Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
17 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
18 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
18 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
18 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Michigan Wyoming Grand Rapids Gypsum Mines

Grand Rapids Gypsum Mines

These sprawling mines once served as a source of plaster and today serve as a storage facility.

Wyoming, Michigan

Added By
Daniel P.
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  http://www.isp-planet.com/profiles/2001/us...
  http://www.isp-planet.com/profiles/2001/us...
  http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/multime...
  http://www.isp-planet.com/profiles/2001/us...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Gypsum mining was once a major industry in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

Mining began in 1841, with an open quarry and a mill on Plaster Creek, where it enters the Grand River. Other quarries and later underground mines were started later on the other side of the river, roughly at the location of today's Millennium Park.

The gypsum was ground to make a soil treatment called land plaster, and later was used to make both plaster and drywall. The industry is the source of some local place names, including Plaster Creek and Paris, Michigan, named for the plaster of Paris manufactured from gypsum.

However, the mines became obsolete when air-pollution controlling technology installed on coal-burning facilities provided an alternative source of gypsum.

Even when mining was still active, the underground tunnels were re-used. Mushrooms were grown in the tunnels, using manure from the draft horses used in the mines.

Although the mines are not active, they now serve as secure dry storage, almost 100 feet below the cities of Wyoming and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Underground Security Company stores microfilm records in the mine, including 70% of Michigan's counties legal records. A different mine was somewhat famously used as a digital data center, and is now closed. A golf course named "The Mines" is located above one group of gypsum mines.

There has been a downside to the gypsum mining in Michigan however, as in the 1990s a section of US 131 freeway in Grand Rapids was found to be sinking as a result of the gypsum mining. A new route was built, which avoided the unstable land.

Related Tags

Subterranean Sites

Community Contributors

Added By

Sculptor

Published

July 8, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • www.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/gypsummining.html
  • http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/08/photos_rare_tour_of_undergroun.html
Grand Rapids Gypsum Mines
Natural Storage
1200 Judd Ave SW
Wyoming, Michigan, 49509
United States
42.940995, -85.699032
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tanglefoot Building

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

'Waiting for the Grwost'

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

'Grwostlaven'

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Michigan

Michigan

United States

Places 271
Stories 29

Nearby Places

Tanglefoot Building

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

'Waiting for the Grwost'

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

'Grwostlaven'

Grand Rapids, Michigan

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Michigan

Michigan

United States

Places 271
Stories 29

Related Places

  • Alexandria, Egypt

    Sister Library of Alexandria

    Underneath the Serapeum ruins lies a dark passage with nooks for books, the lesser-known “sister” to the famous ancient library.

  • The sector operations room.

    Valletta, Malta

    Lascaris War Rooms

    Both the World War II Allied Forces and NATO have used this modern bunker underneath Malta’s capital.

  • Inside the cave

    Taşkuyu, Turkey

    Taşkuyu Mağarası (Taskuyu Cave)

    This 470-meter-long dripstone cave was discovered by chance in 2006.

  • Inside the underground mosque of Shakpak-Ata.

    Ashchimuryn, Kazakhstan

    Shakpak-Ata

    A remote, centuries-old underground mosque with a lunar aesthetic.

  • Minnetonka Cave.

    Saint Charles, Idaho

    Minnetonka Cave

    Idaho’s largest, deepest limestone cave is known for its quirky rock formations and bat population.

  • Tham Nang Ene Cave lit up with colorful neon lights.

    Xiangliab, Laos

    Tham Nang Ene Cave

    Mythological depictions of Laos’ national animal make this cave sacred.

  • Stalactites in King Solomon’s Cave

    Liena, Australia

    King Solomon's Cave

    A limestone cave filled with impressive formations in Mole Creek Karst National Park.

  • Impressive hallways

    Tuzluca, Turkey

    Tuzluca Salt Mines

    A former salt mine is now a cool picnic spot for families and asthmatics.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.