This Week on One Detroit:
Michigan Central Station reopens after historic six-year transformation spearheaded by Ford
For three decades the Michigan Central train station sat vacant in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, falling into deep decay. Then in 2018, Ford Motor Company purchased the station to begin transforming the iconic building and surrounding area into a campus for mobility and innovation.
Ford put $950 million into the campus, which includes Michigan Central Station, New Lab at Michigan Central, the surrounding parks and other amenities in the area, a company spokesman said. The six-year renovation took approximately 3,100 construction workers. During the process, millions of gallons of water were removed from the building.
The reopening of Michigan Central Station on June 6 was celebrated with a concert featuring notable Detroit artists like Big Sean, Jack White, Diana Ross, the Detroit Youth Choir and several others. The concert was being produced by Eminem and Paul Rosenberg.
The first floor will be open for self-guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays through August 31. For the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Michigan Central Station will be closed on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6. The Station will also close early at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 20.
One Detroit’s Will Glover and Chris Jordan took a tour led by Michigan Central CEO Josh Sirefman and Head of Place Melissa Dittmer, who leads planning, design, construction and development of places and spaces in Michigan Central. The pair discuss the restoration process and the building’s history.
Outdoor Adventure Center brings Michigan’s nature and recreation to Detroit
Virtual kayaking, snowmobiling, ATVing and more can all be found at The Outdoor Adventure Center along the Detroit Riverfront. It’s run by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The center aims to entertain while educating its visitors by bringing Michigan’s outdoor activities to its indoor facility.
Located within the historic Globe Building, the center resides across the street from Milliken State Park and Harbor on the Detroit River and was a building used to build steam engines. Beyond the numerous recreational activities and exhibits at the center, it also offers educational opportunities to learn about forestry, wildlife, archery and more.
“We want to make sure that everybody knows what we have to offer in this beautiful state,” Assistant Director of Outdoor Adventure Center, Missy Sharp said. “We hope that they (then) take the chance and go and visit our beautiful state parks throughout the state.”
The Outdoor Adventure Center is open to the public on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at various times; on Thursdays the center is open to groups by appointment only. One Detroit contributor Sarah Zientarski talks with Sharp about what Detroiters and other visitors can experience at the center.
Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum working to preserve Detroit’s automotive history with new funding
The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, located in Detroit’s Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, is an integral part of the Motor City’s legacy. Built in 1904 by Henry Ford, the plant was the birthplace of the Model T. “It was really the Silicon Valley of its day,” Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum President and COO Jill Woodward said.
Visitors to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum can see over 65 rare vehicles including a collection of Ford’s letter cars that preceded the Model T plus a rebuilt version of the secret experimental room where Ford made the very first one.
This year, the plant — now a U.S. National Historic Landmark and nonprofit museum — turned 120 years old. Recently, the plant was awarded a $500,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to support infrastructure improvements and increase accessibility to its visitors.
The volunteer group behind the nonprofit that turned the plant into a public museum has also taken on a $10 million capital campaign for renovations and preservation of the historic structure for the future. One Detroit’s Chris Jordan took a tour of the museum with Woodward to learn about the iconic collection of Detroit automotive history that sits within its walls.
The Wright Museum opens ‘Double ID’ exhibit from TV actress, art collector CCH Pounder
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History has opened “Double ID,” a new art exhibit featuring 54 works from the private collection of acclaimed actress CCH Pounder. Running through Oct. 20, the exhibit showcases the CCH Pounder-Koné Collection and delves into the representation of Black men through the lens of W.E.B. Du Bois’ theory of “double consciousness,” which depicts the complex inner lives and identities of Black men.
The exhibit brings together an intergenerational group of artists from across the African diaspora, offering a complex portrayal of Black masculinity and challenging historical and cultural stereotypes through artistic expressions. Artists featured in the exhibit include Greg Bailey, Elizabeth Catlett, Louis Delsarte, Tewodros Hagos, Sesse Ngeselin-Elangwe, Fahamu Pecou, Ebony G. Patterson, Malick Sidibé, Alexi Torres, and Kehinde Wiley.
In addition to her notable film and television roles, including “NCIS: New Orleans” and “ER,” Pounder is celebrated for her extensive art collection and dedication to the arts. Her collection, comprising over 500 works, has been showcased in numerous exhibitions including “QUEEN: From the Collection of CCH Pounder,” which was on display at The Wright in 2020.
Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Pounder at The Wright to discuss the significance of the exhibit’s title and its thematic connection to Du Bois’ theory. She also shared insights into her passion for art and her own creative pursuits both on-screen and in visual arts. Watch the full, extended interview here.
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