Following five years of nearly non-stop construction, Michigan Central Station will celebrate its official opening on June 6th, 2024, at which point visitors will get their very first taste of the fruits of this massive project. For Ford, this is a pivotal moment after it has invested heavily in that site in an effort to rejuvenate the historic Corktown neighborhood that has fallen on hard times in recent years, and as such, it has quite the celebration planned, even though the extent of its actual footprint there remains a bit unclear. In addition to hiring ambassadors to greet visitors to Michigan Central Station, those plans include hosting a concert, but until now, details about this celebration remained a bit scant. Now, however, some additional information has been revealed.
Between June 7th-16th, Michigan Central Station will host what it calls “Michigan Central OPEN,” a 10-day open house for the public that will allow them to see the first floor of the renovated train station following that opening night concert. Those interested in participating will be able to register online for these free events and tours starting May 17th for locals surrounding the area, and on the 21st for the general public. As for the commercial entities that will occupy the new site, they’ll begin moving into the building this fall.
It all kicks off on June 6th with the free 90-minute concert in front of the station, which will feature “well-known Detroit musical artists,” coupled with short films, appearances by local leaders, and creators telling stories of innovation and culture from around the city and the region. Those that visit in the ensuing 10 days will get a first look inside the station’s historic ground floor through a range of exhibits, entertainment, art, and more. Michigan Central’s art program will also bring art installations, including a new iteration of Reddymade’s me + you, a critically acclaimed interactive sculpture specifically for Michigan Central. The first floor will be open to the public for tours on Fridays and Saturdays through August, and in the ensuring months, the space will add retailers and restaurants, to boot.
“I am truly excited to share the historic Michigan Central Station restoration with the entire Detroit community and beyond,” said Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford. “This is a milestone we can all celebrate. Michigan Central Station was once a symbol of Detroit’s decline, and now it is going to represent its renewal and bright future. This monumental project has taken more than 1.7 million hours of work and reflects Ford’s dedication to the community, Detroit’s role in shaping the future of mobility, and the opportunities that our city, state, and region continue to offer.”
We’ll have more on Michigan Central Station soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for continuous Ford news coverage.
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