The bicentennial celebration of the United States has given Americans a good opportunity to celebrate local history and heritage as well as major historical events. Therefore, part of the celebration of Holland, Michigan, fittingly centers upon the life of Albertus C. Van Raalte who died one hundred years ago today on November 7, 1876. The name of Van Raalte is fairly familiar to the city of Holland, Michigan. One avenue is named after him. Van Raalte descendants live in the city so the family name is still with us. On the Hope College Campus, his name is affixed to the administration building--Van Raalte Hall. Yet one hundred years after his death, most people do not know much about him or of his continuing influence. Although four biographies have been written on his life, Van Raalte's impact needs to be reviewed and reevaluated if we are to gain a good understanding of the history of Holland, Michigan, the history of Hope College, the history of the settlement of the Dutch in Michigan, and the histories of two denominations, the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America.