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Michigan Central Station

Location

Detroit

United States

42° 19' 43.2804" N, 83° 4' 40.2168" W

See map: Google Maps

US

General info:

A hundred years ago, the officials of Detroit decided to build a monumental train station which will be the premier landmark of their city. When it was constructed, the Michigan Central Station was the tallest train station in the world.

The desertification of the station happened gradually due to combination of reasons. The car culture was in the rise and more and more people could afford an own car. The original design of the station included no large parking facility. Also as the interurban service was discontinued less than two decades after MCS opened, MCS was effectively isolated from a large majority of the population.

In 1967 the maintenance costs were seen as too high relative to the decreasing passenger volume. Most of the station was closed and only two ticket windows were left to serve passengers.

Today the station is a ruin. The Michigan Central Station is a top spot for graffiti artists, who made an urban monument out of this abandoned building. In 2008, the station owners said that their goal is to renovate the decaying building that was finally closed in 1988.

Getting there:

The station is about 2 miles from Detroit downtown so you can either walk or take the car/taxi. Just note that access to the building is restricted, so you won’t be able to enter it (at least if you ask Detroit authorities).

The exact location of the Michigan Central Station is 2405 West Vernor Highway, Detroit, Michigan.

Costs:

Free to view but the entrance is restricted.

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