Founded as a fur trade hub in 1819, Flint is now one of the most important cities in central Michigan. It evolved into a major timber town along the Saginaw Trail before being nicknamed “Vehicle City” for its manufacture of carriages and cars. Flint is perhaps most famous as the birthplace of General Motors, which was founded here in 1908.
Things to do in Flint
Set within the Flint Cultural Center is the Sloan Museum of Discovery, which comprises four galleries filled with interactive exhibitions. You can get hands-on in the earth sciences hall or learn about the history of Genesee County before getting up close to rare and vintage vehicles manufactured in the area.
Flint is home to one of the largest museum art schools in the United States, the Flint Institute of Art. It houses an impressive collection of European and American paintings dating from the 15th century to the modern day, as well as sculptural works and decorative objects from around the globe. The Flint Institute of Arts also hosts workshops, art classes and studio demonstrations for a more hands-on experience.
A short drive north of Flint is Crossroads Village, an open-air, living history museum clustered with 19th-century buildings. Admire the oldest operating gristmill in Michigan and step inside a recreated general store before enjoying a cruise on the “Genesee Bell” paddlewheel steamboat. Crossroads Village is also the departure point for the narrow-gauge Huckleberry Railroad, which chugs along the shores of Mott Lake.
Getting around Flint
Bishop International Airport is around 10 minutes’ drive from the centre of Flint and has flights to destinations across the United States. Trains connecting along Amtrak’s Blue Water line stop at the Flint railway station while a network of buses travels throughout the city.