Tour renovated Michigan Central Station in Detroit

Michigan Central Station, once a prominent symbol of Detroit’s urban decay, has been painstakingly restored to its 1913 glory. Ford purchased the property in 2018. Six years and 3,100 skilled-trade workers dedicating more than 1.7 million combined hours later, the Station looks as close to what it looked like when it first opened 111 years ago. (Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com)

[@BB63]

Many compliments to Ford and all the men and women who took on this challenge of restoration of such an iconic structure. Beautifully restored and still standing strong. Congratulations to all in Detroit.

[@Titi-o1k]

Stunning!! So glad you saved her. Thanks to Bill Ford, and others

[@MidgardEchoes]

What a beautiful gift Ford has given Detroit and the country. 👍🏻

[@GoGoWhoa64]

Renovations are beautiful. Looks like it just opened. Thanks to the Ford family. Hopefully one day I'll be able to see it in person

[@johnhaughton9288]

I used to explore this building when it was abandoned. One of my favorite things to do was to go up on the roof and lay down and look over the edge of the roof. It is absolutely amazing that it has been completely redone!

[@mariannegreig3067]

Please get rid of the graffiti....it makes little sense to keep it light of the beautiful and sensitive restoration.

[@jays.4254]

WOW just WOW!! It is a beutiful gift indeed. Thank you Ford. A look back into time.

[@TJR66]

Thank you Detroit for restoring and preserving such a beautiful piece of Americana railroading.

[@arlofs]

You need to thank the Ford Motor Co. for that. Not Detroit.

[@crookedbird6589]

Always love to see these great old train stations brought back. The ghost of so many reunions and goodbyes haunt these halls.

[@texmexbbq7085]

Spectacular... well done. Should have gotten rid of every last square inch of graffiti though.

[@vap0rland]

agree 1000% about the graffiti. if we can purge historical statuary, we can purge taggers

[@jmuench420]

Hopefully it serves as a reminder to not let things fall that far again

[@clearviewtechnical]

GET RID of that UGLY spray paint scribbling. It was neglect, graffiti and other garbage that nearly ruined the building! Do NOT preserve broken windows, stagnant pools of water or the hideous graffiti.

[@zee729]

Thinking the exact same thing. Maybe useful as a "before", but get rid of it over time.

[@L08Productions]

Now let's move onto bringing back the old Pennsylvania Station in NYC

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Let's save Buffalo Central while she's still standing.

[@rutha1464]

Thank you for providing this for us older folk who can no longer get downtown.

[@ednorton47]

Graffiti is NOT something to be celebrated.

[@gtoken1]

Beautiful building. I love early 1900's architecture. Thanks to Ford for bring it back. Leaving the graffiti was idiotic. Really diminishes the restoration. Its an eyesore. It will probably be covered again soon with graffiti again anyway.

[@oldRoyaltypewriter]

Yes, sandblast that graffiti!

[@kristy218591]

I'm so happy this was restored. I wasn't alive to see it in its prime but saw wonderful photos. Hoping that we see this building coming into its prime again for a new generation to admire it in person and any features hosted in the space.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Beautifully done. Thank you to Ford and all the people who did such great work.

[@loonylisa]

❤❤❤ Thank you Ford Mo Co and all involved!

[@X-Warrior.1119]

I did visit Detroit once... I wouldn't mind coming back for another one!

[@trixdropd]

Well done, Ford. hats off.

[@libertyvilleguy2903]

Greta work - but what sober person decided to keep graffiti? Did they also decide to keep a broken toilet?

[@Bagger808]

May Detroit Rise Again!

[@NoeGomez-vo8mi]

I used to play on the 14 th street side of the train depot in the late 40s & early 50s whenever it rained I noticed the shoe shine stand and the 25 cent photo booths are missing.

[@corpcapt2583]

Someone tell Scooby that I have found Thelma...

[@wjb111]

😂😂😂

[@brucebeamon5460]

🤔 I was trying to remember WHO SHE LOOKED LIKE ~ THANKS for reminding me ~ SPOT ON 👌🏿

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

That's fantastic! I didn't know they were doing this. Congratulations and thank you to everyone from a fellow Michigander.

[@alexkalish8288]

Best thing Ford has done in the last decade. The should put part of their automobile collection in the lower stories. 1913 was the year before the Model T went into assembly line production. It was the birth of the automobile. Great blessing Ford saved this building -

[@ChrisPBacon-vk7sj]

It was the birth of the middle class, but hey, who needs that anymore? Just load up your Asian econobox with Chinese junk. What could go wrong?? (people in 140 other third world countries live like that)

[@Wewwers]

Now all they need to do is move the train station from that dinky Amshack back to here

[@KornOil]

Nearly $1 Billion spent. How is this going to be exploited and how did Ford even afford this?

[@xXxMerandahxXx]

I remember looking at this building as a kid and thinking why is it abandoned? Its so awesome! So glad to see this it looks amazing 🤩

[@haze1123]

Thank you, Ford.

[@dmnddog7417]

Stunning! Well done! I wish it would become a functioning station again. Detroiters would be so proud to have such a wonderful gateway to their city again.

[@AnitaKvinta]

What will this new building be used for? Is there train service there? Don’t understand the reason for renovation.

[@crixxxxxxxxx]

Glad they got Edna Mode from the Incredibles to help with the restoration.

[@craiggillett5985]

Stunning work - imagine how beautiful American cities would be if they had preserved and maintained their history for the last 300 years.

[@lordhumongous4272]

It's funny how you Murikans think about history is such a recent timeline. There are countries where you eat at a McDonalds in a 1000 year old building across from a 3000 year old structure. I mean, there are literal Roman roads still in existence in Europe.

[@kenb3552]

Big thumbs up!! 👍👍 Don't give up Detroit - you'll be great again. Wishing you all the best from Boston.

[@PhantasyStarved]

We're working on it! Much love back to one of the O.G. great American cities in Boston

[@andyj6273]

What a triumph! Credits to Ford Motor Company for wisdom and foresight to renovate this building. Credit especially to Bill Ford. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@IronhorseSara]

She's magnificent once more! May trains return one day too but for now a fine job well done!!!

[@micklaws5520]

I worked for Ford Aerospace at one point in my career. It was one of the best companies I ever worked for, then Loral Space and Range bought them.

[@DJMarkCorneliusThaDon]

I wanna DJ a wedding there!

[@geoffmorse4366]

So cool,my dad would go through the station during WWII to and from Fort Custer.

[@williamlidster5850]

Growing up in Detroit I’ve seen this building myriad times; especially when going and returning from Canada via The Ambassador Bridge! I never dreamt that it would be returned to its former glory!

[@shirleystephenson8424]

GORGEOUS!!! ✨

[@martinrobbins1207]

These old train stations - many of them called central station - were beautiful. So happy this one survives.

[@J.M.Chadwick6]

This has been magnificently done. Congratulations! Utica, NY saved and restored its magnificent New York Central station in 1978. It has been completely utilized from county offices to state DMV. It has become an integral part of the community.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

What an amazing restoration job! The building looked hopeless the last time I was in Detroit. Well done!

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Great. Now bring the trains back!

[@Pete_Finch]

I've been following this building from New York for over a decade. My jaw is on the floor.

[@Jesussavesyouandme]

I didn’t even think there where gifted talent left to restore. They jacked floors up mage plaster forms amazing tedious work. I got pics in my phone so kool

[@jimrockford3662]

I was there in 2014. Wonderfull city and great to see the transformation of this iconic building.Thanks Ford and all the skilled workers. 👍🏽

[@leehale5828]

Excellence in architecture and restoration!

[@PistachioDean]

It looks fantastic 👏🏻 even across from Australia I had been watching this and never thought I’d see the day it would be restored! Bravo to all those who worked on it and I’m definitely adding this to my US trip some day haha

[@MrJimmysez]

It would make a great train station. Why not?

[@armorpro573]

It closed back in 1988 so most of the infrastructure is gone

[@MrsRanchoFiesta]

THIS is awesome! 👏

[@RobGerman-m7i]

Am SO VERY PLEASED to see the building saved and restored. Hope it becomes Detroit's new show place.

[@vicswincki1124]

Last time I was there I boarded a train for New Mexico in 1957. I was love to take a tour through there.

[@zovalentine7305]

BEAUTIFUL 🤗😍♥️ 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@wolfiethedog76]

Incredible....😮

[@Rich-fi7kg]

What happened to the marble benches? Bought my first comic book there in 1956..

[@brushcrawler8612]

How are those $100k truck sales going? 😂 It would be nicer to have affordable vehicles. Build Back Better 🔥

[@americanpatrol4603]

Tracks. Where are the tracks? Repurposing vibrant commercial and industrial sites into frou-frou boutiques is what ruined Detroit and the rest of the country in the first place.

[@RamMohammadJosephKaur]

It looks beautiful renovated but I still feel it doesnt look $950m worth

[@ubilo]

I worker near there. You can walk to Mexican Town for lunch. It will be booming.

[@Viconius]

I can't help but wonder if this will be maintained if it's managed by the city again. It's got to be very expensive to keep it going.

[@jeffsmith5978]

I hope this station and the new bridge to Canada, new sports venues and all the other wonderful improvements start to give people in Detroit a renewed sense of confidence. This project was particularly beautiful.

[@davidwyman3474]

This is stunning. But is that Edna Mode?

[@rockyracoon3233]

Great going! I hope Buffalo central station is progressing along its restoration as well!

[@sensationsmag]

This is so heartening to see. I've seen photos of the level of "decay" - the restoration team did an outstanding job! Is it no longer being used as a train station - and if not, what purposes (aside from hopeful "fine dining") are intended for the restored building?

[@roncarlson7682]

Does the Ford Motor Co. still own the building? I read an article a few years back that they had purchased the structure and were planning to use at least a portion of the property.

[@stansmith-h2b]

I'm curious as to what is in the tall part of the building ?

[@RGC217]

The "umms and uhhs" are just too much to finish watching.

[@aaroneoghann4539]

very neat and glad to see the restoration. however they are most certainly not setting the bench mark. Not because of the lack of quality in work but, because Kansas City beat them to it years ago with the restoration of Union Station and it is far more extrodinary.

[@ligurian728]

lady looks like the designer from the Incredibles

[@flyguy1237]

Very nice. I wish it were a functioning rail station again too. =(

[@rondefries6394]

We should ask ourselves why we allow these places to get delapodated. Take care of what you have.

[@obiwon4221]

Irony at its best, the company that destroyed in part the need for passenger rail helps restore a train station that will be used for anything but.

[@PhantasyStarved]

There will be mass transit in some form there someday. This rando person on the internet guarantees it ;)

[@obiwon4221]

@AtomicGirlNYC-fu9xy if that is true explain Europe.

[@TheWholesalersToolbox]

Bravo Ford Motor Company 👏 Outstanding Job!

[@davidmanasas6606]

Um, um, um, great public, um, speakers, um you got, um there….

[@michaelwhite2823]

Wow. Never a return on investment tho.

[@HansKlopek]

Preserving the graffiti is silly.

[@spinlok3943]

That lady looks like Edna Mode.

[@johnathanquevedo9867]

This is actually impressive

[@B-cm80gc]

absolutely stunning

[@BrettEndres]

Don't F it up again Detroit.

[@aaronelya]

What's happening in the upper floors of the building? I see a lot of coverage and footage of the grand hall (which is amazing), but I haven't seen anything about the rest of the building. Housing? Office space?

[@PhantasyStarved]

Yes and yes and maybe retail and a hotel too, your classic "mixed use" but time will still tell how it all filters out

[@Grahzzyhardcore]

Watch Amtrak ruin it

[@chancewilson207]

Needs landscaping

[@deadpool6072]

MARVELOUS! 😮

[@tommerry2814]

Thank you ford

[@MLucilleChannel]

Beautiful!

[@aces553]

Great ❤

[@Redzwan]

Nice, but the surroundings is still a asphalt wasteland.

[@armorpro573]

There are plans to turn it into a park

[@cortezmiller1899]

Gorgeous!

[@jeannevictor6346]

Terrific

[@normanleroy1874]

It's lovely, great work, Ford. Why dont we build like this anymore?

[@KevinCovington5453]

WOW!

[@sailordude2094]

I watched videos of urban explorers going into this when it was abandoned. Nice job Ford!

[@MonikaWoodstraveler]

Beautiful! How wonderful to see renewal of historic buildings.

[@a.kaiser8965]

wouldn't mind seeing some art in there.. but enjoy it for now; its such a vast space.

[@xGoodOldSmurfehx]

Damn just looking at it, you can tell that place has a LOT of history A lot of people have had stories in that building you can literally feel it

[@Jasona1976]

Impressive beyond words! Thanks Ford!!

[@tommcelroy6975]

I was there before the renovation on a movie. Its amazing to see it brought back to life.