Just this past week, the newly renovated Michigan Central Station broadcasted to all of Detroit a cryptic message in the form of a date: “06.06.2024”. Shortly afterward it became abruptly clear to everyone in Detroit what the date meant: it’s when the Michigan Central Station is finally going to reopen for the first time since losing in 1988.
Everything you need to know about Michigan Central Station and its reopening
Michigan Central Station was at one point one of the biggest rail stations in the world, with a height that stands at 230 feet, it was an impressive site for those arriving in Detroit when the station was still in action. The station first opened back in 1913 when rail travel was in high demand. However, as rail travel became less popular over time it became increasingly unjustifiable to keep it open as the costs of maintenance began to climb, ultimately closing down in 1988 marking the end of an era for rail travel in Detroit. For a long time, the massive decaying building in Corktown served not only as an eyesore for Detroiters but also as a painful reminder of Detroit’s fall from grace during its heyday.
Fortunately, in 2018, the Ford Motor Company purchased Michigan Central Station and its surrounding land to not only renovate the building but also convert the entire iconic area into a cultural destination. So now, not only will Ford be using the area as a developmental center for their autonomous and electric vehicles, but it will function as the host to several automotive startups that are separate from Ford but share similar sustainability goals, as well as several retail spaces for local businesses and eateries. The goal, according to Michigan Central officials is to ensure that the newly renovated Michigan Central Station is as much of a destination as it was when it was in its prime.
What to expect at the Michigan Central Station reopening?
Information about the reopening on June 6th of this year is being held very close to the chest of Michigan Central Officials, who have been very adamant about maintaining a sense of secrecy regarding the revamped Michigan Central Station.
What we do know is that expectations for the Michigan Central Station are fairly high! Detroiters have spoken publicly about their excitement about its reopening for a while now and with an exact date now on the calendar, excitement is sky-high. The general sentiment is that in the same way, its closure and decay symbolized Detroit’s fall from grace, its reopening is symbolic of Detroit’s new era of growth and success!