Old Country”. It was the year of Holland’s Semi-Centennial and as part of the celebration community leaders built a log cabin and filled it with the relics. It was the first “museum” in Holland and was built in the tradition of cabinets-of-curiosities. Sadly, the artifacts were returned to their owners and the cabin was torn down. Forty years later a more permanent museum was organized in rented quarters. It wasn’t until 1988, when the original post office became available, that the “museum” was moved into the building that is now recognized as the Holland Museum today. (Lefever, Joel. A Widening Focus: The Holland Museum’s Collections & Exhibitions. 1997, Yearbook of the Openluchtmuseum, pp.1-2).

Opening on August 10, Cabinets of Curiosities: Origins of the Modern Museum will display unique and possibly never before seen objects from the Museum’s archives. The exhibit will also discuss the evolution of Museum