Walking through the restored Michigan Central station in Detroit
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- The restored Michigan Central Station is officially reopening to the public on June 6 2024 following a six-year restoration project. Following the opening, there will be a 10-day open house and then weekend open houses throughout the summer. Sam got to walk through the ground floor a couple of weeks before the grand opening and shot some video.
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Kudos to all the architects, engineers and tradesmen who restored this building! Awesome workmanship!!
Even when it was in bad shape, you couldnt hide that it was a beautiful building. Seeing it like this brings more pride to a great city.
Agreed, but it still flummoxed me when I saw photo's of the building while it was in ruins how the vandals managed to tag all the way up to the ceilings. That's about 40 feet high.
I'm glad to see it being restored to its former glory.
Never thought I’d say “Thank you, Ford.”
Its alright. Amazing Ford Engineering was able to reproduce parts that were lost/destroyed. Im still a bit disappointed in the stock performance during this time. It was Awful at $4 a share. 😒. I took some loss.
I don’t hate the Ren-Cen-I’m a huge John Portman nerd-but obviously yeah a lot more love went into this restoration than went into the Ren-Cen’s post-apocalyptic concrete bunker.
Ford introduced the $5 workday. Ford made the automobile affordable. Ford never declared bankruptcy. The Ford Family are still senior management. Only bidders too. GM is an accounting firm, Ford is a Legacy. Grande Companié
@@nobilesnovushomo58 Henry Ford opposed his company’s unions, though, and you don’t want to know what he thought about Jewish people…
(To be fair, his descendants seem a lot more reasonable.)
@@elsiehupp He gave good wages, and GM did the same in anti-union, but Ford had ground to stand on compared to them. and I do. The average European immigrant thought the same way Ford did.
Absolutely incredible. What a tour. Thank you.
Detroit knows how to renovate a historical space, more than any other city.
100%. Incredible craftmen
Ford* knows how to.
@@DetroitLions23 Yes, definitely Ford in this case. But this city has more than a few developers that know how to restore long-vacant, once-derelict buildings to their former glory. Bedrock comes to mind and whoever their contractors are.
It helps that the city was too broke to tear them down when they were at their worst. That's where most cities messed up.
When I was kid in the 90s, me and my friends would watch the 4th of July Fireworks on the rooftop. Never thought I'd see the day it looked like this.
Don't be the guy looking for the stairwell
As a lifelong Michigander only living 15 minutes away, I must say they did a fantastic job on this station. So nice to see it brought back to it's once glorious condition. Nice work to all who worked on it.
Thanks so much for taking me back into my history. I used to take the train with my Nana and then over to JL Hudson's Downtown to shop and eat at the restaurant! Always dressed to the nine's with white gloves and a hat.
Most of today's styles are frightening, could you imagine wearing stretch pants and pajamas and Crocs and slippers back then? The styles in the 1920s-60s were very elegant
@@m42037 Amen!!
I wish my Nanna and grampa were still with us to see what’s happening in Detroit. 😢🎉
@@dongreer9082 Oh yes, my grandpa had passed away before I was born, but Nana made up for it 1000 fold!! She would of been very pleased, but the heartache of watching the city decline hurt her. She sold her house off of Wyoming Ave. in 1969. My mom graduated from Mackenzie High School in 53'. Glad you had a Nana too!! They are irreplaceable. 💜
White gloves and hat . I wish men and woman still dressed like that today.
Thank you FORD company for bringing this building back to life!! WHAT AN INSPIRATION AND GIFT TO DETROIT PEOPLE!!! I want to have my wedding in the Grand Room if that could ever be possible!!! LOVE THIS!! THANK YOU THANK YOU !!
Now bring back the trains!
Yes!!
Ironically it was the car industry that killed America's railroads. Now the station is restored, but the railroads are still crap compared to Europe, Japan or China. A high speed train could connect Detroit to Chicago in 2 hours and no competition could match that.
at least a light rail connecting Ann Arbor -Metro airport - Detroit.
Dudes go out east. Philly has a massive train station that was never abandoned. Thousands of people a day go through there locally and up and down the east coast. NYC, DC and on and on.
@@righteousisthelord180 Well good for you....stay in Philly.
When I would return from Windsor on the Ambassador Bridge, this building would look so ominous. Thank you Fords for bringing it back to life.
I'm from Calgary and have never been near Detroit in my life. But I'm a big street-view explorer and noticed this building years ago when I was looking at the city. I am floored at what a thoroughly amazing restoration was done. Honestly brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the great video!! 😃🇨🇦
I've never visited Michigan, but it still feels good to see historical architecture preserved. Especially in a city that brought so much wealth to our country. God Bess America!!! 😊
I visited Detroit, two years ago, I saw this station under repairs from the distance. I'm glad it'll bring life to a city that it looks like it was attacked by Heinkels.
Glad they restored it. Iconic landmarks such as this is a true testament to the love the country had for the railroads. Also, the railroads built structures such as this to show the pride the company’s had for themselves and the service they provided
I remember when, just before this station closed, my family would take the train go Texas to visit my mom's family. It was the late 70s, after my dad had passed away. The station was rather dark and dirty, but I was impressed by the grandeur of it. It reminded me on buildings like this I saw in old movies, where everyone dressed up and there were different cab companies that had waiting areas around the station. I loved those fancy chandeliers, and those tall arched windows , even back then. They reminded me of the Fisher Building, General Motors buiding and the Guardian Building; all ornate, beautiful and elegant in their own ways.
Don't forget about JL Hudson building!!
@@courageous1483 I'll always remember J.L.Hudsons...and their toy department on the twelfth floor. And then there was Crowley's....and that fancy white " wedding cake" of a building they were in.
It’s awesome they saved this magnificent building! Thanks for the update!
So happy for the motor city for their comeback and this renovation of this building is amazing!
Detroit isn't back, you definitely must be from another state or country. About 80% is still blight.
@@m42037 it's a start
@@m42037 Man, just go to sleep.
Making Michigan beautiful again👍
Thank you so much for sharing this! Many times in my youth in the 1960s and early 1970s, I would come here with my Dad and Grandmother because she always took the train to Chicago... and my memories of this place are very fond! One time, my dad, sister and I were invited to climb aboard an idling engine on one of the tracks in the train shed, and I sat in the engineer's seat as we rolled back and forth a few times in the shed!!! I can't wait to visit the station and relive some of these amazing memories!!!
Hopefully they will have trains operating again so people will visit our beautiful City of Detroit.
Unless it was shutdown, AMTRAK runs right along Michigan Avenue. It connects to Chicago.
I bought tickets in the Dearborn Station one time for a trip to Arizona.
Beautiful City? Detroit is a shithole!
Connection tracks were removed long ago. The amount of work required to even try to make that possible would not be economically feasible. Look at Google maps satellite view, you'll see what I'm talking about.
@@TrainMike2013 tracks from Chicago connection come to at least Dearborn, and that's closer to Detroit than Metro Airport.
Norfolk Southern also has an office on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, near the AMTRAK Station tracks and Ford WHQ, last I checked.
Beautiful!! So nice to see the historic place restored.
Greetings from New Jersey! Never been to this building. After 40 years of decay, what a masterpiece of art 🎨. Absolutely beautiful 😍😍😍!
Pennsylvania Station (Penn Station for short) is going through a 5 year complete restoration project in Newark, New Jersey. This used to be a major station of the old Pennsylvania Railroad. The people of the City of Detroit, Michigan should be very proud. Congratulations!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏
The merger of the Pennsylvana and New York Central RRs were just like Democrats and Republicans of today.
Or oil and water.
The great hall is so stunning!!!
Another Detroit jewel
What a great thing! Having seen the decay, of such an amazing place- this is such a nice way to start the day, seeing that when we work together we can make being human a fine thing. Thanks.
What a wonderful symbol of the past, present, and future of a great American city. Thank you for the tour.
I grew up in Michigan. My great great great grandfather was an immigrant from Germany and settled in Frankenmuth. I am so delighted to see this restoration and that Detroit is coming back to the booming city that it was right after WWll when I was a child. Hope that you restore the stellar education system that I had to its top status in the country again as well. That is far more important than a building.
Fantastic project. I'm glad there is enough money--profit--around to make these grand projects possible. I'm 80. June 9, 2024. St Joseph, MO, USA
This is terrific to see!!! This building was such a disaster, just standing in it's continuing decrepitude. Really, a great example of re-purposing, and urban renewal!!!
So happy to see this irreplaceable building restored to its original glory. The key here is that, even with all the decay and vandalism, the hulk of the building survived. And it just goes to show that even the most intricate and elaborate fixtures and fittings from an earlier century still CAN be recreated, if there’s enough money to pay for it. Kudos to Ford for rescuing the station and for going all out on the restoration, and not cutting any corners.
I would love to hope that someone, someday will step in and similarly rescue Buffalo’s masterpiece Art Deco Grand Central Terminal.
My grandfather worked there back in the days when it was bustling and gorgeous! He would be so happy to see it "opened and running" again. Let's hope the people appreciate it this time!
So many buildings like this in the U.S. have only seen the wrecking ball. It wonderful that they decided to restore and save it. I hope it becomes a new vibrant hub for Detroit.
Congratulations on a wonderful job and for saving a landmark! Utica, NY saved and restored its magnificent New York Central station in 1978. It now houses county, state and other area offices. It has become an integral part of the community.
....jaw...dropped.........officially ......THANK YOU for posting!
It's absolutely beautiful! I also love that they kept part of the graffiti, looks so cool ❤
For a person who grew up in Southwest Detroit I'm so happy to see this building restored, I used to walk by this building going to work and My Dad used to work for the Post Office over there on 14th street im beyond impressed with this building im so happy ❤❤❤❤happy
Beautiful! Thanks for the tour and commentary. Great job!
Glad to see it back,went there as a child in the late 50's early 60's to catch train to Michigan City.
big thanks to FORD for seeing the beauty in this place they do not build places like this anymore
Just amazing. I saw this before restoration and they have done a marvelous job on this place.
Fantastic video, thank you Sam and Wheel Bearings! Huge thanks to the Ford Motor Company and all involved for the amazing restoration of Michigan Central!
This is simply stunning.
I was there when Ford first bought it. WOW it looks absolutely amazing. Well done Ford, and all of the construction workers and architects.
Thanks for putting this together. What grand architecture. It used to be that taking the train to work was simply a part of the fabric of life. Elegant stations like this took the drudgery out of commuting and lent us an air of culture and inspiration.
Im glad to see it getting a new life
Best video I've seen yet. Thanks for the footage!
A note about the pitting on the columns: it probably isn’t water damage; travertine (a type of Italian marble) just looks like that. Travertine is unusual in that it has a spongy texture, like volcanic rock, despite being a type of limestone.
(Marble does get damaged-literally dissolved-by acid rain, but there’s a lot less acid rain since laws and treaties 30-40 years ago started mandating that coal power plants scrub sulfur dioxide from their smoke.)
In 1967 my parents and I went to the station to pick up my grandparents that had taken a train up from Tennessee. I'm so glad to see that ford brought it back.
I love how you avoid words describing missing elements like “destroyed”, “stolen” and senselessly vandalized. It takes class to rise beyond anger and disappointment.
I don’t think I could be so calm while describing the decades of incredibly stupid destruction.
Why not use those words? They're exactly what happened. We can both recognize past reality and celebrate the restoration.
Realize that many people believed the building would be demolished at some point. By taking pieces you would be “preserving” those Elements instead of letting it all go into a rubble pile someday. Thankfully the whole building was preserved so it was ultimately a negative thing for the restoration, but nobody saw that coming. I agree there was a lot of senseless destruction happening which is a shame, but time marches on.
@@wyattrowe8396 People didn’t steal those pieces out of a sense of historic preservation. They stole them because they could sell them at a profit. And most of the items that were lost from the building weren’t stolen, they were destroyed by vandals simply because it was fun.
@@richardvinsen2385 I am sure some of the pieces were stolen for preservation. It’s hard to make a blanket statement saying everyone had bad intentions
Bill Ford did a video on this building when they first bought it. The intent was to use it for their EV team
Not just EVs, but AVs, the whole area is going to be a hub for tech and development of new Autonomous systems.
I used to get the train to school in St. Louis, Mo. 1962-1964. Happy it was restored.
Im so happy this building got the love it deserves but I just wish it could still function as it should as train station
Thanks for the tour. Beautiful building and my compliments to the tradesman and the Ford family.
Congratulations! The beauty is equal to Chicago's Grand Central Station.
Always loved this building! I remember several times taking the train with my mother from there to Chicago to visit family in the 1970s. It was amazing to walk in it then. How saddening it was to see it closed and deteriorating for all that time wondering what was going to happen to it. This restoration is another example and testament of the Ford family with their history and love for Detroit.
I always thought a super train from Detroit to Chicago would be awesome. Hopefully it's being considered.
Nice job
The transformation is amazing. Fantasic research done on your part, as well!
amazing restoration
Thank you so much for the detailed tour. It was amazing.
I cannot even to BEGIN to imagine all the work that has been done in this building 🤔! Thanks for giving us a glimpse of what must have been one of the greatest experiences for people who once came to Detroit and the pride that both travelers and residents of this great city must have experienced! Let us pray that we can once again overcome and surpass the greatness that one of the best cities in the world.Say what you want about the Ford family but in doing this you can only admire their passion for the city of Detroit.
Magnificent! So much of this kind of rich history has been lost. It is so good to see this building survive.
Looks like Guastavino ceiling tilework. The Oyster Bar in New York's Grand Central Terminal, the entrance to the Chambers St. subway station and the registry room ceiling at Ellis Island all feature this tilework.
Kudos to Ford and all the designers, engineers, and construction workers!
Stunning building
wow, i thought it was a lost cause. such a beautiful restoration. 👍👍.
Thank you to FoMoCo! They (Bill Ford in particular) did a very good thing here.
Absolutely stunning 😊
Thank you for taking us on this tour. I appreciate it.
Glad someone came to their senses, and this landmark was not destroyed. We never should have lost Tiger Stadium!
New we have to worry about Joe Lewis and RenCen, and a couple of other landmark buildings downtown. (GM should step up (like Ford did on Michigan Central), to preserve the buildings they formerly occupied.
Joe Louis Arena was torn down years ago and in it's place is a Residential Tower and soon to be Hotel Tower if I recall correctly.
@@Fireshadow1987 I retired and no longer live in the area, so didn't know that about Joe Louis.
Where is the Auto Show held annually then?
However, I know GM is vacating their current building downtown, to move into another nearby that has recently been renovated. So I still say they should participate in restoring the building they're leaving (Ren Cen).
Btw, Joe Louis still shows on the Google map of downtown Detroit.
@@rayrussell6258
For decades the auto show has been held at Cobo Hall which has been renamed to Huntington Place. It's still held there.
If you are looking at the street view where Joe Louis used to be then Joe Louis can still show up in past images. You can change the date of the image you are looking at when using Google Street View if it's available. I just checked street view where Joe Louis was and the image I see is a grass field because the image is from 2021.You have to go back to 2019 or earlier to see the building.
As for GM they are not moving into a renovated building but a new Hudson's building that is being built where the old one used to be. The building just gets the old name the department store is still gone.
Joe Louis Arena was demolished from 2019 to 2020. The auto show is held at Huntington Place, originally called Cobo Hall.
@@stevenburns8817 thank you for the update. I didn't know Cobo Hall was renamed either.
BEAUTIFUL JOB!!
Historic Detroit has history of the building, photos of the building when it was being built and during Michigan Central’s useful life.
well done... thank you so much for the video!
Thanks for sharing this important work
Such a great and informational video! Thank you!!
I really enjoyed your video. My dad worked there for Conrail in 85. I still remember the hump in the yard and all the old trans back then. I open the future they decide to restore some sort of train service to this building. I think it would add to Detroit. I know the Deerborn station is close. Just so cool to see this video. Almost exactly how I remembered it. Aside from skipping school and 97 sitting on the roof. Lol
Great video. Thank you! There were a lot of people who looked to buy and restore that building for years. None did though because of the cost to restore it. I left the area back when they started putting in new windows, and seeing it now is amazing. You have to thank the Ford family for seeing this project through though.With all of the problems that the car companies have had over the last 10 years, I'm sure that having extra money for this project was not easy to drum up.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL❗️
This was moving. When younger (and much much more carefree 😆) abandoned buildings esp around Chicago area were my mental escape when urban exploring. But as time went on, the ruins seemed more a sad homage to what once was. It is inspiring to see an American company investing in the preservation of some of our best eras in architectural design. I’ve been secretly obsessed with this place through online content over the years (as time to actually make it out that way never materialized). Absolutely blown away when you walked inside. From the clock to the ceiling and floors to the preservation of the dumb waiter access etc etc. interesting the sort of half restored access to the tunnel that leads under the tracks to the platform. Even if most of that infrastructure is missing at present who knows, maybe a future light rail hub or stop at least. I want to hear Handel in that large arched hall
Amazing place!
Thanks FORD!!
Those two ladies that provided the music are wonderful!! ❤ Fabulous job Urban Art Orchestra!!
Going there soon. Can't wait
This is so marvelous to see! It was indeed a majestic old building. I actually had used this station when it was still actively harboring trains.
First of all, this is a remarkable transformation! Thank You to the Ford Foundation and to Bill Ford. It is truly wonderful to see this landmark building restored to its former self. Repurposing the upstairs office spaces as an innovation business incubator is nothing short of brilliant. I grew up in Detroit and remember visiting the station, including a train trip to Chicago to visit my mother's family. Lots of good memories.
Second - to the gentleman who shot this video: you REALLY need to learn how to shoot a video documentary. Your knowledge and description of the details were obviously extensive. Too bad they were so hard to appreciate because you kept the camera moving so much and so fast. It would help if you learned to pan s-l-o-w-e-r, so the viewer can fully appreciate and enjoy the subject. Don't be afraid to stop once in a while and let the frame settle. When you're filming, a second seems like an eternity. But when you're watching, it's like a hummingbird constantly in motion. There were moments when all the up and down motion made me dizzy. You don't have to be a professional videographer to do a better job!
I used to work midnights at apac paper right behind that place in tha mid 90s what a sight at night seen people go in and out of the back doors scary but always knew that place was special and beautiful thank you Ford for bringing it back and the neighborhood too
Great! Thanks for posting. A lot was happening in 2017 to 2020, in terms of restoration, but it all closed down during the Covid (Corona Virus) Pandemic. So glad to see work had resumed, and is nearly finished. Back in 2017-18,....Bill Ford outlined many wonderful future uses for the building. A learning institution was one of the ideas, and a research facility, as new modes of transportation are being explored. It is so huge in there, I hope a transportation Museum is one of their plans. I think an entertainment complex would great, and many types of dining experiences,....possibly a grand hotel. I imagine the place has interesting acoustics. Thanks.
Thanks for this informative tour. Going to Tiger Stadium and Corktown for so many years and passing this significant stand out building was a rather sad experience. Much credit should go to Ford for their efforts. To true representation of Detroit’s renewal.
Thanks ford group and accociates
I bet the thieves or men who stripped metals and vandalized feels bad seeing it restored from the horrible past
This is miraculous
Some very serious money spent. Lots of federal historic tax credits recouped but what an OUTSTANDING job! Kudos to the architect, engineers, contractors and worker bees. SUPERB work you should all be very proud of!
What a spectacular building. Ford has certainly done a nice job.
Great year for the Fords! Both Michigan Central and the Detroit Lions are better then they've been in decades. What a great gift for Detroit and the State of Michigan!
One of my favorite things is the original stair case they kept. You can see where the original tile meets the new tile.
A beautiful building. I hope that it will be open for businesses to move in.
yes, Ford which will be occupying 3 floors of the tower and other businesses will start moving in this summer
Wish they would of just restored Tiger Stadium, but hey at least we got the central station.
Yes!!! Loved that stadium. Fenway park is now the oldest stadium. Both Tiger and Fenway opened the same day April 20, 1912.
@@courageous1483 I remember being a kid and jumping from paw print to 🐾 My dad used to buy $2 skyline tickets and we would move to better seats around 3rd inning 😆
@@yoimstewy That is cool! My first game was in September 1968 - box seats behind home plate from a neighbor that worked for Ford. They were $4.50 per seat and I still have the stubs! I have all the Pennant and World Series articles in my scrapbook! My mom new George Kell and we went to Metro to get the teams autographs! Met Al Kaline, Bill Freehan, Denny McLain, Don Wert, The Gater!, Stormin' Normin' Cash, Willie Horton, Earl Wilson, Dick McAuliffe, Mickey Lolich, and George Kell. Pretty cool for an 8 year old!
@@courageous1483 That's super cool 😎 Hopefully I get to see them win a world series they got close a couple times.
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely Beautiful
My favorite part was seeing the humility in maintaining portions of graffiti
@4:50. How exciting that the original mechanism for opening those huge arched windows is still in place.
WOW very nice