Detroit’s skyline tells two stories at once. On one side, you see the glass towers of new investment. On the other, you find old buildings that speak to an industrial past. Some stand restored, while others sit quiet, carrying traces of another era. Walking through the city, I found that these once-forgotten structures, some reborn, others still in limbo, continue to shape how Detroit feels today.
1. Michigan Central Station
Standing in front of Michigan Central Station, the sheer size of the building always takes me by surprise. The towering columns and detailed stonework hint at a time when travel felt like an event. When the station opened in 1913, it promised Detroit a gateway to the nation, and for decades, people poured in and out of the city right here.
After it closed in 1988, the station sat empty for years. Locals drove by and saw broken windows and the steady creep of weeds, a daily reminder of lost hopes for Michigan. Some thought it would never be repaired, but in 2018, Ford Motor Company stepped in and began a massive $900 million restoration effort.
By June 2024, the doors reopened as a hub for mobility innovation. Now, tech startups fill what used to be waiting rooms, and events bring people together beneath the arched ceilings. The station stands revived but still carries echoes of Detroit’s layered past. Michigan’s spirit of reinvention lives here, connecting memories of the railroad age to new dreams for the city’s future.
2. Packard Automotive Plant
The Packard Automotive Plant always feels larger than life. Covering 40 acres on Detroit’s east side, it was once a powerhouse of Michigan’s auto industry. Walking the perimeter, I am struck by how the scale seems impossible for a single factory, with corridors stretching farther than the eye can see.
By late 2024, nearly the entire plant was demolished, with only two historic sections preserved for possible reuse. What once stretched across 40 acres has been reduced to fragments, leaving behind a landscape that mixes rubble with echoes of Detroit’s auto legacy. From the street, you can still spot pieces of the original facade, but most of the vast factory is gone. The cleared ground now sparks questions about what will rise here next, a reminder of how even Detroit’s most imposing industrial sites can vanish almost overnight.
From the street, you can still spot the iconic Packard logo above certain entrances. The broken windows let in both sunlight and wind, while nature slowly reclaims the space. The plant’s fate remains uncertain, but as I look across the massive site, I feel both awe and melancholy. Detroit, Michigan’s industrial backbone, lives on here in brick and steel, even as its future takes shape.
3. Lee Plaza Hotel
Every time I pass the Lee Plaza Hotel, I pause to admire its imposing Art Deco silhouette. Built in the 1920s, this towering structure once stood as a symbol of wealth and style in Michigan. Its architecture, with orange bricks and decorative terracotta, still turns heads despite decades of neglect.
The building’s history reads like a novel. It hosted elegant parties in its ballrooms and drew Detroit’s elite to its luxury apartments. By the 1990s, though, Lee Plaza was empty, its intricate details stripped away and squatters occasionally moving in, changing the building’s story yet again.
The city has plans for redevelopment, and you can see signs of hope in the scaffolding and new construction nearby. For now, Lee Plaza stands as a reminder of changing times, steadfast among Detroit’s shifting fortunes. Whenever I visit, I picture the grand lobby filled with laughter and music, and I wonder what future chapters this Michigan landmark might write for itself.
4. Vanity Ballroom
If you grew up in Detroit or know its music history, the Vanity Ballroom always comes up in conversation. On Jefferson Avenue, this Art Deco gem once pulsed with the energy of jazz and swing bands. Even now, the geometric facade and artful detailing hint at the heyday of live music in Michigan.
The interior has seen better days. Closed since the 1980s, the ballroom remains vacant. Through cracks in the boards, you can almost hear echoes of dancers’ feet sliding across the old wooden floor.
Though restoration plans have floated for years, the building still waits for its next act. Every time I walk by, I imagine the sounds of horns and laughter drifting into the night, part of Detroit’s rich musical history. The Vanity Ballroom is a cultural anchor, quietly holding onto memories even as the city moves forward.
In recent years, community groups and developers have floated proposals for a $14 million restoration. Nothing has broken ground yet, but the interest shows that the Vanity still matters to Detroiters. The building’s condition is fragile, with water damage and structural decay, but its cultural importance keeps it in conversations about the city’s future.
5. Grande Ballroom
The Grande Ballroom isn’t just a building; it’s a legend in Detroit’s rock history. In the 1960s, it rang with the sounds of the MC5, The Stooges, and countless other artists. Teenagers once lined up outside, hoping for a ticket to the next big show.
Today the doors are closed and the paint is peeling, but the air around the Grande still buzzes with old stories. Preservationists have fought to keep it standing, and every once in a while, you’ll spot someone snapping photos of the faded brick and crumbling facade for their own piece of Michigan memorabilia.
Its future might be unclear, but the spirit of the Grande Ballroom endures. Each time I pass, I picture the crowds, smoke in the air, guitars wailing, and Detroit’s creative pulse alive. Buildings like this connect generations, and the Grande’s legacy continues in every note played elsewhere in the city.
6. United Artists Theatre Building
If you stand at the corner of Bagley and Cass, the United Artists Theatre Building towers overhead like a silent movie star. Built in 1928, it once drew crowds to its ornate theater with red velvet seats and a dazzling marquee. The office tower above witnessed decades of change in downtown Detroit, Michigan.
By the 1970s, the theater closed. Since then, the building has sat mostly empty, its beauty faded but never forgotten. The carved stone facade and high-rise silhouette still command attention from passersby.
Redevelopment is now underway. The Ilitch family’s Olympia Development is transforming the tower into new apartments under the project called Residences @ 150 Bagley. Part of the rear theater section is being removed to allow parking, but the main high-rise will survive as housing. Each time I pass, I watch scaffolding climb higher, proof that this long-vacant landmark is finally gaining a new role in downtown Detroit.
7. David Broderick Tower
One of Detroit’s most recognizable landmarks, the David Broderick Tower rises 34 stories above Grand Circus Park. Built in the late 1920s, it became Michigan’s tallest building for a time. The blend of Neo-Classical and Beaux-Arts design still makes it stand out today, especially after its careful restoration.
For years the building sat vacant, a shell of its former glory. Then, in 2012, developers invested $50 million to transform it into apartments and retail space. Now, lights shine from the upper floors, and the tower feels alive once again.
Even with its modern uses, the Broderick Tower keeps part of its soul in the past. The ornate cornices and decorative touches speak to an era of big dreams for Detroit. Every time I exit the People Mover nearby, I look up, reminded that old buildings can find new purpose when the city is ready.
8. Book Tower
The Book Tower’s green copper roof is one of downtown Detroit’s most striking features. Completed in 1926, this Italian Renaissance-style skyscraper was once the tallest building in the city. Its ornate columns and decorative flourishes draw the eye upward, where history and ambition meet in stone and glass.
Years of neglect left the tower in rough shape, but recent renovations have brought it back to life. By 2022, the building welcomed new residents, hotel guests, and businesses into its revitalized halls. It’s a place where old craftsmanship meets the energy of modern Michigan.
Whenever I walk past the Book Tower, I admire how its details remain sharp after nearly a century. The staircase inside, covered in marble, tells its own story with every step. This landmark proves that Detroit’s forgotten buildings are not always lost, they sometimes get a second chance to inspire another generation.
9. Pilgrim and Puritan Apartment Complex
Tucked along East Jefferson Avenue, the Pilgrim and Puritan Apartment Complex offers a quieter look at Detroit’s architectural heritage. Built in 1924, these courtyard-style apartments provide a glimpse into the city’s residential past. The buildings, recognized for their design, now sit among newer developments, holding onto their unique character.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the complex features detailed brickwork and arched entrances. The green lawns and mature trees soften the urban landscape, creating a peaceful setting that contrasts with busier stretches of Michigan’s main roads. Residents and visitors alike appreciate the sense of community these apartments foster.
What stands out to me is how the past lingers in the everyday routines here. Neighbors greet each other across the courtyard, framed by architecture that’s nearly a century old. The Pilgrim and Puritan Complex is proof that not all forgotten buildings are abandoned, some are quietly thriving, shaping daily life in Detroit’s neighborhoods.
10. Moross House
Moross House feels like a time capsule, sitting quietly just a short walk from Detroit’s riverfront. Built around 1840 by Christopher Moross, a French brickmaker, it’s one of the oldest surviving brick homes in Michigan. The house’s simple but dignified architecture stands out amid the city’s more modern additions.
Inside, the building now serves as a creative studio and artists’ showroom. The rooms are filled with natural light, and original details like wood trim and old fireplaces still shine through. Over the years, local artists have given the space new energy, making it both a historic site and a lively part of the community.
Recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Moross House endures as a symbol of Detroit’s deep roots. Standing on its porch, I feel connected to layers of history that run through the city. The house reminds me that preservation isn’t just about saving old walls, it’s about giving them a place in today’s Michigan story.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
