”Michigan’s Historic Railroad Stations is a photographic survey of 31 railroad stations around the state of Michigan with architectural observations and short histories of each. It will reacquaint readers with the building type that once served as the nation’s principal crossroads, and the range of architectural styles it employed both to tame and exalt rail transportation. Readers interested in Michigan railroad history as well as historic preservation will not want to miss this handsome volume.

“In Michigan’s Historic Railroad Stations writer and photographer Michael H. Hodges presents depots ranging from functioning Amtrak stops (Jackson) to converted office buildings (Battle Creek) and spectacular abandoned wrecks (Saginaw and Detroit) to highlight the beauty of these iconic structures and remind readers of the key role architecture and historic preservation play in establishing an area’s sense of place.
“Along with his striking contemporary photographs of the stations, Hodges includes historic pictures and postcards, as well as images of “look-alike” depots elsewhere in the state. For each building Hodges provides a short history, a discussion of its architectural style, and an assessment of how the depot fits with the rest of its town or city. Hodges also comments on the condition of the depot and its use today. An introduction summarizes the functional and stylistic evolution of the train station in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and surveys the most important academic works on the subject, while an epilogue considers the role of the railroad depot in creating the American historic-preservation movement. “

This book was published by Wayne State University Press. It is part of their Painted Turtle Series of books on regional topics of cultural and historical interest. For more titles in the Painted Turtle Series and other WSU Press books, go to www.wsupress.wayne.edu.