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

William "Billy" Durant

The Invitation of a Pioneering Personality

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

1. William "Billy" Durant Marker

Inscription. "Flint is in the center of the automobile industry, a progressive city, good people, with conditions for manufacturing, ideal," wrote William Crapo Durant in 1905, inviting Utica, New York axle-maker Charles Stewart Mott to move here. Durant brought many of the world's industrial pioneers to Flint as he combined Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Oakland (later, Pontiac) to build General Motors into the world's largest automaker. Thousands of automobile manufacturing jobs in Flint were Durant's invitation to workers from around the world. The city's population of 13,000 in 1900 grew to 91,000 by the end of Durant's leadership of General Motors in 1920.

You Auto Know
Billy Durant's grandfather was Henry H. Crapo, a prosperous Flint lumberman who became Michigan's governor in the 1860s.

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 1905.

Location. 43° 0.984′ N, 83° 41.454′ W. Marker is in Flint, Michigan, in Genesee County. Marker is at the intersection of Saginaw Street and East Kearsley Street, on the right when traveling north on Saginaw Street. Touch for map

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. 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. David Dunbar Buick (here, next to this marker); David Buick (here, next to this marker); William C. Durant (here, next to this marker); Charles Stewart Mott (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Charles Stewart Mott (here, next to this marker); Automotive Pioneers (here, next to this marker); Louis Chevrolet (a few steps from this marker); Albert Champion (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Flint.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

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

2. William "Billy" Durant Marker

Marker is right of his statue

William "Billy" Durant image. Click for full size.

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

3. William "Billy" Durant

Inset photo (center) caption: William "Billy" Durant, founder of General Motors. After success in manufacturing horse-drawn vehicles, in 1904 Durant assumed leadership of Buick Motor Company. In 1908 he founded General Motors and soon acquired more than twenty companies including Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Oakland, later known as Pontiac. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.

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

4. William "Billy" Durant Marker

Inset photo (middle left) caption: The Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory, along the river on Water Street. Guided by Durant and partner Josiah Dallas Dort, by 1900 the company became one of the largest producers of horse-drawn vehicles in the United States. Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Archives, Flint.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on September 22, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 20, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.