Michigan Central Station: then and now

2013 vs 2024 · Detroit, MI

NowThen

Then, 2013The empty station in 2013, before the restoration.Photo: Bartosz Brzezinski · CC BY 2.0 · Source · resized

Today, 2024The restored station and tower in 2024.Photo: Coreyfein01 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source · resized

The story

Michigan Central Station opened in December 1913. Warren & Wetmore and Reed & Stem designed it. Allen Stem of Reed & Stem also helped design New York's Grand Central. The tower is 18 stories with more than 500 offices.

The last train left in 1988. After that the building sat vacant for about 30 years.

Ford bought it from the Moroun family in 2018 and reopened the station in June 2024 as part of a campus project that cost $950 million.

Did you know? Allen Stem also designed Grand Central.

Historians argue about this. Some stories call it a sad ruin forever. It was reopened, so be careful with old photos that show the empty building.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidMichigan Central Station reopened in 2024.
Bridge Michigan: reopened in June 2024.
Not trueThe station has been in continuous use since 1913.
The last train left in 1988 and the building sat vacant for about 30 years.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

Stamp it in person

Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Michigan Central Station can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

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Next: Fisher Building. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.