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Milwaukee Harbor District, Wisconsin sits where the Menomonee, Milwaukee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers meet Lake Michigan, in one of the city’s oldest and newly redefined neighborhoods.
In Milwaukee Harbor District, Wisconsin, John McGivern looks at a part of Milwaukee shaped by water, industry, working neighborhoods, and new local energy.
The episode traces the district’s history as a transportation and manufacturing hub while visiting places and people giving the area a current identity. Stops include kayaking on the river, 88.9 Radio Milwaukee, Barnacle Bud’s, Komatsu’s return to the neighborhood, and the community effort to light the Hoan Bridge.
It also explores businesses and spaces across the district, from Don’s Grocery and Liquor and Waitress Bridal Boutique to family produce operations, the Lincoln Warehouse, Soul Brew Kombucha, Greenhouse Surfboards, the Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and Momo Mee. Along the way, the episode connects Milwaukee landmarks, working waterfront history, neighborhood change, and the mix of industry, recreation, and small business that defines the Harbor District today.
Port Washington, Wisconsin
Along the shores of Lake Michigan, Port Washington blends maritime history, local craftsmanship, and small town community, as John McGivern explores the people and businesses that give the city its character.
Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa is a vibrant college town where innovation, education, and community come together, as John McGivern explores its blend of engineering, local businesses, and hands-on experiences that shape the city’s evolving identity.
Walkers Point, Milwaukee
Walker’s Point in Milwaukee is a historic neighborhood where industrial roots and cultural diversity shape a vibrant community explored by John McGivern, highlighting its evolution into a hub for food, small businesses, and Latino heritage.

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