Michigan
A look at the history behind Michigan Central ahead of grand reopening
(CBS DETROIT) – The Michigan Central Station opened to the public the day after Christmas in 1913.
There was no fanfare.
“It was rushed into service because the former Michigan Central Depot downtown caught fire,” said Michigan Central Communications Director Dan Austin. “And for that reason, this building did not get a grand opening.”
Seven months later, the fighting began overseas in what would eventually become World War I.
Back home in Detroit, Austin said, things were bustling and the city was steadily growing.
“People were starting to flock to Detroit to work in the auto factories,” Austin said. “This station opened just in time to greet them. So when you had a lot of folks coming up from the South or coming from New York, wherever they came to Detroit from, this is the building they first stepped into. … It was a welcome mat. It was this grand public space.”
In 1917, the U.S. entered the war, and troops from Detroit shipped off from the station to head to training and then to the European front. The lucky ones came home to their loved ones through the station. The rest arrived in flag-draped coffins on the trains.
When the war was over, the roaring 20s began, and people were on the move. They would take a street car to the station, heading to destinations like Florida for a vacation or a honeymoon in Niagara Falls.
There were even some big stars that came through the station.
“There was a day when Charlie Chaplin and Herbert Hoover arrived on the same train from New York,” Austin said. “Charlie Chaplin being the megastar that he was, throngs of Detroiters came down to see him and greet him and completely ignored Herbert Hoover.”
It was not a good sign for a presidential candidate to make a campaign stop.
The station played a big role in Detroit’s prosperity through the first half of the 20th century. Industries in the city were booming, and they became top makers of items like stoves and cigars. Many African Americans used the train to escape Jim Crow laws down south and find more prosperous work in the north
At its peak during the Depression and through World War II, 4,000 passengers a day would come through Michigan Central, swelling Detroit’s population to 2 million people.
“This building was at the center of so much for so many people who called Detroit home,” Austin said. “Now for the first time in 30 years, almost 40, it’s back for the people of Detroit to use again.”
After being closed for 36 years, Michigan Central reopens to the public this week. The public is invited to visit the building for interior and exterior tours from June 6-16 during the Michigan Central OPEN events.
A reopening concert on Thursday will feature several artists, including Detroit’s own Diana Ross, Big Sean and Jack White.
Saturday, July 11, 2026 2:48PM
CHICAGO (WLS) — Sailors are making their way from Chicago to Mackinac Island on Saturday morning.
The racing division of the Race to Mackinac took off from Monroe Harbor. The first sailors began their journey at 9 a.m.
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The race, spanning over 300 miles into Michigan, brings sailors from all over the world to compete. The event is considered the longest annual freshwater sailing race in the world.
The Race to Mackinac is now on its 117th year and is the Chicago Yacht Club’s signature sailing event. This year, there are 2,000 sailors competing on 252 boats total.
The race’s unpredictable weather and shifting winds on Lake Michigan serve as a challenge for sailors. The event goes on, rain or shine.
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ROTHBURY, Mich. — Michigan State Police (MSP) detectives shared some more information Friday about their investigation of the infant death at this year’s Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury.
Troopers recently received a tip about a Muskegon woman who was said to have information about the incident, but after interviewing her and completing other necessary investigative steps, MSP said they ruled her out as a suspect.
A restroom vending company employee at the festival found the body of a neonate, a newborn infant who is four weeks old or younger, in a portable restroom in the festival camping area on June 28, according to troopers.
The festival is hosted at the Double JJ Resort, which was locked down to anyone entering the following day as police surrounded the scene.
Troopers are asking for tips from the public at michigan.gov/michtip.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Harmful algal blooms have been reported on two notable lakes in West Michigan: Gun Lake and Muskegon Lake.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy says cyanobacteria was reported on Muskegon Lake July 3, but no tests have confirmed it.
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department says a harmful algal bloom was confirmed Thursday on Gun Lake. The lake remains open, but the BEDHD is encouraging visitors to use caution and avoid water that has “visible algae.”
Visitors are encouraged to avoid any contact with water that appears bright green, blue-green, brown or red or has “floating mats of scum.”
Pets should also avoid the water. If they come into contact with the algae, pets should be rinsed off as soon as possible with clean, fresh water.
Exposure to algae can cause a rash or irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat. It can also cause stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever and trouble breathing.
“If you become sick, contact your healthcare provider. Seek medical care right away if you have trouble breathing, severe vomiting, or other serious symptoms,” the BEDHD said in a statement. “If your pet was exposed, rinse them well with clean water and do not let them lick their fur until they have been washed. Contact your veterinarian right away if your pet has vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, trouble walking, excessive drooling, shaking, or seizures.”
Harmful algal blooms are powered by the sudden growth of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria occur naturally in lakes, rivers and ponds but is often boosted by a sudden excess of nutrients, often caused by fertilizer runoff from farms or failed septic systems.
They can last for several days and sometimes even months. The water will look “scummy” or like “spilled paint or pea soup.” They are typically found in the summer and fall — usually peaking in August or September and dying off by the end of October.
You can report a suspected harmful algal bloom to EGLE at AlgaeBloom@Michigan.gov or 1.800.662.9278.
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