Gallery: Michigan Central Station Comes Alive For A Night

There were plenty luminaries on hand Wednesday night for the opening reception of the fourth annual "Detroit Homecoming" hosted by Crain's Detroit Business -- an event that lures expatriates home, shows them the city's revitalization and encourages investment.

Notables on hand included comic and actor Lily Tomlin; Mary Wilson, one of the founding members of The Supremes; Tigers legend Al Kaline; Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert; former boxer Tommy "The Hitman" Hearns and Mayor Mike Duggan. Additionally, there were presidents from the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

But the biggest star of the night was the decaying 104-year-old Michigan Central Station at Michigan Avenue and 15th Street in Detroit's Corktown where the event was held. Many in attendance were anxious to see the inside where passengers last boarded an Amtrak train in January 1988. There hadn't been an event inside the hulking structure for a very long time.

Thing were spruced up Wednesday, just enough to throw a pretty cool party in a graffiti-graced structure that needs a lot of work.

Guests got to walk around the first floor, where the event was held, and take a brief peek at the 13th floor. It was like walking through an archeological dig.

Among the speakers was Matthew Moroun, son of Matty. The family owns the station.

Moroun talked about his battle with the city to keep the station from being razed.

"Today, demolition is unthinkable," he told the crowd.

The Detroit Homecoming event runs through Friday.