America’s Rust Belt spans multiple states, including much of Ohio, as well as significant tracts of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. This umbrella term, coined in the 1980s, refers to a region that once formed the backbone of America’s manufacturing and industry in the 20th century. While parts of the Rust Belt faced declining economic headwinds in the second half of the 20th century, many of the spectacular buildings built at the height of the Rust Belt’s power remain. Indeed, today the revitalized cities of the Rust Belt boast some of the most interesting architecture in the country. From their fascinating backstories to their varied present-day uses, these six historic buildings, bridges, and transportation hubs are worthy of attention.
Cincinnati Music Hall – Cincinnati, Ohio
The splendid Cincinnati Music Hall opened in 1878 to much fanfare. Decorative flags fluttered above a delighted crowd outside, while those lucky enough to secure a ticket watched as the May Festival Chorus played to a full house. The following year, the building hosted the seventh Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, attracting around 250,000 visitors, including President Rutherford Hayes and General W.T. Sherman.
Built in the High Victorian Gothic style, the building is still a much-loved landmark. In recent years, several vital restoration projects — including work on the finials of the Music Hall’s gables, balcony doors, and stone floor — have breathed new life into this magnificent arts venue. That’s good news for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the May Festival, the Cincinnati Opera, and the Cincinnati Ballet, which are all based here.
Detroit Central Station – Detroit, Michigan
The resurrection of Detroit Central Station exemplifies the city’s commitment to preserving its industrial and commercial heritage. When it opened in 1913, the 18-story building was the tallest train station in the world. The same architects who were responsible for New York City’s Grand Central Terminal designed the Beaux Arts landmark in Detroit. Marble floors, tiled vaulted ceilings, Corinthian columns, and bronze chandeliers lent the waiting room an unmistakable grandeur.
Yet, times changed, and after the station closed in 1988 due to declining passenger traffic, the building sat empty for decades. In 2018, Ford Motor Company bought the site and spent a huge sum to revitalize and reimagine the building. It reopened in 2024 as the centerpiece of an innovation hub, which marks a new chapter in this Rust Belt city’s history.
Andy Warhol Museum – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh’s Andy Warhol Museum occupies a remarkably ornate warehouse built in 1911. Previous owners William E. Frick and William G. Lindsay once used it to store products from their industrial supplies business, the Frick and Lindsay Company. The original cornice (what you see now is a faithful replica fashioned from lightweight fiberglass) was constructed in the Beaux Arts style…