Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office facts for kids
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Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office
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(remodelled) 316 West Water Street, Flint 2010
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 316 W. Water St., Flint, Michigan |
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| Built | 1895 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000943 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 2, 1975 |
| Designated NHL | June 2, 1978 |
The Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office is a very important old building in Flint, Michigan. It was built in 1895. This building was once the main office for the Durant-Dort Carriage Company. This company later became a big part of General Motors (GM).
The building is now owned by General Motors. It is located at 316 West Water Street. This office was where many big decisions were made. These decisions helped create famous car companies like Buick and Chevrolet. It also played a key role in starting General Motors itself.
This building is the only one still standing that is closely linked to William C. Durant. He was a very important person in the history of cars. Because of its history, the building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978. This means it's a special place recognized for its importance to the United States.
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What the Building Looks Like
The Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office is a three-story building. It is made of red bricks. The building is about 40 feet wide and 60 feet long. It has a strong brick foundation and a full basement.
The windows are tall with many small panes of glass. They have flat arches above them. When it was first built, people thought it was one of the best office buildings around. This was mainly because of its fancy inside. Some of the original parts are still there. These include special wood panels on the walls and some marble floors.
A Look Back at Its History
This office building was built between 1895 and 1896. It was used for the Durant-Dort company's offices. The second floor was a showroom for their carriages. People at the time said it was a very nice office. Clerks and typists worked there.
The building first had two stories and a flat roof. Around 1900, a sloped roof was added. A fancy entrance porch was also put on. This made the building look like a Georgian style house.
In 1906, a fire damaged the roof. Instead of fixing it, the company added a third story. They put a flat roof back on. The entrance porch was also removed then. The building stayed this way until the 1980s.
The Dort Motor Car Company took over the building completely by 1917. This happened as the company stopped making carriages. After Dort Motor Car Company moved out in 1924, other groups used the building. These included the Red Cross and the local Chamber of Commerce. In 1947, a club for veterans bought it.
In 1977, the city of Flint bought the building. They knew it was very important to history. An unknown person gave $55,000 to help the city buy it.
Becoming a National Historic Landmark
The Durant-Dort Carriage Company Office was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1978. This special title helped people realize how important the building was. It also encouraged them to save it.
The Genesee County Historical Society decided to restore the building. They raised money to fix it up. The goal was to make it look like it did in the early 1900s. This meant putting back the sloped roof and the entrance porch. The restoration work was finished by 1986.
Bought by General Motors
In May 2013, General Motors announced they would buy the building. They also bought the nearby Durant-Dort Factory One. GM now helps take care of the building.
Reports said that GM plans to restore the office building even more. They want to use it for special company events. As of 2017, the Genesee County Historical Society still uses the office building. General Motors helps pay for its upkeep. There are also plans to offer tours of the office. You can also tour the original factory building, "Factory One," nearby.
