Crossroads Village (Michigan) facts for kids
| Established | July 4, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Location | Genesee Township, Michigan, US |
| Type | Living museum |
| Owner | Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission |
Crossroads Village is a fun living history museum in Genesee County, Michigan, close to Flint. It's like stepping back in time! The Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission runs it, along with the Huckleberry Railroad. It first opened in 1976 as a historical village.
The village has 34 old buildings, many from the 1800s. You can also find exciting amusement rides here. There's a cool narrow-gauge railroad and a replica paddlewheel steamboat. Crossroads Village also hosts many special events and festivals all year long. You can find it at 6140 Bray Road in Genesee Township.
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Discovering Crossroads Village History
The idea for Crossroads Village started a long time ago. In 1950, the city of Flint planned a fun area along the Flint River. Later, in 1965, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation offered money to buy land. This led to Genesee County forming its Parks and Recreation Commission in 1966.
People wanted to save old buildings as the county grew. So, they decided to move donated historical buildings to this new area. A farm museum was also planned. Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad officially opened on July 4, 1976.
In 2018, the Sloan Auto Fair moved here from the Flint Cultural Center. This happened because the Flint Institute of Arts was expanding.
In 2020, the park had to delay its summer opening. This was due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the first time since 1976 that the park couldn't open on time.
What to See and Do at Crossroads Village
Crossroads Village has 34 buildings, many of which are old buildings from the 1800s. You can explore Michigan's oldest working gristmill here. There's also a barbershop, a blacksmith shop, a cider mill, and a general store. Some buildings were moved from other towns, like the T.N. North and Son Bank from Vassar. The town hall came from Clayton Township.
The village also has fun amusement rides. You can ride the narrow-gauge Huckleberry Railroad. Or take a trip on the replica paddlewheel steamboat Genesee Bell. Both the train and the boat travel along Mott Lake.
The amusement rides include a CW Parker Superior Wheel, which is a Ferris wheel built in 1910. There's also a Charles W. Parker Carousel from 1912. You can also enjoy Venetian swings and pony carts. The carousel was built in Leavenworth, Kansas. It was in California for 30 years before coming to Michigan. Crossroads Village got it in 1983 with help from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. In 2010, Michigan History magazine called the carousel the "happiest place in Genesee County."
Riding the Huckleberry Railroad
The Huckleberry Railroad is a special narrow-gauge train. It runs from Crossroads Village along Mott Lake. The tracks used to be part of the Pere Marquette Railway. The railroad has 11 wooden passenger cars and a caboose. It also has two cool steam locomotives. One is former Alaska Railroad #152, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The other is former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad #464.
Exciting Events at the Village
Crossroads Village hosts many fun events throughout the year. Students and teachers can enjoy 19th-century "school days" field trips at Stanley Schoolhouse, which dates back to 1883. There's an annual Labor Day picnic and parade. You can also experience a Railfans Weekend.
The village celebrates Halloween and Christmas with special festivities. Since 2006, you can even enjoy "Day out with Thomas" train rides! Since 2018, the Sloan Museum Auto Fair is also held here. It used to be at the Sloan Museum in the Flint Cultural Center.
