[The exterior front of the newly refurbished Michigan Central Station]
[Exterior front of Michigan Central Station when it was in disrepair]
[Exterior of the station, as seen from a newly created pedestrian walkway a block away]
Jim Farley (interview): “It was perhaps the most visible symbol of decay in the city. And now that the city of Detroit is finally growing after decades, I think it was an appropriate and iconic American landmark to completely redo and bring it back to its former glory.”
[The station’s newly refurbished great hal]l
[The great hall in disrepair]
Jim Farley (interview): “It really represented kind of the best physical symbol of that decay. And here we are in a completely beautiful, breathtaking facility like Detroit was in the ‘20s. But here we are almost 100 years later.”
[A chandelier hangs in the great hall]
[A room that features a historic clock on the wall]
[A remodeled hallway that features an original staircase]
Jim Farley (interview): “Today, it’s going to represent a site of innovation. We’re going to have many non-Ford, multi-use users here. It really represents a vibrant, multi-use space. It also is a part of a vibrant community called Corktown — the original community here in the city of Detroit.”
[The renovated back room of the MCS]
[The station’s back room as seen on the day Ford announced it would be renovating the building]
[The redone back room]
[The back room in disrepair]
Jim Farley (interview): “And, as employees, we’re so proud that Ford stuck its neck out to do this project. We didn’t have to do it. No other company stood up.”
[The refurbishment, including a ticket window, staircase, glass ceiling, a room to be used to hold events and a bank of elevators]
[A room as seen on the day Ford announced it would renovate the station]
[The great hallway]
Jim Farley (interview): “It brings back our ancestors. All the travel and the trips and the emotions in the life of a train station, designed by the same person who designed Grand Central Station. People’s lives played out in this place. And that’s what it brings up: Just our small time here and our relatives, all the family journeys. These are all American stories of people coming from the South and all over the country. Wars. This place has a story. It’s an American story.”
[The front exterior of Michigan Central Station]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.