Detroit-31bw

By Ashland Thomas

Piece description from the artist

Michigan Central Station – Corktown – Detroit | 1914 – Warren & Wetmore, Reed and Stem

Michigan Central Station was the main intercity passenger rail depot for Detroit, Michigan. Built for the Michigan Central Railroad, it replaced the original depot in downtown Detroit, which was shuttered after a major fire on December 26, 1913, forcing the still unfinished station into early service. Formally dedicated on January 4, 1914, the station remained open for business until the cessation of Amtrak service on January 6, 1988. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest rail station in the world. The same architects were responsible for Grand Central Terminal in New York City and the parallel styles are evident.

The city's Roosevelt Park serves as a grand entryway to the station, and is one of the only realized grand plans for this ambitious project that were mostly scrapped by majority landowner Henry Ford. Ambitious plans, including projects to connect the station to the Cultural Center via a wide boulevard and a Michigan Central Railway Tunnel under the Detroit River, never came to fruition.

The building has been vacant since 1988, with multiple revitalization project plans never quite closing the deal. The building is privately owned and repair work, including drying & securing the basement and replacing the windows, has taken place to prepare the property for redevelopment and/or acquisition. Research is being conducted to propose a high speed rail link between Detroit & Chicago and plans suggest Michigan Central Station be incorporated as a new passenger hub.