Circle Michigan 2023 - 38

[MID-MICHIGAN]
Clockwise from far
left: Get hands-on
with the Great
Lakes Water Table
in Discovery Hall at
Sloan Museum of
Discovery; View the
1956 Buick Centurion
concept car at
Sloan Museum of
Discovery; Admire
the turquoise panels
of the Longway Planetarium's
dome.
Triple Crown
Flint Cultural Center fosters discovery and imagination
by JACKIE SHECKLER FINCH
L
ights dim, stars twinkle, and I'm transported to
a different world. The sparkling heavens seem
within my reach. From my seat in Flint's Longway
Planetarium, I'm amazed at the wonders taking
place before my very eyes as we travel to a galaxy far, far away.
As a young child, I was bewitched by planetariums, and Longway
has a special way of capturing imaginations as I gaze at the
changing night sky. Even with all the high-tech phones and video
games available today, I could hear a teen sitting near me exclaim
with the same amazement I feel.
" From the very start, our vision was to create an empowering
'aha!' moment of discovery for every person, every time, " says
Todd Slisher, executive director of Sloan Museum of Discovery.
" Most importantly, we were very intentional in creating an interactive
museum where all visitors felt welcomed and included. "
Located in the Flint Cultural Center campus, the planetarium
is one of three reasons I am here-the other two being the Sloan
Museum of Discovery and the Flint Institute of Arts also housed
here. Reopened last July after a four-year closure for a dramatic
rebuild, the Sloan Museum has four permanent galleries, plus a
36 | CIRCLE MICHIGAN PREMIER GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE
fifth slated to open this coming July for special traveling exhibitions.
At the Sloan Museum, I learned about the history and
future of the automobile. The museum has 106 rare and historic
vehicles, including my favorite-a fascinating 1956 Buick Centurion
concept car. With many features considered " new " today, the
car was certainly ahead of its time. Imagine, the Centurion had a
TV camera mounted just above the rear tail cone to project images
from the rear of the car to a screen on the dash, thus eliminating
the need for a rearview mirror. Futuristic for the time, indeed.
Next up were the live glassblowing demonstrations at the
Flint Institute of Arts, where masters of the craft showcase their
talents. The institute, the second largest art museum in the
state, offers collections, exhibitions, and special programming.
I couldn't leave without stopping in the gift shop for my own
souvenir to take back home.
For a delicious warm parting, I enjoyed a divine Ghirardelli hot
chocolate at the institute's Palette Café. Savoring the drink and
my beautiful surroundings, I vowed to visit these three attractions
again one day and to experience the many other reasons groups
travel to this city along the Flint River.
PHOTOS SLOAN MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY
Circle Michigan 2023

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