Michigan Central Station

Came to realize that this building is a true representation of what Detroit has become; vacant and just plain sad. I can see from the outside that at one point it was a beautiful building which, after years of abandonment, is now starting to crumble. Signs warn of no trespassing and large prison style fencing bars you from getting super close… what a shame because I would have loved to get a peek inside. Stop here for a picnic in the grassy area outside or to see a monument to Detroit of days passed, but don’t waste too much time here because there are several nice bars, restaurants and brewery’s in the area that are better worth your time.

Wow. I have no words for this place. But I felt a lot of emotions… awe mainly. Go there if you can, you will be moved. And while you are there spend some time in Detroit, there is plenty to do and see, spend some money while you are there.

Here is a video I shot of the station with my Phantom 2 Drone. It gives you a whole new perspective on the station, it’s beauty, and its decay. It is such a beautiful building. Hope you enjoy the video. It was fun making it!

In 2009, a friend and I gave ourselves a self guided tour through the Train Station. It’s as amazing inside as it is out. We made it to the roof and the view is spectacular. Ever since I’ve laid eyes on this building, I have wanted to look inside. It was quite the beautiful adventure. We encountered Canadian tourists with head lamps who looked like they had been spelunking. They made their way in through the underground tracks. My friend pointed out the terrazzo (sp?) flooring. It was not the most safe tour but well worth it. I love this building.

Wow, such an incredible building… it’s sad to imagine such an amazing piece of architecture is just sitting there rotting away. I hope a developer or anyone can go in here and redevelop this as a great commercial space or even a residential building.
The artistic characteristics of this building really showcase all the elements that are missing from today’s architecture.

Detroit has a wonderful collection of buildings representing some incredible architecture. I hate to be part of a group that seeks out «ruin porn» in Detroit, but coming from Los Angeles, I know that some day new life will come to this treasure. My husband and I were at the Green Dot Stables and saw this incredible giant standing in the distance… so off we went to visit it. We explored as much as we could and spent an afternoon experiencing this wonderful building and the surrounding area. I was so happy to see the start of some beautiful landscaping happening at the front of the station «honoring» this gem and suggesting more to come. We also came across some amazing graffiti to the south of the tracks (Newark Street) on the outer walls of the property worthy of incorporating into a grand master plan (hopefully) for this site someday.

Detroit’s favorite ghost?
Maybe.
Detroit’s most fetishized and photographed specimen of ruin porn?
Most definitely.
Think what you may, but its still a pretty cool building.
I love this building because its beautiful, all in its glorious ruin. I also love it because all of the amazing things that happen in its shadow… festivals, live music, and, my favorite, Tour deTroit. Actually, Roosevelt Park, which sits in front of the station is undergoing some amazing revival efforts, including tree-​plantings, and fundraisers, and rollerskating (yes, rollerskating! so sad I haven’t been able to go yet.)
So yea… if you’re doing a ruin porn tour of the D, this is stop number one. But don’t just drive by shaking your head. Don’t you worry; this station is still seeing its fair share of the action even though its just the backdrop.

On the short drive into the city from the suburbs with my husband, I was experiencing two feelings:
1. Absolute grumpiness because it was raining, which would have dampened (ha ha) my hopes for the day while also ruining my hair. Because really why do it when it rains? Such a waste.
2. Euphoric highs at having a travel checklist, new places to see and a willing partner to see them with.
While in my swirl of rain-​hate and travel happiness, my husband pointed out the train station on the right. We turned down randomly chosen streets that seemed to be taking us towards closer until we pulled directly up to the building. Once the tallest railway station in the world, it was used for about 75 years until 1988 when Amtrak stopped its service. This morning, there were three cars matching our slow mph, a large fence and a lot of debris.
It is hard to describe the emptiness of buildings like this one and there are many in Detroit. You see a reflection of the past in them. It makes me hope there is a parallel universe to this one where people are bustling about and actively using these buildings. Unfortunately, the city is struggling to hold onto its current population of 700,000, which has left at least 191,000 lots, homes and commercial real estate empty. I have a deep desire to run to Target, grab some cleaning supplies and get to work; anything, however small, to help the abandoned buildings breathe again.
This is worth a stop because it is such a beautiful building and, because you can’t go inside, you won’t be there long.

Of all the neglected and crumbling ruins of Detroit, this is perhaps the most spectacular. I have not ever seen anything like this smack dab in the middle of a city that is still inhabited. There are ruins in Angkor Wat that are better maintained than this place. I cannot believe the city just gave up on this structure (and itself in general). Worse still, I cannot believe the disrespect shown by some terrible Detroiters in the form of vandalism. It is amazing that cities in West Michigan are connected to Chicago by rail instead of Detroit. That is enough diatribing for now, although I have plenty more where that came from. I am really envious of anyone that has walked through this place when it was functional.

It’s sad that this is what is left of one of Detroit’s finest well known landmark.
My mom would tell me stories on how in the 70’s this was the «Grand Central of Detroit» the gateway to Detroit. The architect in here was so detailed and ahead of its time and beautiful, just like in Europe. But now it’s stands all alone, graffiti by idiots who don’t respect other people’s property and the history that this place once was. It’s a shame to see it all alone, no one caring for it and any desire in restoring it to either living lofts and/​or offices. I wish I could get a group of investors and make this place come back to life to what it once was. Detroit destroyed the old Hudson’s building, lets not allow them to destroy this one.

What a shame the way Matty Moroun has maintained this once beautiful train station. Is there anything to salvage there? This landmark has been included in almost every documentary about the decaying Detroit. Part of the Moroun Empire.
OK, a little bit of personal history … I have taken the train from Michigan Central to Chicago, although it wasn’t in the recent decades. Amtrak used to run daily into Michigan Central. Sadly, it will never do so again.
How I wish I had taken a camera with me the last time I walked thru Michigan Central. The ceilings were magnificent, the floors polished, the walls, the ticket windows, wow, what memories!

I don’t know about you, but Michigan Central Station scares the crap outta me.
I swear every time I drive past this building someone cues the scary music, all the clouds come rolling in, and lightning strikes – It’s like a scene straight out of a horror movie!

This train station was once a world class, state of the art transportation hub of the Midwest. Presidents Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman and Franklin D. Roosevelt once walked the halls of this ornate structure. The Michigan Central Station was the tallest train station in the world when it was built 100 years ago this year — in 1912.
Today it is frequently used by vandals, squatters and the homeless. It is a nearly completely destroyed remnant of it’s former glorious past. Every window and every floor in this building have been destroyed by vandals and harsh weather. The train station is frequently pictured and displayed as a tarnished, decaying representation of the city of Detroit. In my opinion, that’s an awful shame and disgrace. The current owner is Grosse Pointe Billionaire 84 year old Matty Maroun — a savvy businessman and owner of the Ambassador Bridge. This gentleman has publicly stated that he has tentative plans to resurrect this treasure. He could transform and rename it: Maroun Central Station.
Hopefully someday this once beautiful, historic gem will be renovated as a testament to the greatness that once was Detroit.

Whoop! There it is!
Why don’t you take a photo? it’ll last longer…
(jk… no it won’t)