Centering diverse stories as living history.

Flint is a city that has been through a lot of challenges, and we wanted to tell those stories with respect and clarity, bringing diverse perspectives and sharing ideas that might be controversial or uncomfortable. Award-winning film director Marilyn Agrelo (Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, Mad Hot Ballroom) interviewed community members, which formed the core of the StoryStones exhibit.
At the heart of the city of Flint is the Flint River. To bring the StoryStones to life, we started by bringing the river itself into the gallery to wind along the floor between exhibit areas. As visitors walk along the river, they trigger unexpected video projection and audio perspectives in key areas such as:
Establishment of communities by the Anishinabek people in the 13th and 14th centuries
The GM Sit-Down Strike, of 1937, which led to the formation of the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) and important industry reforms.
The Flint Water Crisis of 2014, when the municipal water supply was contaminated with lead and other heavy metals, resulting in devastating health outcomes for children and families.
The StoryStones fill the History Gallery with contemporary voices and faces of Flint, promoting a space that is accessible and reflective of the community. This unique approach allows the museum to easily update the media as new topics, interviewees, and content are identified. By focusing on current residents, the gallery emphasizes that history is alive and everyone has the ability to impact their community.