Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Kalamazoo (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Bronson Park, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, and Wings Event Center. Also, be sure to include Chenery Auditorium in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Kalamazoo (Michigan).
Table of Contents
Bronson Park
Bronson Park Historic District is a historic district in Kalamazoo, Michigan, consisting of Bronson Park and the surrounding government, religious, and civic buildings. It is roughly bounded by South Rose, South Park, West Lovell, and West Michigan Avenues. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]
Address: btw South St. & Academy St., 49007 Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is a non-profit art museum and school in downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States.[2]
Address: 435 West South Street, 49007 Kalamazoo
Wings Event Center
Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Wings Event Center is a 5,113-seat multi-purpose arena located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The arena, opened in 1974, is home to the Kalamazoo Wings, an ice hockey team in the ECHL. The stadium changed the name to the Wings Event Center on March 25, 2015 to market the arena's other hosting capabilities to companies and promoters.
The complex features four concession stands and two bars along the concourse, as well as the Underground Sports Bar. The main arena is a part of a sports and convention complex serving southwest Michigan.
As a concert venue, the stadium can seat up to 8,023 spectators; as a convention center it can accommodate 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of trade show and exhibit space. Along with numerous concerts, the stadium has also hosted a number of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events. On April 8, 1992, the facility hosted a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) taping of its Superstars TV show, as well as other shows including Prime Time Wrestling and All American Wrestling. The Superstars episodes later aired on April 18, 1992, with additional episodes airing April 25 and May 2, 1992. The French version of Superstars aired on June 3, 1992. The April 18th edition is notable for being the first usage of the 'Superstars' only title, after the company dropped the previous name 'Superstars of Wrestling'. Meanwhile, the All American Wrestling episode aired April 19, 1992. The Prime Time Wrestling episodes aired April 20, 27 and June 22, 1992. It was at these tapings that The Ultimate Warrior had what would become his first televised match since leaving the WWF the previous year. He defeated Skinner in a bout that would air on the 5/2/92 Superstars.
In 1989, the Valley (formerly known as the Annex), seating 1,367 for hockey and up to 2,850 for other events, was added; it also has 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) of arena floor space and can be used for hockey, curling, trade shows, conventions and other events. It also has a 3,166-square-foot (294 m2) viewing area.
The Zoo (formerly known as the Cube), the third arena in the complex, was added in 1997, and is used for hockey and trade shows; its arena floor also measures 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2), bringing the total exhibit space to 51,000 square feet (4,700 m2). There is also a 5,800-square-foot (540 m2) viewing area at the arena.
The complex has a 2,500-square-foot (230 m2) lobby and a 500-square-foot (46 m2) hospitality room, a separate concession stand and a bar called the Icehouse by Old Burdick's, which overlooks the Annex.[3]
Address: 3600 Vanrick Dr, 49001-0805 Portage
Chenery Auditorium
Kalamazoo's Old Central High School, also known as the Community Education Center, is an educational building located at 714 South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. As of 2019, the building is home to the adult education programs of the Kalamazoo Public Schools. It is also the home of the Chenery Auditorium, one of the performance venues for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.[4]
Address: 714 S. Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is a "hands-on" museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The museum is largely aimed at families, and focuses on science, technology, and history. The museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and admission to the facility is free.
The Museum’s collection dates to an 1881 gift to the Kalamazoo School Board of corals, shells, and rocks from Horace M. Peck, a local banker. In its early years, the Museum acquired natural history specimens, ethnographic materials, and antiquities. Currently, the collection includes over 50,000 items.
The museum has a state-of-the-art, 109-seat planetarium that screens a variety of presentations and programs for school groups and other public audiences.[5]
Address: 230 N Rose St, 49007-5803 Kalamazoo
Richmond Center for Visual Arts
James and Lois Richmond Center for Visual Arts is a visual arts center at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was opened on March 9, 2007 and was dedicated on Thursday, April 12, 2007. Along with Kohrman Hall Studios, the Richmond Center for VIsual Arts houses the Gwen Frostic School of Art.
The Richmond Center for Visual Arts is made up of three galleries on the first floor. These galleries are the Albertine Monroe-Brown Gallery for rotating exhibitions, the Netzorg/Kerr Gallery for special exhibits and showings from the University Art Collection, and the Eleanor R. and Robert A. DeVries Student Art Gallery for student and alumni exhibitions. The Richmond Center for Visual Arts also includes two lecture halls, administration and advising offices, the WMU Design Center, a graphic design classroom and studio space, a small computer lab and a print center.[6]
Address: Western Michigan University, 49008 Kalamazoo
Cathedral of Saint Augustine
Cathedral in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Cathedral of Saint Augustine is a Catholic cathedral and parish church located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It is the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo. The parish was founded in 1856, the present church building was completed in 1951, and it was raised to cathedral status in 1970.[7]
Address: 542 W Michigan Ave, 49007-3799 Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Community college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a public community college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was established in 1966 by the overwhelming approval of voters in nine local school districts. It enrolls about 10,000 students. Kalamazoo Valley offers certificate programs in more than 20 areas of study and associate degrees in 25 others.[8]
Address: 6767 W O Ave, 49009 Kalamazoo
Western Michigan University
Public university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Western Michigan University is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo. Its enrollment, as of the Fall 2019 semester, was 21,470. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
The university's athletic teams compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are known as the Western Michigan Broncos. They compete in the Mid-American Conference for most sports.[9]
Address: 1903 West Michigan Ave, 49008 Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo College
Liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college founded in 1833 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The college campus is located immediately east of Western Michigan University. The school was founded by American Baptist ministers, but today it maintains no religious affiliation.
Kalamazoo College is a member of the Great Lakes Colleges Association. It is listed in Loren Pope's Colleges That Change Lives. In 2012, Forbes rated it 65th of America's Best Colleges, the highest ranked private college in Michigan. It was historically known as a leading producer of Peace Corps volunteers among small liberal arts colleges.[10]
Address: 1200 Academy St, Kalamazoo
Markin Glen County Park
Park, Relax in park
Address: 5300 North Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo
Henderson Castle
Home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Henderson Castle, built in 1895, is a large privately owned home located on the steep West Main Hill overlooking downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. The castle has been recently renovated and is under new ownership. The building is open to the public.[11]
Address: 100 Monroe St, Kalamazoo
State Theater
Theatre. The State Theatre also known as the Kalamazoo State Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan was designed by renowned architect John Eberson and built by founder Colonel William Butterfield in 1927. The Kalamazoo State is one of the very few remaining atmospheric picture palaces still intact. It currently remains in operation today as the main performance hall for musicians, comedian, and other live entertainment in the Kalamazoo area. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[12]
Address: Kalamazoo, 404 S Burdick St,, MI 49007
Fetzer Center
Conference center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The John E. Fetzer Center is a conference center and special events facility at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. It was opened in 1983 and named for the radio pioneer and Detroit Tigers owner John Fetzer. The facility’s lounge and exhibition area features a display of Fetzer’s life and accomplishments.
The Fetzer Center is a multi usage full service center with on-site catering and videoconferencing capabilities. Meeting rooms include the 250-seat Kirsch Auditorium and the 90-seat Putney Lecture Hall, as well as seven additional meeting rooms. The Fetzer Center also has a 280-person capacity banquet hall as well as an outdoor patio and deck that are also used for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
The Fetzer Center is the location for several social engagements for Western Michigan University faculty, staff, and students. The Fetzer Center hosts an annual Champagne Brunch for graduates and their families and a holiday luncheon with Santa for faculty, staff and their families, and Kalamazoo-area residents. The facility is open to both University and non-University events.[13]
Address: Western Michigan University (WMU), 49008 Kalamazoo
Ladies Library Association Building
The Ladies Library Association Building in Kalamazoo, Michigan was the first building erected as a women's club in the United States. It was also the country's first structure owned by a women's organization. It was built in 1879 by funds raised by the Ladies' Library Association of Kalamazoo.[14]
Alonzo T. Prentice House
The Alonzo T. Prentice House is a single-family home located at 839 West Lovell Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[15]
The Oaklands
The Oaklands is a bed and breakfast owned by Western Michigan University, located at 1815 West Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[16]
Illinois Envelope Co. Building
The Illinois Envelope Co. Building is a former industrial structure located at 400 Bryant Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2018, the building became the home of the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department.[17]
Henry Gilbert House
The Henry Gilbert House is a single-family home located at 415 West Lovell in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[18]
The Marlborough
The Marlborough is an apartment building located at 471 West South Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[19]