Historic Detroit

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Michigan Central Station - Old photos

Michigan Central Station is erected in late 1912 or early 1913.

Michigan Central Station about 1920.

Excavating for Michigan Central Station in 1910. Note the waterboy keeping those shovel-slingers hydrated.

MCS and the sheds

The stairs that led from the train sheds into Michigan Central Station

The interior of Michigan Central Station

The interior of Michigan Central Station

A typical hallway inside the tower of Michigan Central Station

Where passengers would get on the trains at Michigan Central Station

The waiting room of Michigan Central Station

The waiting room of Michigan Central Station

Passengers line up to get on the trains inside Michigan Central Station.

A waiting room in Michigan Central Station

A soda counter inside Michigan Central Station

The waiting room of Michigan Central Station

An elevator lobby of Michigan Central Station

The ticket counter of Michigan Central Station

The interior of Michigan Central Station

Michigan Central Station

Michigan Central Station

Michigan Central Station

Michigan Central Station

Looking at Michigan Central Station from Michigan Avenue

The depot under construction

Michigan Central Station, as seen from the air

Michigan Central Station, as seen from the air

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

A family at Michigan Central Station in 1982, six years before the station closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

Michigan Central Station in April 1982, six years before it closed.

The depot in June 1972

The empty-looking depot in December 1982, shortly before the end of the line

Customers used to just park right in front of the main entrance back in 1972.

The depot's main entrance in April 1985

A customer buys a ticket in June 1972

The depot in July 1984

One of the benches sits empty in April 1985. Passenger traffic had slowed to a trickle by that point.

The main entrance in May 1988, a few months after the station closed

Mark Longton Jr., who bought Michigan Central Station in 1989, walks through the depot in 1990 with his dog.

Former President Herbert Hoover arrives at Michigan Central Station in January 1940 to speak at a fund-raiser at the Masonic Temple.

Ottawa Nation Chief Little Hawk at Michigan Central Station in October 1947 on his way to Washington, D.C.