East Beltline in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin University
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, February 16, 2025
1. Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin University Marker
Both of these schools are institutions of the Christian Reformed Church, which was founded in 1857 by Dutch immigrants whose religious roots lay in the Calvinist Reformation. The seminary began in 1876 in an upper room of a school building on Williams Street. It moved to Madison Avenue in 1892 and Franklin Street in 1917. Calvin College emerged from its preparatory-school attachment to the seminary in 1920 and became a four-year, degree-granting institution. This campus, Knollcrest Farm, was acquired in 1956. In 2019 the college became a university. These related schools emphasize liberal arts and theological education as they prepare youth for the service of God.
Erected 2022 by Michigan Historical Commission and Michigan History Center. (Marker Number S228.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Immigration • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 42° 55.762′ N, 85° 35.23′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in East Beltline. It is on Knollcrest Circle Southeast near Knollcrest Drive, on the right when traveling
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in West Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ramona Park (approx. 1.9 miles away); Thrifty Acres (approx. 2½ miles away); Shrine of Our Lady War Dead Memorial (approx. 2.9 miles away); Holmdene (approx. 3 miles away); Aquinas College (approx. 3.1 miles away); Mathias Alten Home & Studio / Mathias Alten (approx. 3.2 miles away); Boy Scout Troop 15 / Eagle Scout Gerald "Junior" Ford (approx. 3.4 miles away); Benjamins-Spring House (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Rapids.
Also see . . . Calvin University. Excerpt:
Calvin University, formerly Calvin College, is a private Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition. Known as Calvin College for most of its history, the school is named after John Calvin, the 16th-century Protestant Reformer.(Submitted on February 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, February 16, 2025
2. Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin University Marker
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, February 16, 2025
3. Calvin University
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, February 16, 2025
4. John Calvin
This is on the library near the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 235 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 16, 2025, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
