Grand Rapids Public Museum unearths 7,000-pound artifact during excavation project

The Grand Rapids Public Museum has had a historical artifact on its grounds for years, but they didn't know it. It was hiding, buried in the dirt.

On Tuesday, as construction crews churned up dirt on the museum's south lawn during an expansion project, they found a 7,000-pound centrifugal pump in the ground, which tells stories about Michigan's hydroelectric history.

The pump previously belonged to the Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Co., which operated on land now owned by the museum. Operations for the company first began in 1880, and it soon became the first hydroelectric company to power street lights and private businesses in the world. According to the museum, the company operated along the Grand River in that location until 1956, when it was outpaced by Consumers Energy.

The massive pump discovered Tuesday was likely used to continuously generate hydroelectricity along the Grand River, as early as the 19th century. In a news release, the museum said they are working to salvage the artifact and display it in the museum to continue telling stories of local history.

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This isn't the first time the museum has uncovered the history beneath them. Earlier this year, remnants of turbines and a flume from the Voigt Mill — which also harvested power from the Grand River — were dug up on the opposite side of the lawn.

Dale Robertson, the president and CEO of the museum, said, “Discovering historic remnants of the industry along the Grand River during our expansion construction is both exciting and enlightening."

The discoveries are part of a large expansion project the museum has undertaken as a part of Grand Rapids' Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan. The plan aims to connect nature trails with the riverfront while expanding the museum to include more exhibits and landscape displays on their riverfront lawn. The project is set to be completed in 2025.

Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Grand Rapids Public Museum unearths 7,000-pound artifact during excavation project