The Kalamazoo Valley Museum describes itself as a "participatory museum of history, science, and technology." History-related permanent exhibits emphasize local history.

The museum offers planetarium shows (including "Sky Legends of the Three Fires"), film screenings, self-guided tours, and 20-min. walk-in history demonstrations, as well as hands-on, in-museum workshops. As of April 22, 2010, social-studies-relevant workshops included "Secrets in the Sky, Secrets on the Ground: The Story of the Underground Railroad in Michigan," "Three Fires Native Americans," "Geography," and "Pioneer Life."