Flint in Genesee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Durant And Dort
Flint's Blue Ribbon Team
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 18, 2021
1. Durant And Dort Marker
William Crapo Durant and Josiah Dallas Dort transformed the small Flint Road Cart Company into the giant Durant-Dort Carriage Company. The company's vast production helped make Flint one of the world's largest carriage manufacturers. Its main factory and office building are nearby along Water Street.
Durant and Dort had plans. To control the cost of their carriages and wagons, they had to control their suppliers. So they acquired factories to produce parts and paints, and bought forestland to provide quality wood. To produce vehicles for a variety of customers, they created a variety of companies from the high-end Diamond Buggy to the more affordable Webster Carriage. Durant used these strategies again in 1908 when he founded General Motors Corporation.
You Auto Know
Durant-Dort Carriage Company provided much of the early financial backing for Buick, General Motors, and Chevrolet.
Erected by Motorcities National Heritage Area, National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 43° 1.032′ N,
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Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Nash And Chrysler (a few steps from this marker); Flint Road Cart Factory / Durant-Dort Carriage Factory No. 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); William C. Durant / Durant-Dort Carriage Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles W. Nash (within shouting distance of this marker); Bold Moves (within shouting distance of this marker); "Billy" Durant (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); W. C. Billy Durant (about 300 feet away);
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 18, 2021
2. Durant And Dort Marker
Left side photo: Durant-Dort Carriage Company sold its popular "Blue Ribbon Vehicles" at expositions. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.
Inset photo: 1904 Durant-Dort catalog. Photo courtesy of the Sloan Museum, Flint.
Inset photo: 1904 Durant-Dort catalog. Photo courtesy of the Sloan Museum, Flint.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 18, 2021
3. Durant And Dort Marker
Lower Photo (left): Durant-Dort Carriage Company executives, 1896. Front row (l to r): A.B.C. Hardy, William C. Orrell. Middle row (L to r) Billy Durant, J. Dallas Dort, Fred Aldrich. Back row (l to r): James Slocum, Charles Wesson, Charles Webster. Many Durant-Dart executives would enter the automotive industry in later years. Photo courtesy of the Sloan Museum, Flint.
Lower photo (right): The Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory, alon the river on Water Street. Photo courtesy of Kettering University Archives, Flint.
Lower photo (right): The Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory, alon the river on Water Street. Photo courtesy of Kettering University Archives, Flint.
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 18, 2021
4. Durant And Dort Marker
Top photo: William Crapo Durant (left) and Josiah Dallas Dort (right). Photo courtesy of the Kettering Archives, Flint.
Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, August 18, 2021
5. Durant And Dort Marker
Marker in front of Factory One, site of their original factory.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 596 times since then and 75 times this year. Last updated on September 22, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 20, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
