I had a chance to visit the now abandoned Michigan Central Station in Detroit Michigan on June 24th 2007!  I had always wanted to have a look around at this truly awesome building but up until now was unable/unwilling to chance it.  I figured unless I take the chance I my never get to experience the buildings greatness, granted it's greatness is a bit diminished due to the current state it is in but still a structure that can never be duplicated in today's world!

 

The following will be an account of our adventure starting from the outside working our way to the roof complete with lots of photos!  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did creating it!  We will start on this page with 2 views from the outside, click the image for a larger version!

 

 

This is the front of the station as you approach it from 14th Street and Michigan Avenue.  The east side of the building, side facing in the photo, was what used to be the street car entrance.  Even after years of neglect the beauty of the architecture is still evident.  There is a section that is devoted to the architectural facets that still illuminate from the building, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the back of the station from the southeast, you can see that the train sheds have since been removed.  The platforms and most of the platform tracks are still there, Canadian Pacific Railroad is leasing these from the current owner to be used as a small yard.  The large stack on the roof is evidence of the way this building was originally heated, a coal driven furnace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will start the tour of the interior underneath the tracks and platforms in what used to be the underground parking, Platform Tunnels and locomotive staff offices.  Click here to continue the tour!