Postcard - New Michigan Central Station by Night, Detroit, Mich.

This postcard from the Detroit Historical Society digital archive, postmarked July 8, 1913, shows the station at night. While it documents the building, it also reflects how postcards were used to communicate new infrastructure to the public. The designer is not identified in the archive. 

The caption on the front reads “NEW MICHIGAN CENTRAL STATION BY NIGHT, DETROIT. MICH.” in a bold yellow serif font, placed in the lower left corner, providing basic identification and location.

According to the archive, the reverse side includes a handwritten description of the station, which reads: “The New Michigan Central Station is located near Michigan Avenue, between fifteenth and seventeenth Streets, covers twenty-one acres and the total cost is $15,000,000.00. There will be eleven tracks in the station that will accommodate 135 passenger coaches. It will have all conveniences, such as a complete Drug Store with special facilities for the care of Invalids and Change Room where travelers can at nominal cost obtain Shower Baths and make a change of clothing. Accommodations for passengers will not be outdone by any Railroad Station in the World.” 

This postcard serves as both a record of the station’s early presentation, as well as a piece of printed communication intended to inform recipients about its features and scale. 

“Postcard - New Michigan Central Station by Night, Detroit, Mich.” 2025. Detroithistorical.org. December 18, 2025. https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/collection/archive/postcard-new-michigan-central-station-night-detroit-mich.