A Good Time All Around
Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum preserves vintage automobiles and present exhibits that depict their historic and social impact on America.
Bronson Park
Iconic Bronson Park has been the social and political heart of Kalamazoo for nearly two centuries. The park is loved and well-used — a place often referred to as Kalamazoo’s "front porch." From live music and art fairs to food truck rallies and New Year’s celebrations, there’s aways something happening here.
Eclectic Fare
Situated on the bay of beautiful Gull Lake, the Vintage Modern Shop has a bit of everything to make your vintage clothing and home decoration dreams come true. You’ll find a high-end eclectic mix of treasures here.
History
Originally the home of Indigenous peoples of the Hopewell tradition and the Potawatomi tribe, modern Kalamazoo began with the establishment of a trading post in the 18th century during the French-Canadian exploration era. Titus Bronson was the first white settler in the area and named the settlement Bronson. Today, places in town and our own The Fountains at Bronson Place still carry his name.
When the village and then city were incorporated in the 1800s, they were named Kalamazoo after the Potawatomi name of the nearby river, "Kikanamaso." More East Coast settlers were attracted to the area to take advantage of its fertile farmlands, and Kalamazoo became a thriving center for businesses and factories. From paper to guitars to automobiles, industries sprang up to form the foundation for Kalamazoo's economic success that is its trademark today.
