Committed to Preserving Our Past

-Genesee county Historical Society

Upcoming Events

Saturday, July 13th
Time:  Refer to Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center Schedule

This year, Durant-Dort Carriage Co Headquarters will participate as a hosting venue for the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" event.  
The presentation will be "A Survey of 1940-70 Flint Modern".    

Tickets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center.

Durant-Dort Carriage Co Headquarters
316 Water Street, Flint

Click here to see more...

Saturday, August 17, 2019
11:00 p.m.

America and the world were irrevocably changed by the actions of a small band of innovators, entrepreneurs, and business and engineering virtuosos, and at least one bona fide genius, all operating out of a non-descript, midwestern city...

​During Back to the Bricks; other dates TBD
Presenter:  Gary L.Fisher
​Public is welcome. 
​ 
Durant-Dort Carriage Co Headquarters
316 Water Street, Flint 

Click here to learn more...

Saturday, August 17, 2019
Buildings open 8am-4pm

Every year during Flint's Back to the Bricks festival, the Buicktown Chapter of the Buick Club of America hosts a "show within a show" featuring Buicks in all their glory, right on Water Street, between General Motors Factory One and The Durant-Dort Carriage Company Headquarters.  That's right, in the exact location where General Motors first began producing automobiles!  Both buildings  celebrate by opening their doors to the public so folks can tour where General Motors founder, William C. "Billy" Durant held his office, and where the first Buicks were built.  There will be guided tours available (times TBD), some self-guided tours, and programs offered throughout the day.  Join us in the celebration!
​Open to the public.
Durant-Dort Carriage Co Headquarters
316 Water Street, Flint

Click here to learn more...

What We've been up to lately

Capital Theatre's barton organ

The Annual Heritage Dinner was held at the Flint Institute of Music (FIM), followed by a demonstration of the Barton Organ,
​formerly of the historic Capital Theatre,
now housed at the FIM.  
Performance by Dr. Quincy Oad Dobbs.

Back to the Bricks

The 2018 Buicks on the Bricks, a part of the Back to  the Bricks celebration, was another resounding success!  Buicks are displayed in front of the Durant-Dort Carriage Company Headquarters, and line all down Water Street.  Tours and video and live presentations at the Durant-Dort Carriage Factory Headquarters were available to the public throughout the event.

boys under the hood

There was standing room only for the telling of the fascinating, true story of Flint's Auto Heritage presented by Gary L. Fisher, during the Back to the Bricks celebration.  The presentation links the past to the present, showing how relevant history is to today's current events.

Past Events:

March 21, 2019:  Lecture on the Saginaw Trail
Presenter - Leslie K. Pielack, author of "The Saginaw Trail: From Native American Path to Woodward Avenue"
Location:  Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

February 28, 2019:  Sloan Museum Renovation Presentation
Presenter - Todd Slisher, Sloan Museum Director
Location - Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

January 30, 2019:  Book Signing and Lecture
Lawrence R. Gustin, author of "Billy Durant: Creator of General Motors", "David Buick's Marvelous Motorcar"
Kim Crawford, author of "The Daring Trader"
Location:  Totem Books

August 16-18, 2018:  Back to the Bricks Tours
"The Boys Under the Hood" Presentation
Presenter:  Gary L. Fisher
Location:  Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

May 5, 2018:  Annual Preservation Workshop
Location - Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building
View Invitation

APR 19, 2018:  Lecture on Flint UAW Sit Down Strike
Genesee County Historical Society
Location - Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

OCT 2, 2017:  Window Restoration Workshop
Genesee County Historical Society
Location - Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

NOV 5, 2017:  Preservation Workshop
Genesee County Historical Society
Location - Durant-Dort Carriage Co. Headquarters Building

SEP 21, 2017: Genesee County Historical Bus Tour
Sep 21, 2012 - Sep 22, 2012  Genesee County Historical Society

MAY 10, 2017:  Genesee Country Historical Society Heritage Dinner
Location:  Flint Institute of Music 

APR 19, 2017:  David Buick's Marvelous Motorcar
Thu 7:00 PM PDT 

MAR 15, 2017:  Women and Their Bright Ideas
Thu 7:00 PM PDT · Kettering University

FEB 16, 2017:  Floating Vengeance: The World War II Japanese Balloon Attack on Michigan
Thu 7:00 PM PST · Mott Community College - RTC

JAN 19:  The Flint Symphony Orchestra: 90 Years of Music
Thu 7:00 PM PST 

OCT 6:  The Year of the Bray
Thu 6:00 PM PDT ·  Flint Institute of Arts

MAY 26:  Genesee County Historical Society Heritage Dinner
Thu 5:30 PM PDT