Public Tours At Michigan Central Station
Photo Credit: Jason Keen/Michigan Central
Discover the rich history and incredible transformation of Michigan Central Station on this 90-minute guided station tour. First opened in 1913, the iconic Beaux-Arts structure once served as Detroit's bustling railway hub until its closure in 1988. Now, as one of the city's most beloved landmarks, the station is undergoing an ambitious restoration led by Ford Motor Company and Michigan Central.
Step inside Michigan Central Station and delve into its fascinating past, from the vision of railroad tycoon William Vanderbilt to its role as a sister station to New York City's Grand Central Terminal. Expert guides will bring to life the station's rich history, sharing stories of its grandeur, decline, and rebirth. This tour offers a rare opportunity to explore the historic spaces of the station, while learning about the continuing restoration process. Marvel at the work of over 3,100 skilled craftspeople, see how innovative technologies like 3D printing are being used, and learn about what’s next for Michigan Central.
Please be aware that the station is an active construction site. Guests may encounter noise, dust, and limited access to certain areas. Routes may vary without notice.
This tour begins and ends at The Shop, Michigan Central's souvenir store near the East Entrance to the station, nestled within the landscaping. Guest check- in will begin 10 minutes prior to the scheduled tour start time, the tour will depart promptly. Late arrivals may not be accommodated. Please be prepared to show your confirmation booking email upon arrival, guests may also check in by name.
Take home a piece of The Station with Michigan Central official merchandise; The Shop will be open for all public tours of the station.
Ticket prices include all taxes, fees, and service charges.
Your order confirmation email will serve as your ticket.
Guests may check in by name upon arrival 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the tour.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Public tours depart from The Shop, the gift shop of Michigan Central, located east of the station within the East Triangle near 15th Street. Below is an image of The Shop, as well as an image of the East Triangle as it appears from 15th Street. The Shop is located about half way between the street and The Station on the south side.
Public tours begin and end at The Shop, Michigan Central's shipping container souvenir shop near the East Entrance to the station, nestled within the landscaping. Take home a piece of The Station with Michigan Central official merchandise before or after your tour.
Guest check- in: will begin 10 minutes prior to the scheduled tour start time, the tour will depart promptly. Late arrivals will not be accommodated. Please be prepared to show your confirmation/booking email upon arrival, guests may also check in by name.
Public tour tickets are non-refundable and may not be transferred to different dates or time. Please check carefully before completing your purchase.
Availability: If a date and time are not listed or are marked as sold out, they are unavailable. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made.
Please note that due to ongoing construction, guests may experience noise, dust, closed areas, and uneven surfaces. Expert guides will shepherd your group safely throughout the station, giving you not only a tour but a glimpse of the restoration process. Routes may vary, and access to certain areas may change without notice due to construction needs.
Parking: Visitors are encouraged to park at Michigan Central’s Bagley Mobility Hub parking garage located at 1501 Wabash, Detroit, MI 48216. Parking at The Bagley Mobility Hub is $10 per vehicle, flat rate.
Comfortable Footwear: is highly recommended, for the enjoyment of tour guests.
Age requirements: This tour is recommended for guests at least 12 years old, however guests of any age are welcome.
Photography: All photography is limited to personal use only, without written pre-authorization from Michigan Central. Guests are encouraged to capture their experience and use #MichiganCentralOPEN on social media. Professional photo and video equipment is not permitted inside The Station without prior approval. Contact info@michigancentral for more information. Selfie sticks, tripods, lighting equipment, wireless microphones or any UHF/VHF wireless devices are prohibited. Unauthorized devices will be powered down. Photography cannot block or disrupt other guests or operations. *Media must contact Michigan Central’s Communications team in advance of interior filming or photography inside The Station. Email michigancentral@berlinrosen.com to make arrangements.
Accessibility Entry: All guest entrances are accessible. Parking & Drop-off: Parking is available at the Bagley Mobility Hub for OPEN House visitors, located one block from The Station (1501 Wabash St, Detroit, MI 48216). This structure is accessible as well as the path to The Station. Limited accessible street parking is also available on surrounding roadways.
ADA drop off is available at the East entrance triangle off 15th Street. Visitors may drop off members of their party and park at the Bagley Mobility Hub.
Restrooms: Facilities are available for guests. All restrooms are ADA accessible.
Service Animals: Michigan Central abides by the ADA regarding the admission of service animals based on their ability to perform a specific task. Animals regarded as comfort animals, therapy animals, companion animals or emotional support animals are not service animals as defined by the ADA. Therefore, they are not allowed at Michigan Central.
Tour Guide Audio System: At your tour guides discretion a Whisper tour guide audio system maybe used. Guests will be given headphones and a wearable receiver to hear the tour guide. The Whisper System is compatible with all digital hearing aids. Everything needed will be provided to tour guests. All audio equipment is professionally cleaned between uses to ensure the highest standards of hygiene for our guests. Detroit History Tours reserves the right to not use the Whisper System at the tour guide's discretion based on group size and overall noise level within the station.
Do tour guests have access to the station after the 90-minute tour? No, ample time is included within the tour for photos and questions. At the conclusion of the tour, groups will be escorted back to the exterior location from which they began. This excludes tours which take place during times when the facility is open for general public hours, in which case guests are welcome to remain in public spaces.
Where can my group congregate before or after a tour? Roosevelt Park, a Detroit Public Park in front of Michigan Central Station, is open to the public and features beautiful views of the station as well as Corktown.
How large of a group can you accommodate? Public tours are capped at 25 guests per tour. We are able to accommodate groups of any size with advance booking and where scheduling permits via our Group Tours.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GROUP or private TOURS
To stay up to date with events and programs at Michigan Central, please visit
the Michigan Central website
Photo Credit: Detroit Photographic Company, Detroit, Michigan. Historic postcard circa 1920. Collection of The Detroit History Club.