Here you have the former ticket counter inside of Michigan Central Station. Once a bustling area where millions purchased tickets for travel, time and taggers have completely re-engineered it into something unrecognizable.

Looters have made off with anything of value. The damaged walls have been stripped of their beautiful marble. A clock once sat ornately in the arch over the counter. Look closely at the floor and you can even make out where some of the original tiles have been lifted. The plaster work still reveals its old world construction – a type whose art seems to have been lost.

Still, you can imagine the lines of people that stood here – purchasing tickets that would transport them away, trains whistling in the background as they prepared to move out from one of the 18 tracks that used to snake out in every direction to every part of the country.

Yet despite the neglect, the detail reveals why this building is one of the grandest in Detroit, and even gives glimpses back to the days when Detroit commanded the attention of the world. It’s elegance is still unmatched.

Offered in 14×10 size for $275. Please see Ordering Art Prints for further information or click the button below to process your order through Etsy.

UPDATE 2/11 – Other recent pictures of this same area show that most of the graffiti has been removed from the pillars and top of the ticket booths, which has also removed much of the color and interest from this scene.

Prints for Sale, Urban Decay