Michigan Central Station Celebrates 100,000 Visitors
August 8, 2024
Due to popular demand, The Station will also be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. September 1 & 2
Guided tour options will be available in the coming weeks
DETROIT, August 8, 2024 – Michigan Central has reached a new milestone, welcoming more than 100,000 visitors to the revitalized Station since its star-studded reopening in June. In response to this demand, Michigan Central is extending Summer at The Station through Labor Day weekend, offering visitors a last chance to experience and learn about the building’s transformation from ruin to rebirth through its OPEN exhibits before The Station enters its next phase of reactivation.
Summer at The Station will continue to run Fridays 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through August 31, plus expanded hours for Labor Day weekend on Sunday, September 1 and Monday, September 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Summer at The Station tours are self-guided, with no tickets or registration required. Michigan Central will announce opportunities later this month for the public to continue to visit The Station this fall, including ticketed guided and group tours. Learn more about visiting The Station at michigancentral.com/visit.
“This outpouring of support has truly been inspiring,” said Joshua Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central. “The Station is more than just a building; it’s a symbol of the city’s strength and a catalyst for innovation, and we’re proud to welcome the community back to this iconic Detroit landmark.”
After a six-year restoration by Ford Motor Company that saw more than 3,100 skilled tradesmen and women work a combined 1.7 million hours, Michigan Central Station officially reopened its doors for the first time in nearly four decades in June. Since its grand opening, The Station has welcomed visitors from around the world to explore its restored spaces and immersive cultural exhibits.
The 10-day OPEN House celebration attracted more than 50,000 visitors between June 7 and 16. Since launching June 21, Summer at The Station continues to surpass expectations, drawing an average of 3,000 visitors on Friday evenings and 5,000 visitors on Saturdays. The excitement surrounding this revitalization is a reminder of Detroit’s shared history as a city of opportunity and the importance of preserving this landmark for the community.
Pastor Robert D Lodge, of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church in the McDougall-Hunt community on Detroit’s east side, was The Station’s 100,000th visitor. He was joined by members of his family; his wife, Latashia Lodge; and four cousins, children ages 3 to 10.
“Being the 100,000th person to enter into this epic building has made me recognize the future is bright and Detroit has been given a fresh start,” said Pastor Lodge. “We wanted to come and relive the nostalgia of the train station and see the enhancements and how Detroit has been revitalized and that this will be an epic reminder that Detroit is back.”
As the centerpiece of Michigan Central’s 30-acre innovation and cultural hub, The Station will support growth and opportunity in Detroit’s future. It will accommodate larger tenants and established companies, attract and retain technology talent, and draw in diverse businesses. Its first tenants, Detroit youth in Google’s Code Next program, have already moved into their offices on The Station’s fifth floor. The program helps Detroit high school students pursue careers in tech and will help develop a pipeline of diverse talent for Michigan tech startups and established companies alike.
For more information on The Station’s history, restoration, and next chapter, go to: michigancentral.com/a-new-beginning-ford-to-reopen-michigan-central-station-after-multi-year-historic-restoration/.
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About Michigan Central
Michigan Central is a 30-acre technology and cultural hub in Detroit, where leaders, thinkers, communities, and creators come together to accelerate bold ideas and technologies that shape our collective future. By providing access to world-class infrastructure, tools, and resources, Michigan Central inspires innovators and community members to collaborate on real, ground-breaking solutions to global problems. Since opening in April 2023, Michigan Central has grown into a diverse ecosystem of more than 600 employees from over 100 companies and startups working at the intersection of mobility and society. Learn more at Michigan Central .
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at Ford Corporate Home .