Hayley HardingThe Detroit News
Michigan Central Station is finally back.
It's been 36 years since the last train left the station, but this week, Ford Motor Co. will reopen the long-empty building to the public once again.
When the station reopens, it'll be the first time in a generation that visitors will be invited in to see the historic space, now reinvented for new uses.
Here's what you need to know:
What is Michigan Central Station?
Back in its earliest days, Michigan Central Station was exactly what it sounds like: A train station connecting Detroit to cities around the country. It opened in 1913 after the previous station, located at Third and Jefferson, burned down. Michigan Central Station was a passenger rail hub, but as one of the most glamorous buildings of the era, it housed more than just trains.
According to the Detroit Historical Society, the waiting room had marble floors, grand ceilings, beautiful chandeliers and more. It also had a variety of amenities for travelers, including a florist, a restaurant, bathing facilities, a newsstand and more.
The beautiful architecture helped to secure it a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The application for submission to the register notes that the station "represents Detroit's connection with the outside world."
"It was the point of arrival for thousands of immigrants," the application reads. "It was the point of departure for thousands of troops during both world wars. It stood greeting hundreds of important visitors to Detroit."
When rail travel started to decline in the 50s, the station cycled through several owners before ultimately closing in 1988. It sat empty for decades, becoming a symbol of the city in a different way as the building decayed and was vandalized. Ford Motor Co. bought the building in 2018 and revamped it.
When do tours begin?
Free public tours begin June 7 and run through June 16, but they're fully booked.
But you're in luck: If you'd like to visit the renovated building this summer before it opens again permanently, you'll have an opportunity nearly every weekend from June until August.
As The Detroit News reported earlier this month, there will be "Summer at the Station" public access every Friday and Saturday from June 21 to Aug. 31. During that time period, construction will pause so that people can tour the space and even use a free app to follow a narrated tour.
On Fridays, the space will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; on Saturdays, you can visit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Who is playing at the Michigan Central concert?
Only some of the biggest names in Detroit music, of course.
The show is set to be produced be Eminem and will feature Diana Ross, Jack White, Big Sean, the Clark Sisters, Slum Village, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Melissa Etheridge — basically, if there's a genre you love, a huge Detroit name will probably be there representing it.
Other celebrities are also expected to attend, including former Detroit Lions icon Barry Sanders and current stars Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, actress Sophia Bush and comedian Mike Epps.
More: Michigan Central concert to stream on Peaco*ck
If you go, expect a bag policy. Cameras are allowed — and sharing your experience is encouraged, according to organizers — but professional-grade cameras will require either prior approval or media credentials. Bags 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches will be inspected by security. Bags larger than that are required to be clear, and they still cannot be larger than 12 by 12 by six inches.
Can I still get tickets for the concert?
Unfortunately not — tickets for the 90-minute June 6 concert were claimed within minutes of becoming available.
The concert will be livestreamed on Channel 4 as well as on Peaco*ck.
Are watch parties planned for the concert?
Yes! There will be watch parties around the city. You can join in at Campus Martius Park, 800 Woodward Ave., capacity of 5,000 people) or at the Corner Ballpark (1680 Michigan Ave., capacity of 2,500). Several local businesses will also be having parties, including:
- Alpino Detroit, 1426 Bagley St.
- Armando's Mexican Restaurant, 4242 Vernor.
- La Jalisciense Supermercado & Taqueria, 3923 Vernor.
- Batch Brewing Company, 1400 Porter St.
- Black Ginger, 1331 Trumbull, suite 100 (housed in the Trumbell and Porter Hotel)
- McShane’s Irish Pub, 1460 Michigan Ave.
- Mercury Burger Bar, 2163 Michigan Ave.
- Slows BBQ, 2138 Michigan Ave.
Where is the station?
The station is located on 15th Street, just south of Michigan Avenue and east of Vernor, in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.
Where can I park for the Michigan Central concert?
Street parking will not be allowed for people who don't live on the streets immediately surrounding the station on June 6. That said, Bedrock is offering parking in its garages at 1701 W. Lafayette and 1401 First St. on the day of for $10, which includes a shuttle ride to the station.
Attendees can also park on floors five through nine of the MGM Grand Detroit garage, which is located at 1777 Third St., and then take a rideshare to the station itself.
If you are going to take a rideshare, organizers suggest putting the address 2515 Michigan Avenue OR 2415 14th St. as your pickup or drop-off location. That should take you directly to the suggested zones on June 6.
Where can I park during the public tours?
If you're visiting between June 7 and June 16, you will be able to park for free at the Bagley Mobility Hub, which is at 1501 Wabash St.
How long was Michigan Central Station a functional train station?
Nearly 75 years! The station opened in Dec. 1913 (eight days earlier than anticipated because of the fire at the previous station) and took passengers across the country until January 1988.
More: Key dates in Michigan Central Station's 111-year history
How long was Michigan Central Station closed?
It was closed for more than 35 years. The last train left the station in January 1988, according to the Detroit Historical Society.
Why are they reopening Michigan Central Station?
Ford plans to use the depot as part of a "mobility tech campus." The company promised the space would be home to 5,000 jobs, from Ford technology teams to suppliers and startups. As The Detroit News reported last month, Corktown — the neighborhood the station is in — already has 400 Ford employees working there as part of the Ford Pro commercial vehicle division.
Bill Ford Jr., the executive chairman of Ford Motor Co. has also said that Google will use space in the building to train students in tech skills such as coding and conduct drone testing.
What else will be in the building isn't exactly clear, but on the building's website, Ford says it will have a "first-of-its-kind mobility testing platform," as well as restaurants, retail, and support for local entrepreneurs and artists. Commercial tenants are expected to move in this fall.
What did it used to look like?
Before renovations, the station was, to put it politely, a mess.
The building, with its graffiti and its decay, became a sort of icon of "urban ruins" featured in photography books and on blogs. Windows were shot out, the façade was dirty and in many places the building was literally falling apart.
Detroit News photographer David Guralnick put together a series of photos that show the before right next to the after, and the differences are remarkable.
More: Here's how a team completed Michigan Central Station's 6-year restoration journey
What has been done to fix up Michigan Central Station?
As Detroit News reporter Candice Williams explains in this story on the renovation, almost everything.
Crews pumped water from the basem*nt, removed debris and worked to dry the building out in a way that didn't damage the old structure. The electrical system was replaced, the architectural pieces were restored, the outside of the building was power washed — so much went into bringing the station back to its glory.
Will there be trains at Michigan Central Station again?
Maybe? It isn't clear at this point. Officials have hinted that rail service could return to the station but nothing definitive has been announced.
More: Could passenger rail service return to Michigan Central in Corktown?
Where can I learn more about Michigan Central?
The station's official site is michigancentral.com. There, you can find all sorts of information on not only the opening festivities but also what comes next. If you're hungry for more history, you can check out a deep-dive, featuring generations of photos and more from The Detroit News staff. You can also find a wealth of information from the Detroit Historical Society as well as Historic Detroit.
