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HON 1000
Dr. Harrison
22 November 2015
Michigan Central Station (Where are we going?)
Michigan Central Station, the main means of transportation in the city of Detroit for
several years. Erected in December of 1913, the Michigan Central Station was Detroits second
train station. The opening of the station happened nine days ahead of the original opening date,
due to the burning down of the old train depot on 3 rd and Jefferson. Approximately two miles
west of downtown Detroit, Michigan Central Station is located in the historic neighborhood of
Corktown off of a major thoroughfare: Michigan Avenue. It is surrounded by residential,
commercial and industrial activity to all sides [Roosen 7]. Even today, in its ruinous state, the
station is still standing and is a constant and solid reminder for Detroiters of just where we, as a
city, have come from. Nothing represents Detroits magnificent rise and fall like this building
does. This station was Detroits very own Ellis Island, the place where so many generations of
Detroiters stepped foot into the city for their first time [D. Austin]. In this writing, I am going to
discuss how the Michigan Central Station is a good illustration of who was are, what the station
means to me, and what the station can teach everyone about cities.
This particular site is one of the few things that Detroiters, as well as people from other
parts of Michigan, can look back on and be proud of. The station basically helped build the
creation of the Motor City. The Michigan Central Station is the most accurate reflection of the
citys past, present, and future. I feel as if the station embodies the theme where are we going
in such a way that no other Detroit staple can. The station helped build Detroit economically as
well as demographically. During the 1940s, the train station served more than four thousand

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passengers a day (US Census Bureau). For some people, the station was the first step on the path to

a new beginning. Many of the trains passengers used the train to escape the past from their old
lives and come to Detroit for bigger and better opportunities. People wanted to come to the
Motor City for a new life, and the station played a huge role in making those wishes come true.
The site represents Detroit and its inhabitants then and now. The Michigan Central
Station was at one point such a prosperous and grand landmark. It gave Detroit a certain
edge. This can also be said about the city as a whole and its inhabitants at the time. The city of
Detroit and its inhabitants during that time were prosperous. Now, dont misunderstand me, there
were people who were on the lower echelon of the socioeconomic totem pole, but the majority of
the citys inhabitants were prosperous people. The Michigan Central Station brought a boom to
the city. Unfortunately, when the train became viewed as outdated that boom that the Michigan
Central Station brought suddenly went away. The passengers of the once thriving train station
moved onto automobiles and they were more impressed with the efficient and time saving newly
built expressways. Just like people abandoned the once remarkable landmark that the Michigan
Central Station has come to be, many of the inhabitants of the city of Detroit have abandoned the
city itself. History, in a sense, is repeating itself, except for now its the city itself whereas then it
was the train station. Currently, both the city and train station are in need of restoration and its
up to us to come into agreeance as to what the next steps are towards remodeling the Michigan
Central Station and the City of Detroit
The Michigan Central Station is, within itself, a learning lesson to all of us, as well as all
cities. The Michigan Central Station can teach other cities that setbacks happen and sometimes
the remnants of those setbacks will still be around, but its up to us to view it in either one of two
ways, as a negative thing or as motivation to get up and do something about it. There are so

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many visions that people have for the future of the station like turning it into a flea market,
police headquarters, and even a new Cobo center. That just goes to show that train station is a
great representation of how we, as Detroiters, will never give up. The Michigan Central Station
reminds Detroiters every day of the rise of Detroit fall of Detroit. Writer Kathleen Roosen said,
The strength and resilience of Detroit residents and businesses is truly inspiring.
The Michigan Central Station reminds Detroiters of the citys once glorious state and it
consequently reflects the citys horrible downward spiral. Although, the Michigan Central
Station reflects Detroits rise and fall it also shines a light on the potential that the city has.
Detroit can return to its once booming and glorious state and thats where Detroit is going,
nowhere, but up. The ruins of the Michigan Central Station is often looked at as an eyesore or
a disgrace. In my opinion, it should never be viewed in such a negative perspective. It should
be a constant reminder of the greatness that the city of Detroit once possessed and it should
motivate its current residents to do something to get Detroit back to its magnificent state. I view
it as an inspiration.

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References

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Vergara, Camilo Jose. Michigan Quarterly Review: Michigan Central Railroad Station, Detroit.
38 Vol. University of Michigan, 07/01/1999. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Jerry Herron, The Forgetting Machine: Notes Toward a History of Detroit, Places Journal,
January 2012. Accessed 19 Nov 2015.
Hyde, Charles K. "Planning A Transportation System For Metropolitan Detroit In The Age Of
The Automobile: The Triumph Of The Expressway." Michigan Historical Review 32.1 (2006):
59-95. America: History & Life. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Schultz, Joe. "Michigan Central Station, Detroit, 2010." Technology and Culture 51.4 (2010):
889-92. ProQuest. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Morton, Thomas. "Something, Something, Something, Detroit | VICE | United States." VICE.
VICE, 1 Aug. 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Swaminathan, Nikhil. The Pre-motor City. Archaeology 64.6 (2011): 3237. Web. 19 Nov.
2015.
Roosen, Kathleen "Master's Project." Issuu., 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.
Austin, Dan. "Michigan Central Station." Historic Detroit. Historicdetroit.org, 2009. Web. 19
Nov. 2015.