But where did all the rapids go?

Grand Rapids--for nearly 200 thousand people, this is home. We live here, work here, play here; but do we know why our beloved city was given this moniker? And where are all of these alleged grand rapids at, anyway?

As it turns out, the rapids of the Grand River, for which this city was built around and named after, disappeared with the construction of the low-head dam and fish ladder that now occupy our river banks.

However, thanks to the 1969 creation of Alexander Calder's statue "La Grande Vitesse" (which is French for Grand Rapids, or the Great Swiftness), we have an artsy way of remembering the foundations GR was built on.

All this summer the Frederik Meijer Gardens are helping to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this iconic symbol of the city with a special exhibit showcasing Calder's work relating to the statue, such as sketches and blue prints, as well as his other artistic works from 1969.

"La Grande Vitesse" was the first commissioned piece of work from the National Endowment of Works of Art in Public Places program. Painted in his signature "Calder red" color, the elegant and fluid-like sculpture measures fifty-four feet long, forty-three feet high, thirty feet wide, and weighs more than 42 tons. It has become one of the symbols of Grand Rapids, adorning street signs, buildings and letterheads.

The special 40th anniversary celebration of "La Grande Vitesse" will continue until September 7th at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. You can, of course, check out the sculpture itself year round at its location in Calder Plaza on Ottawa, near Michigan St.