The Sloan tells the story of how a small lumber and carriage town became, briefly, the capital of American car manufacturing. The displays move chronologically from Native American settlement through the carriage-building era — Flint was once known as "Vehicle City" for its horse-drawn vehicle output before the automobile took over — to the rise and decline of General Motors. Reopened in 2022 after a major renovation, the museum now combines hands-on science exhibits with the historical collection.
The car collection is the highlight: classic Buicks, Chevrolets and Pontiacs from Flint's glory years, including some experimental and racing models that never made it to production.