Our city of Flint, MI traces its origins to a fur trader called Jacob Smith who settled here in 1819. We’ve grown much larger in the last 203 years, and we’re now the seat of Genesee County. Our area is filled with history, and we’ve collected as much as possible to preserve it for the future. These are three of our best museums.
Flint Institute of Arts
This museum was founded in 1928 and moved to its present location thirty years later. The building is very large, with 25,000 sq. ft. of gallery space and a total area of over 160,000 sq. ft. The art collection covers over 5,000 years of history, including Native American art, Japanese paintings, Classical European art, and contemporary American artwork. They also have a very impressive glass collection from around the world.
The museum features regular exhibitions on specific genres. There’s also a gift shop with excellent souvenirs, and art classes are also available at the museum for budding artists. The Institute is located at 1120 E Kearsley Street and is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Flint Children’s Museum
Young children don’t usually enjoy museums, but this one is rather special. Its devoted entirely to children, and the exhibits and dioramas are very educational. The museum’s founder was a teacher who was dedicated to her young students. This fine tradition has continued, and the museum and its numbers of visitors have grown over the last 40 years.
The museum is entirely interactive, as it’s the best way to capture a child’s attention. Different sections focus on health, transportation, how things work, and performing arts. The children are guided and watched over by trained educators. Daily educational events are held, and you can also get a membership for your child. The museum can be found at 1602 University Avenue and is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Whaley House Museum
Robert J Whaley was the president of Citizens National Bank. While many visitors have never heard of him, he is remembered for providing a loan to William C Durant. William Durant would use the loan to find General Motors. As the house of a bank president, it was designed and built with the latest conveniences and best technology of the 1880s. The house is decorated with original furniture and finishings, allowing you to see the life of a well-to-do family in the 1880s.
Other memorabilia include original baseball uniforms for a team sponsored by the bank in the 1870s. The staff are very knowledgeable and have a wide range of interesting anecdotes about the family and the house. This museum is located at 624 E Kearsley Street.
Now you know some of our fascinating past, come and visit us today at Randy Wise Chevrolet. We’ve been your trusted dealer in Flint since 1989.
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