Life In Flint
Flint started with humble beginnings in 1819 as a trading post and later became known as a “carriage” town which soon grew into the birthplace of the automobile. Wherever you look in the downtown Flint area, you’ll be reminded of the leaders who built the automotive industry including Charles Stewart Mott, Alfred P. Sloan, William C. Durant, J. Dallas Dort and others. From historical homes to museums to art collections and estates, you’ll learn how these influential leaders shaped our community.
The arts are alive in downtown Flint! The Flint Cultural Center (FCC) is home to a group of nationally-recognized cultural institutions aimed at furthering the arts, sciences and humanities and anchors the downtown area. In addition, downtown Flint weaves together the talents and inspiration of local and international artists, visual and performing arts, museums, art galleries and theatre. As a student at UM-Flint, you are less than 10 minutes away from the FCC and a variety of shops, restaurants, and an efficient public transportation system.
The Crim Festival of Races brings racing enthusiasts from all over the world “to the bricks” in downtown Flint every August. In addition, the downtown area provides a scenic riverfront trail from Riverbank Park through the University of Michigan-Flint campus past the Flint Farmers’ Market to Kearsley Park and the Flint Cultural Center. Organized biking and walking events bring residents to downtown Flint as well as the social and sporting events held at Kearsley Park, one of the city’s oldest parks.
