Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday in Flint & Genesee: Automotive Heritage

At the dawning of the automotive age, Flint was an integral part of an industry about to change the world. The Vehicle City was a focal point in the evolution of transportation beyond traditional means, with its dominance in carriage-making through the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. This was just the beginning of a story that is written throughout all of Genesee County. If you are interested in revisiting that history, there is plenty to do and see.

Back to the Bricks Automotive Heritage Statues pay tribute to local pioneers of the auto industry. In downtown Flint, you’ll find Pioneer Plaza, with several statues gathered where the heart of the Back to the Bricks main event beats. You’ll find David Buick, “Billy” Durant, Louis Chevrolet, Albert Champion, and Charles Stewart Mott. At the corners of Court & Saginaw Streets, you’ll find Otto P. Graff, and at Bishop International Airport, you can find statues of Walter P. Chrysler, Charles W. Nash, and Rosie the Riveter. Also near downtown, you’ll find statues of J. Dallas Dort and William Durant overlooking the water near General Motors Factory One and the Durant-Dort Carriage Company Headquarters. Find more information about the heritage statues on the Back to the Bricks website.

The UAW Sitdowners Monument Park pays tribute to the historic strike that lasted from 1936 to 1937. The monument recreates a historical moment that remains powerful today. There are two monuments on display, one a tribute to the Women’s Brigade, and the other represents male workers waiting for the strike to end. You’ll find the park at 1940 W. Atherton Road, in Flint.

For a glimpse into some of the cars that came out of Flint, and to learn more about the area’s automotive history, you can head to Sloan Museum of Discovery. When you visit the Durant Vehicle Gallery, you’ll find a featured concept vehicle, can check out the community car exhibit, and try the distracted driving simulator.  

To look deeper into the area’s history, you can make an appointment to dig into the archives at GM Factory One, where thousands of historical documents and photos are stored.

And if you are looking to relive your cruising days, make your way to Flushing to visit the Flushing-A, where you can order and eat in your car when you use their drive-in ordering, or head inside to sit down and enjoy the classic décor. From there, you can hit the road and cruise through downtown Flushing, then head toward Flint and cruise Saginaw Street before heading for Fenton Road and the U.S.-23 Drive-In to catch a movie as they did back in the day.

Flint & Genesee is rich with history, and for automotive enthusiasts, there is plenty to see and do. For more ideas, head over to the Explore Flint & Genesee website.