As Sloan Museum renovates and expands, every aspect of its 25-year-old static history exhibits will be re-imagined in an interactive and immersive style. While the story of Flint’s industrial history will remain a central theme of the exhibits, the cultural revolution that accompanied the transition from carriage-making to car-making in Flint will be re-interpreted through a lens of inclusion and justice. Flint stories and Flint people will take the spotlight in the new Carriage to Car exhibits, with community involvement central to the exhibit development process.

“This generous grant from the Margaret Dunning foundation will help us tell dynamic stories about Flint’s early automotive history,” Sloan Museum Executive Director Todd Slisher said. “Visitors will learn not only about the emerging car industry and its leaders, but also about the people who worked in the factories and their communities.”

With the community’s input, approximately 3,000 square feet of dynamic history exhibits will explore industrial stories, beginning with logging, next carriage-making, then car manufacturing. Using interactive exhibits and real historical artifacts and vehicles, visitors will be able to step back in time and witness the birth of Flint’s auto industry.

In addition, Sloan Museum has received a grant of $4,000 from the Margaret Dunning Foundation to support the maintenance of its collection of over 100 historic vehicles. This grant was used to purchase Go-Jaks, a set of four vehicle dollies, which allow staff to transport vehicles with less chance of damage.

About Sloan Museum
Together with partner organization Longway Planetarium, Sloan Museum inspires our community to discover science and history through engaging learning experiences. Sloan Museum of Discovery will open in late 2021 with new, fully interactive science and history exhibits. Sloan Museum is a member organization of the Flint Cultural Center Corporation. Follow Sloan Museum on Facebook and Instagram @SloanMuseum.

About the Margaret Dunning Foundation
The Margaret Dunning Foundation was founded by Ms. Dunning in 1997. She was born in 1910 in Redford Township, Michigan, and moved with her mother to Plymouth, Michigan in the 1920s. During her lifetime, Ms. Dunning was a successful business woman, philanthropist and civic booster. She was a major supporter of many Plymouth nonprofits, including the Plymouth District Library and the Plymouth Historical Society. In addition to her personal philanthropy, Ms. Dunning was a classic car enthusiast and was a regular participant in the Woodward Dream Cruise with her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster.

Ms. Dunning died in 2015 at the age of 104. Her estate provided additional funding for the Margaret Dunning Foundation, which continues to support her charitable interests and legacy. For more information: www.margaretdunningfdn.org.