Michigan Central Station once served as the gateway into the Motor City. Its intricate mosaics of tile and lavish halls welcomed every guest to a city booming in the 20th century. When the last train pulled away in 1988, there was no one left to welcome, because the town that Michigan Central served began to suffer. The station sat vacant for many years, a testament to the once-growing city’s decline as it struggled to pay its bills in the 21st century. The station accompanied headlines detailing Detroit’s 2013 bankruptcy. Michigan Central was the center point of Warner Brothers’ 2016 film Batman vs Superman, in which Detroit became the famous, fictional, crime-ridden city of Gotham.
In the shadow of the station is southwest Detroit, a diverse neighborhood. Cathy Evoy, a former neighborhood resident, returned to the station after Ford’s renovation. She remembers the vacancy of the station, “I’ve never seen the inside of these windows, it’s always been from the outside in.” The windows she looked out of were not present in the original building. Under the ownership of Manuel Moroun ‘45, a late U of D alum and owner of the Ambassador Bridge, the station stood neglected, denied the repairs it needed. The building was ravaged by vandalism, including the destruction of many of the original windows.
In June of 2024, Ford kicked off its grand opening to the public with a concert that had a little Detroit flavor. Notable performers and Michigan natives included Diana Ross, Big Sean, Eminem, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. This was Ford’s way to spread the word that Michigan Central was once again open. An estimated 20,000 people descended on Michigan Central for the concert. It was also covered in prime time by NBC. The event sparked interest from those who never remember Michigan Central as a location of culture, including Izzie Smith, a student at Grand Valley State University. “The train station’s concert really brought a vibrant energy back to the city by creating an atmosphere of excitement and joy.” Izzie remembers touring the station in 2018, when Ford first bought it. She is amazed by the progress that the station has made and by how she has always remembered it.
Although Ford intends for the Station to be “commercial public space,” the station has become a mecca for car enthusiasts. Alfredo Calderon, a classic car owner and southwest Detroit native, notes the role Michigan central now plays within the classic car community. “It’s a landmark,” Calderon adds, “you’ll see two or three cars come by to take photos and leave and then four more cars pull up.” There are many groups hosted on Facebook Groups to the enthusiasm around classic cars. These groups, as Calderon points out, have taken notice of the public spaces around Michigan Central where groups like these can gather.
In true Detroit fashion, the station became a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Ford Motor Company has breathed life into the campus in and around Michigan Central. The neighborhood that stood behind the station can now witness the budding success of modern Detroit.
The campus opened to public tours every weekend this summer. Currently, Michigan Central tours are only available to scheduled groups while the campus prepares to open to retailers. For more information and tour requests visit https://michigancentral.com/visit/.
