Sloan Museum facts for kids
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The Sloan Museum of Discovery is a super fun, hands-on museum in Flint, Michigan. It's part of the Flint Cultural Center. This museum is a non-profit, which means it's not trying to make money, but rather to teach and entertain.
The museum has four main areas where you can explore and learn. There's a science hall where you can touch and interact with exhibits about Earth. Another area is just for younger kids, where they can learn through play. There's also a gallery about the history of Genesee County and the Flint area. A huge part of the museum is an 11,000 square foot gallery filled with rare and old cars made right there in Genesee County! The museum is named after Alfred P. Sloan, who was a big boss at General Motors for a long time. They also have special exhibits that change often.
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What Can You Discover at the Museum?
The Sloan Museum of Discovery is connected to the Longway Planetarium. Both are part of the Flint Institute of Science and History, which is a non-profit group. The museum has four main galleries and a special gallery for traveling exhibits.
The Durant Historic Vehicle Gallery
This gallery is packed with amazing old and rare cars. Many of these vehicles were made in or near Flint. You can see cars from famous companies like General Motors. There are also cars from local car makers, like Billy Durant's company, Durant Motors. It's a great place to see how cars have changed over time!
The History Gallery
In the History Gallery, you can learn about Flint's big role in making cars during World War II. This was a time when many factories helped build things for the war effort. You'll also see how cars became a huge part of life in the U.S. after the war. It shows how cars changed the way people lived and traveled.
The Discovery Hall
The Discovery Hall is a hands-on science gallery. It has 11 different interactive exhibits where you can experiment and learn. One popular exhibit is the Great Lakes Water table, where you can learn about water and the Great Lakes. There's also a "maker's space" where you can create and build things.
The Hagerman Street Early Childhood Learning Gallery
This gallery is specially designed for kids aged 0 to 6. It's like a small town from the middle of the last century, built just for children! Kids can learn through play in this fun, child-sized world. It's a great place for little ones to explore and imagine.
When Did the Museum Open?
The original Sloan Museum building was built in 1966. It closed in 2018 for a big update and expansion. Construction started in June 2019. The brand new, expanded museum officially opened its doors on July 16, 2022. It's now bigger and better than ever!
