Situated along the west bank of the Grand River, the two-story triangular shaped museum is a tribute to 40th President, and former Grand Rapids resident, Gerald R. Ford. Completed in 1981, the exterior of the building features fountains and a reflecting pool that accent the 300-foot glass wall which offers panoramic views of the river and city skyline.

The museum hosts both permanent and traveling exhibits, and the main exhibition floor is devoted to the life and career of Ford, as well as the office of president itself. Ford took over as President in 1974 after Nixon's resignation due to Watergate, and the museum features an entire section about the scandal which includes some of the actual tools used in the burglary of the documents. Other exhibits include full scale replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, gifts presented by heads of state and foreign dignitaries, an authentic helicopter from the Vietnam War and the actual staircase that sat atop the U.S. Embassy in Saigon when it fell to Communist North Vietnam. The museum's website has made available some of the permanent past temporary exhibits online, and the facility hosts frequent educational programs throughout the year, and special Christmas events each winter.