Flint in Genesee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Vehicle City Arches

Brightening Downtown Flint

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

1. Vehicle City Arches Marker

Inscription. They made a statement in lights and steel. In 1899, gas lamps in downtown Flint were replaced with electric lights mounted on five steel arches spanning Saginaw Street. In 1905 two more arches were added, including one with the letter "FLINT - VEHICLE CITY" to honor the city as the world's largest volume manufacturer of horse-drawn carriages. The words also suggested Flint's early confidence in its automobile industry that already was changing the city and the world.

Arches have returned to Saginaw Street. The new arches you see here have been installed through a partnership of the Flint Stewardship Community of MotorCities National Heritage Area and the Genesee County Historical Society ARCH Committee.

You Auto Know
The new arches light up a half hour before dusk and turn off a half hour after sunrise.

"The arch system is one of the most modern and useful as well as the most beautiful mode of illumination."
-Wolverine Citizen, December 2, 1899

Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 43° 0.972′ N, 83° 41.446′ W. Marker is in

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Flint, Michigan, in Genesee County. Marker is on Saginaw Street near East Kearsley Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 116 E Kearsley St, Flint MI 48502, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Wood And Metal (here, next to this marker); Charles Stewart Mott (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Charles Stewart Mott (a few steps from this marker); David Buick (a few steps from this marker); William "Billy" Durant (a few steps from this marker); David Dunbar Buick (within shouting distance of this marker); William C. Durant (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank of Flint (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flint.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

2. Vehicle City Arches Marker

It is the marker on the left.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

3. Vehicle City Arches Marker

Inset photo(Bottom Center) caption: A variety of vehicles are present in the streets of the Vehicle City ini this 1910 view of Flint. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.

Original arch showing the Flint Vehicle City moniker.

Vehicle City Arch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, July 26, 2021

4. Vehicle City Arch

View of modern version of arch taken from this historical marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 21, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.